Why I Left The Tech Industry for Hospitality?

Life is here to experience. The world is supposed to be a playground where you can try yourself. Jobs are meant to teach you new ways of thinking and seeing different perspectives. This modern world is cruel. The reality is awful. We shut ourselves in a box and do anything to keep our safety. And safety comes from the economy. Safety no longer comes from the people around us. We don't shield our bodies; we don't protect our well-being anymore. We don't rely on others. We feel all alone, and only money can save us. The cruel lie we all ate for breakfast.

Forgot to Internalize my Job to my Personality

Leaving the tech industry and working in hospitality is not for everyone. But I put my mouth where my heart was. There are certain things tech will never give you, and life is just too short to wait for good things to happen.

Have you ever heard Schuller’s quote? The one that says: 

“Tough times don’t last, tough people do.” 

Yeah, it’s pretty stoic, but when you say this to yourself for the 99th time on an average working day, you start to question it.

I guess I misunderstood the quote.

I was working in the HR department. I was burned out, crying on the toilet and avoiding eye contact with my colleagues. My head wanted to quit, but I have never been a quitter, so I had no idea how to do it. I’m loyal and determined, and I might just have to stay tough a little bit more.

But then, on a lunch break, something got broken in me. I said this quote out loud, and I felt like an idiot. To ease my pain, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. It's time to time travel.

I have seen myself six months before this burnout. I loved my job, I came in every morning with a big smile and did my part, and even more because of the people in the office. I took a pride in it. I did internalize my job. A tiny bit of my heart was in the office all the time. I felt good, and I could see this position was leading somewhere since we were growing as a startup.

And look at me now.

It was time to sort out all the happenings and how those affected me. I made an inventory of who I am. I couldn't fit into my work clothes anymore. It was time to take off.

I was in for the people, but people who did their jobs with the same passion as me already got fired. Having an opinion can be a dangerous thing to have. Speaking up is even worse. Yeah, I knew what was right, but no, I haven’t left. I got fired in the most humiliating way I won’t forget.

So I fell. I fell, and I shook off the dust. Took my time to get to a mental space where I felt human again after all the things I had been through.

But I still wanted to be back in the business. I wanted to change HR. I wanted to set an example of how good corporations treat people. All my energy was focused on making a change.

After a year of chasing those positions in the Tech industry, I was craving people, talks, and positive energy. Hiring managers send you their questions in writing and want you to record yourself answering the questions. What?! Insane.

After doing a few of these, I was out.

I went to the library, printed my CV out, and set my foot in every store I liked. When I was in, I did observe the place a bit more. How I feel there, how they interact with the customers, what kind of people are coming in, etc.
When the shop was almost empty, I started to ask questions. Started to talk with the one running the store. Somehow, it was a family business all the time.

Soon, I ended up in the kitchen. I love working there, I’ve always loved working in the kitchen. It’s a shelter for so many people, for so many reasons.

I feel free. My life is mine. My time is mine.

My mind is tired exactly when my body is tired.

I didn’t know how exhausting it was to work in an office. Get up, put the kids in the school, and be there at your job. Give all your energy, all your best, and rush to pick up the kids and cook, and go to bed and have shallow conversations all day, every day.

The best time of my day was when I had enough energy to go to bed with my kids and read them a goodnight story. Talk to them, play with them. Their honest minds, their laugh, and their life were all I wanted to be part of. No, I didn’t want to be part of “making the world a better place”.

I’ll do my part by being there for my kids and being real with them.

Freedom and integrity. You won’t find these in places that treat you as a number, as a resource. Don’t wait for others to make things happen. Set up your own rules, know what you want, and balance your own life.

Now, I work in a big corporation on the last level of the ladder, because all I want is stability, freedom, and good people around me.

Thanks for reading me!

The Witty Witch