If you are a football fan, you would have heard the news that Shinji Kagawa has returned to his previous club Borussia Dortmund after a rather disappointing move to Manchester United that did not quite work out for him. I used to think that was weird because I thought he would have think and agree the terms and conditions rather carefully before joining the club.
I experienced the same situation myself recently unfortunately (or fortunately).
I joined a new company 2 months ago that didn’t quite work out for me. Something was missing evidently but I shall spare the details in this post. To cut the story short, I rejoined my ex-company who at the same time has not found a replacement after 2 months. I thought the bosses there were sincere when they convinced me of rejoining the company and so I obliged.
Even though this whole incident may seem like a nightmare to begin and end with, I reflected on the situation and chose to see the positive out of this.
First, most of us know that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence in theory but to experience it ourselves is a different story altogether. There are certain things that you can’t know just from the interview alone and you have to be there on the site to experience to feel it.
Second, when work is involved, it’s always 90% chores and 10% fun, regardless of any work you do (almost all work). To think that you could seek better environment and better fun at your new place is virtually almost impossible, and that’s including Disney if you have ever worked there before.
Third, people are more important than work. I used to belittle the importance of people I worked with. I used to think that even if you don’t like the person you are working with, just get through the day and everything is ok. Apparently, it is not the case and the people makes the experience of going to work all the while meaningful.
Fourth, I do learnt a great deal from my short stint at the new company, something that I will never be able to find out if I am just a retail investor. The learning was great so I do take into that positively.
It is an unfortunate incident, but I think I do come out from this stronger and more matured. Had I not decided to move, I probably still have thoughts about moving to another company some other day and it could have been the same situation or a totally enriching experience altogether, whichever luck takes me.
I told my bosses that I will not seek a move anywhere else in the near term though I did mention my plan to have totally quit from a corporate role when I turn 35. That is exactly 6 years from now. Meanwhile, it’s business as usual and the journey remains.
Thanks for sharing. It's comforting to know someone with similar experience and plans. Wish you succeed
Hi Richard
Glad you found it useful.
We all make mistakes one way or another and I'm glad this isn't a full blown episodes at the end of the day.
B,
If everyday is Sunday, then Sunday soon loses its meaning.
I found it out after around 2.5 years of loitering.
Once I started working weekends last year, the different days of the week regained its meaning 😉
If I get tired or bored again, I will take another break 😉
Live life by looking at the clock, or listening to your heart?
Hi SMOL
Ahh, I'm enjoying the weekdays this week as we speak and it is easy to see why everything seems to slow down. I have read so many theories of investment by different great people and really try to understand them.
I do not have this kind of luxury when official weekdays start.
This may feel like a glimpse of what FI is all about and I'm looking forward to it when it comes.
Hi B,
Sometimes we have to travel around the world just to find out how nice home is. The journey and the searching around is part of the journey back home 😉
Have a good trip home 🙂
Hi LP
Spot on there.
Without traveling around, we'll never really know whether the grass is greener outside. We'll just be in our small little cage. I have to say through this experience it has really benefited me in many ways and a really good experience throughout.
Yes, the grass is not always greener on the other side.
If you had joined a company (from hell, literally!), even though it was a profitable company, life may not be bearable going to work.
And people is just as important as the work, else you are like working alone, not with a company (pun intended). Working for a company (from hell), it was extremely painful going to work, and having to watch your back all the time every day.
And of course, you are lucky to be able to go back to your previous company.
If you had made the move due to the previous company going the dinosaur route, the subsequent outcome will be much more different. So another round of finding a new company has to take place again.
This can be related to the frog coming out of the well, and seeing the real true world, which is much bigger and complex than the confined space within the well.
Hi Numbers
Thanks for your feedback.
The grass is not always greener on the other side but it can also be greener. Luck plays a big part in this as well.
The move was supposed to be learning driven but it didn't materialize so I'm disappointed on that front. I'll take this as a learning experience and something which I can advise to friends next time
Hi B,
Thanks for the sharing and it is an interesting experience.
I did not rejoin any of my previous companies but one of ex-colleagues did. Like you, he soon realized that money doesn't motivate you after a while. It is the people that you worked with who will make the difference.
Enjoy the ride – the second time.
Regards,
SG Wealth Builder
Hi Gerald
This is the first week I hv completed since rejoining and I can now say that I hv a completely different view and feel than what I used to hv during my earlier stay.
I am.not sure if its because of the experience or comparisons I hv madebut I am rather glad for this whole experience thing.
Hi
I found your experience intriguing. If you want, we can cross share experience that would probably help in your future decision making