How to Tell Your Boss You're Quitting Your Job
I had been working on my last startup for about a year when I finally decided to go full time. We were generating some revenue, and I had enough savings in the bank from my full time job to keep me afloat for at least 6 months.
My partner and I wanted to focus aggressively on sales during that time, which meant that I had to quit my job -- taking sales calls during lunch and before work wasn't going to cut it anymore.
I had quit a few jobs before. Once when I decided to leave finance to work in sales, and again when I left my first sales job for an opportunity to run sales for an early stage company going through an accelerator. Both times I had very understanding bosses, making the separation process really easy. This time, I knew it would be different.
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I had been in my role for over 2 years, and in that time my title changed 3 times as I got more and more responsibilities. At this point I was managing all of our major client relationships, and was basically the only one in the company that knew how the software product worked. I had a decent relationship with the CEO (my boss), but knew he would be incredibly upset at news of me leaving.
In my two years there I saw massive employee turnover, and every time someone quit he would give them a really hard time, in some cases even threatening with lawsuits. That kind of leadership style may have worked for Steve Jobs, but it was debilitating here.
If you’re facing a similarly difficult conversation the best way to feel prepared is to:
Role Play Through The Conversation With Someone Else
For several days I prepared what I was going to say, role playing with my brother to make sure that we thought of every single objection he could throw my way. We recreated this roleplay here as a reference for anyone that has to face a similarly difficult conversation, and highly recommend role playing as a way to practice getting comfortable with what you’re going to say. If you anticipate what might happen, you're much more likely to stay calm when the real discussion comes.
Finally, I confronted my boss, and two weeks later I was working full time on my startup!
Offer Value And Be As Helpful As Possible
I made sure to be incredibly nice throughout the whole conversation, offering as much value as I could. When you can, do give the customary two weeks notice, even if you don't love your boss or company. There's no reason to burn bridges, and if you plan on staying in the industry your boss might easily try to blacklist you if they're well connected (I've seen this happen). If you can't give the two weeks because a new opportunity is fleeting, then you have to do what's best for you.
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I offered to post a job description for my role, and interview all of the candidates. If we made a hire quickly, I also offered to fully train the new employee, even saying I could stay on as a part-time contractor for a month after (which he took me up on, giving me some extra cash). Lastly, I offered to create documentation to transfer my knowledge of the product to other employees.
Research Local Employment Laws and Study Every Contract
The CEO also tried to get me to commit to stay for more than two weeks, saying that I would be making things very difficult for him during a busy time for the company. I stood my ground, saying that this wasn't an option. I also clarified that by law, New York state is an At Will state, meaning that he could fire me with no notice, and that I could technically leave with no notice as well.
Don’t Feel Pressured To Reveal Information
My boss tried to force me to tell him where I was going next. Whether you're going to a new company or starting your own business, you have no obligation to divulge this information. I told him I was moving on to a new role, and that I was not comfortable disclosing this information at this time.
He then told me that I had to give him this information to make sure I wasn't breaking the non-compete clause that I signed when I was hired. I ensured him that I re-read all of the original documents that I signed, and that I was in no breach of those contracts.
In the end, he tried to force me to sign a separation/termination agreement. For the most part, this is not enforceable (nor is it legal to force someone to sign something when they're leaving). Employers typically do this to cover their bases, and to prevent you from collecting unemployment benefits if you're eligible.
It's incredibly important to know rights in a situation like this, so if you're unsure, speak to an employment lawyer first.
Understand Your Non-Compete Agreements
Obviously if you're starting a company you should never work on your business when you should be working at your full time job since it’s illegal to use company materials and company time to do work that’s not related to your job. It goes without saying that if you're starting a business that's competitive to the company you're leaving, you should not go after the same clients and you must read the non-compete you signed very carefully.
Non-competes are notoriously difficult to enforce, but you don't want to be forced to spend a bunch of money on lawyers if your old boss decides to sue you because it's clear that you are a direct competitor. With that said, there's countless examples of startups that are built by domain experts that have been working in their field for years, so this shouldn't necessarily deter you - it's a judgement call.
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If you didn't sign a non-compete, then you can feel free to build a product that directly competes with the company that you worked with (thank you capitalism). Just make sure you're creating everything yourself from scratch, including the business/customer relationships.
This experience taught me that even the most difficult person and situation can be confidently dealt with when you take the time to prepare. There's tremendous power in knowing that you're right, so take the time to understand your rights and remove any possible doubt.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.