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As an artist, a big issue for me is knowing when to walk away from a painting. When I’m painting, I usually have a moment where what I’m working on looks perfect in my eyes — but then I move my brush and ruin it.
I ruined it because I couldn’t walk away, even for a few minutes.
What I’ve learned is that in art, there’s a beat between perfection and ruin. As an artist, walking away from a painting allows me to approach my work from a new angle. I believe that concept also applies to the business world. As a business leader, walking away from certain situations enables me to realign my professional approach.
Walking away isn’t something that I used to find easy. But then I was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2016. My diagnosis gave me clarity that I didn’t have the day before I got the news. Once I knew what I was facing, I was able to identify the areas of my professional life that weren’t making me happy and walk away. In the years since, I’ve identified 10 things that, as a business leader, signal it’s time for me to walk away from a situation, be it a project, partnership, board position or something else.
1. It Feels Predictable
Part of what helps me feel like I’m thriving as a business leader is trying new things and taking risks.
When I’m in a situation where things appear predictable most of the time, I start to feel like I’ve become complacent, as if my ability to innovate has been hindered. Granted, being in business isn’t about constant excitement and novelty. However, too much predictability can make things boring for me, to the point where I lose interest.
2. Values Are Words, Not Actions
For me, values as words aren’t enough; I need to see values transform into actions.
If I’m in a situation where I see that the values are being treated as words rather than actions, then the situation no longer matches the beat of my heart (if it ever did). I walk away from those situations because I don’t want to invest my energy into something where values are merely words.
3. I Find Myself Becoming a Fixer
At certain points in my career, I’ve found myself becoming a fixer, tackling various problems around me.
I don’t find it fulfilling or fun to be the primary person fixing the majority of the problems. When I find myself falling into fixing mode, it’s a warning sign that I need to start planning my exit.
4. I’ve Outgrown a Situation
There have been a few times in my career when I’ve felt like I’ve outgrown a situation. Staying in those situations felt like being stuck.
Previously, I would wait for permission to leave. But with time, I learned that the person who needs to give me permission is myself. Now, when I feel like I’ve outgrown a situation, I’m able to gracefully bow out.
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5. Another Party Has Burned Bridges
Unfortunately, not all business relationships last. They can sometimes get messy. People can burn bridges, causing irreparable harm to the relationship.
As a business leader, I’ve had other parties burn down bridges with me before. When that happens, I know that I have to let go. There’s no saving the situation.
6. I Can’t Be Myself
Boundaries are important in business. As business leaders, we shouldn’t feel compelled to divulge every single piece of information about ourselves or expect that from others. But in my view, there’s a difference between having boundaries and not being able to be yourself.
In a situation, if I can’t be myself, if I have to pretend to be someone I’m not, if I have to increasingly separate myself from what I really think and feel just to maintain harmony, then I know it’s time for me to walk away.
7. I Feel Needed but Not Valued
There have been times when I’ve felt needed but not valued, and it was detrimental to my mental health.
I believe that by staying in a situation where you feel needed but not valued, you risk reaching a point where the other party will decide you’re no longer needed, which can cause you significant stress. So, when I feel needed but not valued, I take that as a warning sign and leave.
8. I Find Myself Doing the Math
Sometimes, I find a situation so draining that I start calculating what it’s costing me.
Whenever I find myself doing the math — namely, what a given opportunity is costing me in life, be it in terms of money, time, well-being, etc. — then that’s a sign that I have to remove myself from that situation.
9. I’m Building Something That Makes Me Miserable
There have been many times in my professional life when I ignored that what I was building was making me miserable. I would justify it by thinking the outcome would be worth it.
But now, when I realize that I’m building something that makes me miserable, I don’t try to justify staying, believing that it’ll pay off in some way. I just opt to leave.
10. I’m Building a Product That’s Not Rooted in a Deeper Purpose
I’ve noticed that I have the most difficult time in business situations where I’m building a product, but there’s no mission or vision behind the work.
For me, it’s important that I’m building with a purpose. I believe that products with a mission and vision behind them are easier to work on and sell. So, if I notice myself working on just a product rather than one rooted in a deeper purpose, I walk away.
