“You don’t have to leave to grow.”
It’s not something you hear often, especially on platforms that celebrate entrepreneurship, reinvention, and bold career pivots:
Some professionals are genuinely happy in their corporate careers.
I wasn’t unhappy in my corporate career, but I wasn’t truly happy, often wondering if there was more to life. However, as a corporate escapee, I also need to be mindful that there are other perspectives and not everyone feels the same.
While potential corporate escapees may be rethinking their paths or planning their exits, there are those who are thriving right where they are. They’re growing, being challenged, learning constantly, and moving forward in a way that feels aligned with who they are and what they value.
When “leaving” is often seen as the brave or inspiring choice, I think we need to acknowledge that staying, when it’s the right fit, can be just as intentional, just as bold, and just as fulfilling.
Not everyone wants to walk away from corporate life. And not everyone should.
For some, the idea of leaving once felt like the obvious next step. Maybe they even felt pressure to want that. However, somewhere along the way, they realised that staying, building something meaningful within a structured environment, actually works for them. It’s also worth noting that this this realisation is worth acknowledging, not just internally but publicly.
If someone feels at home in their role, if the work energises them and the direction feels right, that’s something to be proud of. There’s no need to chase a different path just because others are.
And for those still figuring out what fulfilment looks like, it’s important to give themselves the space to listen to what they truly want, not what they think they should want.
Photo by Roman Odinsov – Pexels
