I recently changed companies after a very good opportunity came up to advance in my career and move my family to a much better area to lay down some roots. The job came to me organically as I wasn’t pursuing employment. The VP of the company saw my potential after working closely with his company for some time and after a long negotiation and discussion as a family, we decided to take the opportunity. It was a significant salary increase with the understanding that if everything went as planned, I could take over the VP’s position once retired in 6-8 years. As I mentioned before, I had a great job. I was able to blaze my path and be ultra flexible with my work. I made a good salary, had a lot of vacation, enjoyed my work every day, and was home by 4pm. This seemed to be a perfect opportunity other than that the growth development for the future wasn’t there. I had visibility to the company but after 3 restructuring changes in less than a year and 3 bosses. It wasn’t clear what the future may hold. This allowed me to take the new opportunity seriously and see if it was worth the challenge.

I did my homework and I knew this job would be demanding in that the business is very dynamic and ever changing. I knew taking on more responsibility would be as well. I was told they wanted me to come in and make change to the dumpster fire that is their ways of working currently. From the day I stepped in the door I have found the place to be an epic disaster. The VP that hired me runs the company like a dictator. While he has made the company what it is, he doesn’t want to follow procedures or processes and simply wants everyone to do what he says and don’t ask questions or challenge him. He is an awful leader and developer of talent. He simply wants to have his hands in every cookie jar and doesn’t empower or trust his team. I never noticed this in the beginning but as I began to set-up meetings with his team, they all were on the verge of having breakdowns. Within this first week the red flags began to come up. I know that we aren’t supposed to be comfortable and God calls us to impact and be agents of change. I wanted to do this for this company but they are almost too broken to fix. Especially if I won’t be supported at the top in my changes. Long story short I’m having serious doubts after only 1 week in the office. Not to mention the work/life balance and benefits there are atrocious. They make you take time off if you leave 1 hour early to simply make an appointment. It’s crazy.

Before I accepted this position I had a very interesting opportunity come up with another company that is brand new and starting their business this year. The company is backed by major investors in an industry that I know well. The CEO spotted me and personally called me to try and persuade me to join the team. I nicely declined because of accepting this new opportunity and making up my mind. Since that time, the CEO and I have reconnected again and he is very serious about me coming aboard. This company is exciting and the potential is very good. The other interesting thing is it is in my wife’s hometown. We know the area well and would have no problem adjusting to life there. They want to fly me down and persuade me to join up.

After now being worried about my current opportunity not being what I hoped, I’m having trouble deciding to try and ride the new opportunity out with less flexibility and in a poison culture or perhaps cut my losses and embrace the new one. I am not one to quit on my commitments but I’ve never had this feeling that I’ve has after 1 week on the job. I find it better to cut losses now before I invest too much in the company. I can assure you this isn’t just beginner nerves. This company is seriously broken and it seems a lot of people have been broken trying to fix it. For me, flexibility matters and a company with awful flexibility is not what I want for my family.

I’m seeking answers in prayer and study. I’m really trying to listen to the Lord on what is my path forward. I’m hoping some of you brothers can help guide me in this dilemma.