Tomorrow will be my last day at the corporate job that brought me to Dallas, Texas. My feelings have been a mixed bag of relief, excitement, and a tad bit of fear of going into the unknown.

So, what happened? 

It was ultimately a realization that I was in my own rut of putting on a pair of golden handcuffs. The work was good. The paycheck was the highest I had yet to earn, and there was the prestige of being able to say I was a "Director" of something. 

However, when you have a show called "Beyond the Rut" and run a series of episodes about living life to the fullest with a sense of urgency, and that life is just too short to live stuck in a rut, it is only a matter of time when one has to look in the mirror and recognize some hard truths. That's where I found myself about 30 days ago. 

I felt a heavy weight that my life and time were slipping away before creating something meaningful and impactful. 

My wife and I talked all through the Labor Day Weekend. We prayed and reflected on the past three years. We considered the impact my job was having on my family, my emotional and physical health, and even the prospects of seeing Beyond the Rut becoming something with more impact. On top of that, I had to make something right amidst some barriers. The only choice that made sense was to resign from my job.

There was an immediate lightness of being the moment I announced my resignation that Tuesday after Labor Day, a sense of freedom I hadn't felt in years. My friends, co-workers, and most of all, my family saw a smile on my face and an energy that had been missing for some time. Calls started coming in from my network encouraging me. Some of those calls even opened doors I didn't know existed. If that was you, thank you! 

So, what's next?

The payoff of building an emergency fund is that Olivia and I can go about six months without generating income AND still have a normal Christmas celebration. We decided together that a 3-month sabbatical would be best for me with a 3-part focus. 

Part 1: I am finishing up a book that describes the "Why" behind Beyond the Rut, and the goal is to have it completed by the end of the year for a January 2, 2023 launch. I'm looking to build a launch team with at least 200 supporters who will share the news about the book with their family, friends, and coworkers. 

If you want to be a part of that launch team, click the link below to add your name to the list!

I Want to Be On the Launch Team!

Part 2: I'm starting a business! That's the biggest part of this sabbatical, honing in on my value proposition. There is a lot I can do well, but what is the best direction for the Beyond the Rut message, my vision, and my family? More to come on that.

Part 3: Still network for a job. The truth is that building a business will take a little bit of time, and my emergency fund has a 6-month end date on it without cashing in on any investments. There may be a need to pick up contract work or one more corporate gig before the dream is truly alive. The next three to four months will tell.

There's no shame in recognizing you're stuck in a rut, especially when you make a decision to do something about it. There are, however, seeds for regret if you know you're in a rut and decide to stay there.

What was your breakaway point in your life or career from a rut? I'd love to hear from you.

In the meantime, go live life beyond the rut. Take care!