23 July 2026, Montreal, Canada
This speech was delivered at Generation Women event where women in all different decades of life are represented. The theme for this presentation was ‘Bad Decisions: Great Stories’
“Hi Mark, I have decided to give my resignation today. I am giving you my two-week notice.”
That was the day I quit. I quit my job after six weeks, from the same job I was desperately looking for... for the past 365 days. And here I am, six weeks later, just casually walking away from it.
You must be wondering: How the hell did you even get there?
Well, to answer all of that, let’s go back to the beginning.
It was 2021 – COVID time, and like every single one of us, I was also reconsidering my career. I was part of my previous company for the past four years, and let me tell you this – I was SICK and TIRED of it. I had too many meetings, too much Zoom fatigue, too much micromanagement, and on top of that? I was training people much more senior than me, for not even an extra penny. I had to get out of it.
So, every night, I would sit down and apply at different places, and instead of getting exciting news, all I was getting was: “We regret to inform you that we have selected another candidate. We wish you all the best.”
“Great” - I thought. I will probably be caged and trapped in this place forever. But then, after getting about 70 rejections, finally one e-mail landed in my inbox: “Congratulations, we are pleased to offer you the position of ABC (avoiding any particular reference) at our firm”
In that moment, I couldn't believe it with my eyes. I was thrilled! Someone finally decided to hire me! After hearing so many NOs, I didn't even think twice; I said YES to the job!
My first day? Amazing. My office was located in the heart of downtown Montreal. It was a brand new, high-tech, modern office overlooking the lively streets of Montreal. My job contract included: a great salary, 4 weeks paid vacation, working from home, and a great pension. I thought: “Damn, I won the jackpot!”
But then slowly, I started to notice some things. My role wasn't exactly what I had pictured it. I come from a background of finance and investments, where we talk about the stock market, fixed income, and so forth. But this job was all about accounting, reconciliation, and spreadsheets. I thought: How boring is that? So, I started to ask myself, “Did I choose the right job? Do I see myself working here in the long run?” I told myself, “Maybe it is just a temporary feeling. It shall pass”.
But as the weeks passed by, something else was bothering me – the company culture.
On my first day, my manager said, “We start at 8:30 AM, and we leave the office whenever the work is done”. At the time, I didn’t give it too much importance; I thought, “Who cares”
At 5 PM, our office was a ghost town. Everyone would pack their bags and leave, except for my team. Sometimes we would leave at 5:30 PM, sometimes at 6 PM, and some other times even later than that... we were too busy reconciling everything. And I never dared to leave early. God knows what they would have thought about the newbie who just started and who is already leaving the office. So, I stayed until everyone left. Which made me think that suddenly my life was being centered around work. I would get home so late that I had no social life, no gym time, and no time for myself.
And then the final straw happened this afternoon. It was a Tuesday at 6 PM. I had a Muay Thai class, which I made non-negotiable for myself.
My boss called me to his office for quick training. It was 4 PM, and I thought, I am sure it won't take more than 30 minutes. Before you even know it, one hour and 40 minutes have passed, and I was asking myself, “Do I tell him that I gotta leave, or do I just skip the class?” Luckily, he turns to me, and he goes, “I am so sorry, Urmi, do you need to be anywhere?”
I politely responded: “well I have a class in 20 minutes and I gotta rush.” Two seconds later, I grab my things and leave as quickly as I can.
Six weeks later, I resigned. I resigned for a place across the street, which was better aligned with my career objectives and goals, and one that offered me a better work-life balance.
Looking back, I don't see that decision as a failure. I actually see it as one of the most important lessons in my career. My mistake wasn't about leaving. My mistake was about the mindset I had when I accepted the job. After a year of rejection, I wasn't making decisions from excitement. I was making them from desperation and exhaustion. I was so focused on escaping my old situation that I stopped asking myself where I was actually going. I saw the salary. I saw the benefits. I saw the company name. And most importantly, I saw someone choosing me. However, I forgot that I also had a choice.
By saying yes to a new opportunity, I was actually saying yes to a lifestyle I didn't want. And that is the lesson I carry with me today.
A good opportunity is not just about the salary, the title, or the fact that someone finally chooses you. It is about whether that opportunity aligns with your values, goals, and the life you want to build.
When you are so desperate for change, every open door can look like the right door. But not every opportunity deserves a yes. Sometimes the bravest decision isn't walking through the door; it is having the courage to walk away when you realize it isn't the right one.