Why I Broke Up with My Company: Lessons in Career Ownership

The Perfect Book for Your Career Crossroads
We’ve all been there at work, wondering whether to stay or go. Trying, despite the emotions, to objectively assess whether leaving our current job is a smart move or risky business. There’s really no avoiding it ... live and work long enough, and you’re likely to come to such a crossroads. It helps to be prepared.

Why I Broke Up with My Company was written precisely for these moments -- to help employees in any role or stage of their careers to be thoughtful, strategic, and self-respecting about their actions, words, and attitudes when deciding whether to stay or go. Marissa Lee’s book offers so much, including:

•Practical advice for navigating career transitions, coping during difficult times, and seeing “goodbye” in a new light
•Real testimonials from employees who have made tough “stay or go” decisions
•Tips on how to build a personal board of directors, and how to EVOLVE into your greatest self by evaluating, vocalizing, owning, liberating, validating, and elevating your efforts
•Eye-opening tools, like litmus tests for gauging your current situation, a career ownership scorecard, and a “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” self-assessment.

Why I Broke Up with My Company is rooted in real stories, and written by a woman who cares. Marissa Lee has made tough choices about her career, but she’s also someone whose career itself is dedicated to helping others enjoy their careers. An experienced HR professional, she’s passionate about people and processes, a champion of continuous learning and career ownership, and an expert in the employee experience.

For Employees and Employers Alike
Marissa’s unique approach to helping us rethink the relationship between employer and employee is a gift to individuals and organizations alike. Throughout the book are call-out sections dubbed “Dear Employee” and “Dear Employer,” with fresh ideas about how to build and maintain cultures that provide valuable experiences for employees, how to find renewed pride in your work, and how to create strong connections at work.

Employers are offered a glimpse into the employee perspective during a departure consideration, and employees are given game-changing tools for seeing the decisions about their current situation as just one step in an entire career journey.

A career crossroads is a peculiar time -- when you need a trusted friend and objective advice. This book becomes that friend. A playful but practical analogy between romantic relationships and work relationships provides readers with lessons on how to:

•Own every aspect of your career
•Deal with challenging times at the workplace
•Determine if it’s time to move on, and how to make that move
•Prevent similar challenges with your new organization
•Establish a roadmap to reach your career goals.

See Yourself in These Relatable Stories
Beyond her own career stories, Marissa shares the stories of others who endured and emerged from interesting and even harrowing “leave vs. stay” career crises. These case studies provide a rare view into the kinds of thoughts, fears, and aspirations we often think are ours alone. Each story closes with tips from the featured employee, so readers can take their lessons to heart.

Odds are, Marissa’s story will remind you of your own. You’ll see yourself at the beginning of your career ... bright-eyed, optimistic, ready to work hard and pay your dues. What’s unique is the thoughtfulness she applies to the “stay or go” decision, and the major impact her advice could have on your career.

“A must-read book for the business leader wondering how to influence an employee’s decision to stay or leave, and for the employee seeking practical tools to assess their own career situation.”