One of our family friends recently had a baby boy. Getting to meet him for the first time last weekend really got me thinking about how much we have to learn from children. They live their lives a certain way and I think in some sense we should do the same:

Everything is new

Isn’t it amazing how children find even the simplest experiences completely amazing? I’ve seen toddlers completely mesmerised from chasing each other between two pillars at a shopping mall or jumping off a step, climbing back up, and doing it again. The smallest things in life can be really fun. While I’m not suggesting we put everything we come across right into our mouths, we shouldn’t depend on every little gadget or gizmo to make us happy.

Live in the moment

The concept of time is something a lot of young people don’t quite grasp. And I think that’s great. While sometimes it might be necessary for parents to teach that actions now have consequences later (like how spending all their pocket money might mean not getting to buy themselves a new toy) but there’s definitely value in only caring about what’s happening right here, right now. The past is gone and the future isn’t here. Appreciating the present is priceless.

Express your emotions

One other thing children are good at doing is letting their feelings out. Yes, there are the occasional sulks and pouts, but mostly it’s a case of laughing when they’re happy and crying when they’re sad. As we grow older, we find that we constantly need to keep our thoughts and feelings bottled up inside. At times it might be necessary to exercise a little restraint, but I definitely believe that learning to fully express whatever it is you’re going through does far less harm and far more good.

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“Find a job you love and you’ll never work another day in your life” – Confucius

So, I finally did it. After months of careful consideration and weeks of making up my mind, I quit my job. Even though I knew the decision was right, I still had no idea how to go about making it happen. How exactly are you supposed to resign? Fortunately, resources like Monster.com made the process smooth:

Don’t waste time

When it comes to drafting your resignation letter, don’t be vague. Start by saying you’ve regrettably decided to leave (with a brief explanation as to why) and give the exact end date. Usually two weeks is custom but this varies from place to place. Check your employment contract if you’re not sure.

Make it easy

In addition to delivering the letter in person (NOT via email) sometimes it’s a good idea to stay until someone who can replace you is hired. In my case, I assured my boss that I’d continue to work as normal and start putting together handover documents so the projects I’m working on can be completed by other staff after I leave.

Don’t burn bridges

Express appreciation for your time in the position, wish the company well, and insist on staying in touch. Part of being nice is about understanding that a bad reputation can follow you forever. It’s also about realising that you’ll need references and might even want to come back. Leaving with your head held high is something to be proud of.

Conclusion

Ultimately, you’ve got to do what’s right for you. Think about the timing, benefits you might forfeit, bargaining power with a new company, being seen as a hopper to future employers, and whether something else exists to keep you financially afloat. Then it’s just a case of following you gut. Like Konosuke Matsushita said: “No matter how deep a study you make, what you really have to rely on is your own intuition and, when it comes down to it, you really don’t know what’s going to happen until you do it.”

(To download your completely free copy of the South African or International edition of Work in Progress, right-click and save the relevant link. Then open, enjoy, and repeat as needed. Check this out too.)

“The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible.” – Oscar Wilde

I just finished reading The Picture of Dorian Gray as part of my quest to read the 100 greatest books of all time before I turn 30. Oscar Wilde really is incredible. In addition to wit that had me laughing out loud and moments that literally made me gasp, I definitely came away feeling quite changed.

One aspect I found particularly fascinating (and have been thinking about ever since) is the philosophy embodied by Lord Henry when he said, “Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul.” There’s no denying that the experience of a sunrise or a symphony really does tug at our innermost core. But what about experiences that aren’t all sunshine and roses? Do those cure the soul too?

I’m starting to think they do. All experiences, whether they bring pleasure or pain, write on the slate of who we are. They define us. I strongly believe that emotions shouldn’t be labeled as either good or bad. They just are. Any feeling that reminds us we’re alive and ultimately pushes us towards action to develop and grow is something we should embrace. What do you think?

(To download your completely free copy of the South African or International edition of Work in Progress, right-click and save the relevant link. Then open, enjoy, and repeat as needed.)