PAMELA SKILLINGS
Author of ESCAPE FROM CORPORATE AMERICA

Why did you write ESCAPE FROM CORPORATE AMERICA?

It took me twelve years to realize that my corporate salary wasn’t worth the aggravation that came with it, and to plot my escape route. When I did quit Corporate America to find more meaningful work, I was bombarded with requests for advice on how to get out. I decided that somebody had to write the book that I had been searching for in vain during all of those years I spent feeling frustrated.

What did it feel like to quit your job?

Absolute exhilaration! I will never forget driving away from my old office building for the last time in a New York taxi, sitting in the back seat surrounded by boxes overflowing with my old corporate files. It was a nice early spring day, the windows were down, the breeze was in my hair, and the possibilities felt endless. I remember looking out the window and seeing exhausted, depressed-looking people in suits trudging home from a long day at the office and it all suddenly became real: I wasn’t going back to that daily grind ever again. I was on my own for better or worse. It was a little terrifying, but mostly thrilling.

What are the most common gripes about corporate jobs?

Most of us have the same familiar gripes about bad corporate jobs—including long hours, unfair treatment, political B.S., bureaucracy, and lack of flexibility. If you feel burned out because of heavy workloads and unrelenting stress, if you’re sick of feeling like a cog in a machine and yearn to do work that is more meaningful, you’re not alone.

In some cases, people are simply in the wrong jobs—their careers kind of just happened to them like mine did for so long. And then there are those who basically like their corporate jobs, but feel like something is missing. They have some dream that they have been denying because they’re afraid it’s not realistic or they don’t know where to start.

Is it really possible to escape without going broke?

Absolutely. I strongly believe that most people are far more successful, and often make more money in the long term, in work that they feel passionate about.

The key is to develop a solid financial escape plan. Even if you think you can’t afford to make a career change right now, do the math and you might find that an escape is possible after all. To create your financial escape plan, you’ll need to:

1) Understand your numbers. Get a realistic picture of your current financial health
2) Get a Grip on Your Expenses. Think about what trade-offs you would be willing to make in order to finance your dream.
3) Set Up Your Escape Fund. Get busy socking away whatever you can.
4) Run the Scenarios. With your financial picture clear, you can start evaluating your options and planning your escape timetable.
5) Put your Plan into Action. Prepare to escape with financial confidence.

What is the biggest misconception or irrational fear about escaping a corporate job?

A lot of people fear that they won’t be able to make “enough” money doing what they love. They dismiss their dream career as a fantasy and settle for making the best of a bad situation.

The truth is that with some creativity and preparation, it really is possible to make a living at what you love or at least incorporate your passion into your job. There are plenty of ways to make money without spending your life in a cubicle. And yes, health insurance is a real issue for many people in this country, but staying in a miserable job isn’t the only way to get coverage.

How important is money when it comes to job satisfaction?

It’s not nearly as important as people think. If you ask people why they go to work every day, many will say it’s for the money. And we all want to earn what we’re worth. But money is rarely the #1 reason that people leave a job or stay in a job. There are many other intangible factors—like flexibility, company culture, job it, manager fit, etc.

I actually found an interesting study that showed that moving from the bottom of the income scale to the top only boosts overall life satisfaction by 10%. The job satisfaction rate for teachers is one of the highest at 69% despite their notoriously low pay.

Isn’t a recession the worst time to escape a corporate job?

I’m not suggesting that anybody quit their job without doing some prep work to ease the financial transition. But if you’re truly unhappy, there is no better time than now to start thinking about an escape plan and doing some ground work. If you are anxious about getting laid off, a recession may actually be the BEST time to get serious about your Career Plan B. If your company gives you an escape package (in other words, lays you off), you want to be ready to hit the ground running.

You can do most of your preparation while you’re still collecting a salary. Then, when the time is right and your safety net is in place, you can make your leap. Many of the people that I interviewed found their new careers after getting laid off during the last economic downturn. If they could succeed on their own with no preparation, imagine what you can do with a little bit of planning.

What is “meaning deficiency” and what are the symptoms?

In my research, I identified what I call “meaning deficiency” as one of the six most common reasons for corporate misery. People don’t want to just show up and collect a paycheck; they want to do work that’s meaningful. Some people do find meaningful work in corporations. However, many others feel that they can’t do fulfilling work in their corporate jobs—either because the company values are different than their own or because they are stuck in jobs that don’t tap into their talents. When you suffer from “meaning deficiency,” you rarely feel a true sense of achievement at the office. You spent a lot of hours on tasks that seem to have little value. Many with meaning deficiency end up burned out or depressed as a result.

What’s a sign that it’s time to escape?

Well, there was one corporate escapee who made her decision after a senior manager threw a Lucite paperweight at her head. That’s a pretty good sign.

But for most of us, it’s a process. You have to diagnose what it is that’s making you unhappy. Are you just having a horrible week? Is there something you can do to make your current job more satisfying—like take on a new project, talk to your manager about flex time, or make more time for volunteering on weekends? Or do you really need to make a dramatic change for the sake of your mental health?

How can you best prepare yourself for the perfect escape?

First, it’s important to take a good hard look at what’s missing in your current career and figure out where you want to escape TO when you escape from Corporate America. Too many people stay in depressing jobs for years because they’re not sure what they want to do instead. Next, you must identify what steps will get you to your dream job. That might mean getting some additional training, updating your resume, or starting your business from your kitchen table in your spare time.

The important thing is to take some action—any action—and start building momentum. Don’t quit your job yet. Think about your career change as a second job and get ready to start moonlighting. With some savvy moonlighting (that means you continue to do your corporate job well and don’t take advantage of your employer), you may be able to make your escape without missing a single paycheck.

After you’ve escaped, then what?

Well, first you have to celebrate. Enjoy that feeling of freedom and possibility. But keep in mind that even positive, exciting changes can be scary at times.

One of the things that came up over and over again in my interviews with escape artists was the issue of identity. Many of us who had nice titles in the corporate world sometimes have trouble letting go. We were miserable in our jobs, but there was some comfort in saying you were a VP or a senior manager at a big impressive company.

This identity crisis will pass. So will most of the fears and doubts that inevitably come up when you’re making a dramatic change. One of the best ways to ease the transition is to surround yourself with a network of positive, supportive people who have conquered similar challenges and can provide advice and encouragement.

Is there a trend of escapes on the rise? Why?

Escaping from Corporate America is easier than it ever has been. There are so many options outside of the corporate world these days. For example, technology has made it possible to start a business at home with very little investment.

At the same time, there is no longer a stigma attached to making a dramatic career change, even if you eventually change your mind and want to go back. The average person now makes several career changes over the course of a lifetime and nobody expects you to stay in the same job forever.

Among the people that I interviewed were famous entrepreneurs, successful freelancers, teachers, filmmakers, nonprofit leaders, a celebrity blogger, a sitcom star, a spa owner, and a recording artist—just to name a few.

How can you avoid “bag lady syndrome”?

“Bag lady syndrome” is basically that worst-case-scenario fear that flashes through your mind when you think about making a big career change. You imagine failing miserably in your new career, losing everything, and being forced to camp out on a subway grate and dig through dumpsters for nourishment. If you’re bothered by “bag lady syndrome,” the best cure is to force yourself to take a clear and unemotional look at your actual worst-case scenario. Chances are that the real picture is not nearly as bleak as your nightmare.

What can corporate managers and HR executives do to keep employees from longing to escape?
I did a lot of research on corporations that people like to work for. And they ARE out there. The best companies start by respecting their employees. That’s the bottom line. Respect their intelligence and respect the fact that they have lives outside of the office. Most people want to work hard and do a good job. They just don’t want to become slaves to the grind.

The best companies create environments in which people can do great work and be appreciated for it. They hire and reward good managers and fire the bad ones. They offer opportunities to learn and grow so that people stay engaged and productive.

Are women more likely to want to escape from Corporate American than men?
Not necessarily, but women probably are more likely to struggle with the inflexibility of the typical corporate job structure, which hasn’t changed a whole lot since the 1950s when almost all employees were men with wives at home to raise the kids and run the home. Today, many of the star players in the workforce are working moms. Most of these women want to work, but they also want to have the autonomy and flexibility to handle their other responsibilities. That’s why so many working women are escaping from Corporate America to start their own companies, become solopreneurs, and pursue other options that let them call the shots.

Are you a crusader for corporate escapes? Why do you feel this message is important to get out?

I don’t think anyone should spend years of their life in a job that makes them unhappy. If Corporate America is not a fit, there’s no reason to stay and suffer. I am committed to helping people succeed in their dream careers. If you’re happy in Corporate America, great. But if you’re not, I want to help you find something better.