I recently started a new job. I wasn’t really looking for anything new when a friend approached me with the opportunity. From that point, everything happened within the span of 3 weeks – from initial discussion to an offer, to starting my first day.
The company that I left has been growing significantly over the last few years and doesn’t really show signs of slowing down. It has over 5,000 employees worldwide and I was in a very comfortable position.
The company that I went to is a start-up that is fighting to get market share. It has around 50 employees scattered throughout North America.
What motivated me to want to make the move? It was an important question for me to answer before taking any steps. There were several factors that I identified as having an impact and initially I’d put them in this order of importance:
- The bigger title
- Increase in pay
- New technology ownership
- Management opportunity
- 100% remote
- A product I believe in
- Opportunity to work beside a brother in Christ
- Potential impact on God’s Kingdom
As I sat back and examined my motives, I realized that there was a significant issue with how these things were ordered in my mind. The entire list should be reversed!
Almost none of the things that I had listed had the potential for lasting impact. I was putting way too much emphasis on worldly things – status, wealth, technology – and not nearly enough on Kingdom things. Things that will make an impact for eternity.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 2:15-17
By grace, I was called to examine and re-prioritize my motives before making the decision. And even more importantly, after taking a closer look at the factors that were actually important, the change still seemed like a good one.
I’d encourage you to take a step back and examine your motives. Not only in big decisions, like a job change but also in everything you do. It can be an eye-opening experience.