You may be getting calls and emails from headhunters. You know deep down you want a change, but it’s like an invisible string holding you back. You tell yourself, “This job isn’t that bad,” even though some of you know it’s not really where you should be. So, why haven’t you just… left?
So why don’t we just change jobs. Guess what? It’s not just about finding a new place to work. Our own brains fool us, keeping us stuck in situations that aren’t good for us anymore. Let’s look at some reasons why. First, there’s something called Loss Aversion. Imagine you have a favorite pen. Now, someone offers you a slightly cooler pen to trade with. You’d probably think twice, right? Even if the new pen is better, giving up your old one feels kind of dumb, you love that pen.
It’s the same with jobs! Losing what you already have – like your steady pay, the people you work with, even your usual desk – feels way worse than the good feeling you’d get from finding something new and possibly amazing. Your brain screams, “Hold onto what you’ve got, even if it’s just okay!”
What has gone is gone! The Sunk Cost Fallacy. Think about going to a movie you really don’t like, but you stay until the very end because you have already paid for the ticket. That money is “sunk” – it’s gone no matter what. With a job, it’s like thinking, “I’ve worked here for ten years! I’ve put so much effort into this! I can’t just leave now.” But all that time and effort is already spent. It’s “sunk.” It shouldn’t decide what you do next. You’re basically letting your past self-stop your future self from doing something great.
And then there’s the Default Problem. Dan Ariely, who also studies how we act, shows us how powerful “defaults” are. People get familiar with their jobs and are on default. Your current job is kind of like that default setting. It takes no effort to just keep showing up. But to quit? That’s a big choice. It takes work and courage, and it means stepping into the unknown. Our brains usually pick the easiest path, which is just to keep doing what we’re already doing.
It’s not just about changing where you work; it’s about saying goodbye to your daily routine, the people you see, and even a part of who you are. If you don’t let yourself, feel those goodbye feelings, you might feel a bit lost or sad, which can make it hard to really enjoy your next adventure. People like what is familiar for sure. To change, we need to be brave, get the facts and make clear business decisions…. The challenge for all of us is that our brains are more emotional than logical. So, if you’re feeling stuck, just know you’re not alone. Your brain is just doing what brains do! Your brain might just want you to stay just where you are. Fortune favors the brave!
