5 signs your job may be toxic

Each of these is a red flag that it's time to look for a new job. To view this email as a web page, [click here]() Today in The Rich Life newsletter: - [5 signs your job may be toxic](#module1) - [How my student Claire realized she was in a toxic job](#module2) - [A peek into IWT’s non-toxic workplace (and an open position)](#module3) []5 signs your job may be toxic Have you ever experienced the “Sunday Scaries”? The feeling in the pit of your stomach on Sunday evening as you think about how you have to spend the rest of your week: “Ugh, five more days of this job.” How can you decide whether you need to ask for changes in your job … or [change your job altogether]()? Here’s what I suggest: - Take notes on Sunday night. Is there a pattern in why you’re feeling this way? Are you just dreading that Monday morning standup call? (If so, can you ask to get that switched?) Or is it the thought of facing your boss who belittles you in that meeting? - Take notes throughout the week. Are your perceptions accurate? Is it as bad as you think? It might not be! Or maybe you just need to ask for a few changes… But maybe the job is toxic and it’s time to start thinking about making a change. As you review your notes, here are a few signs you have a toxic work situation: - Your boss and coworkers don’t take you seriously - You're underpaid - You dislike your boss or team - You've gotten a raise or promotion, but you still feel stuck Each of these is a red flag that it's time to look for a new job. Here’s another one: If you've failed to get a raise for 3–4 years, that’s a sign you’re not being valued. Nothing wrong with staying at a job for the long term — I work with employees who’ve stayed at IWT for 5+ years — but it’s critical that you show growth in your role and responsibilities. And you get paid accordingly. [5 signs your job may be toxic] I posted this on my Twitter and got quite a few responses. Read the full conversation [here]() — and add your thoughts. Here’s why it’s important to know whether your job is toxic: Your work life is inseparable from your Rich Life. Sometimes your job is a part of your Rich Life — maybe you work for a nonprofit you believe in, or you work on projects that make it seem like you’re not even working, or your job sends you to exotic locales. Even if your job isn’t directly tied to your Rich Life, it ALWAYS supports or limits it. Maybe you work at a company like IWT that lets you work from anywhere and gives you the flexibility to manage your day as you see fit. Or maybe you make enough money to help support a family member. Or maybe you’re working too many hours and don’t have time to spend with your family. Or maybe you aren’t paid well enough and can’t afford to travel. What about your job? Does it meet any of the 5 signs of being toxic? If so, what are you doing about it? []“I had basically been cutting my own salary … for YEARS!” “Over time, the job got bigger and bigger, and the pay stayed the same,” said Claire, one of my students. “I was a 1-person department working 60 hours a week. I was basically running a small consulting firm on behalf of the college. I was overworked and my health was suffering and I could see that the way we were doing business was unsustainable.” Claire had a banner year for her department, helping bring in $1 million in revenue for the first time. But she had worked to the bone and no one noticed. Then, she asked for $2k for a course on how to take the business to the next level … but was turned down because “it wasn’t in the budget.” Ugh. “I had been trading in my hours for a set number of dollars … and I had basically been cutting my own salary by working more and more hours for the same pay — for YEARS! “Then, when I saw a pathway to scale and create a much better program — on the heels of having a banner year — I was told that the bureaucracy wouldn’t allow them to invest in me. “I knew it wasn’t personal. I had great relationships with everyone at work … but I also simply saw the writing on the wall at that moment.” Claire reflected on her work, saw some signs of a toxic job, and realized it was time for a change. Some people spend years, even decades, trying to ignore these clues. They grind away and hope things will improve, but they don't. Why would they? If you want things to change, you have to make the change. This week, I’m going to be sharing about how you can change things at work — including how you can learn from Claire’s story of change. More tomorrow. []How IWT has built a non-toxic work environment I take a different approach than most “experts” out there. My business is 100% bootstrapped and 100% remote. When you use our products, you’re supporting a small business and our employees. (IWT employees are paid above-market salaries along with full benefits and a 401(k) match.) I also make sure that working at IWT lets my employees live their Rich Lives. In fact, the team just had a discussion about how they’ve lived their Rich Lives while working at IWT. Sabrina said: “Last summer, I got my first ever pool pass as an adult thanks to the flexibility that IWT provides via work from home. Swimming a few laps on my lunch break is the epitome of a Rich Life to me.” Nasrin said: “When my daughter was born, I asked if I could go part-time to spend more time with her. My boss and Ramit didn’t even blink before saying yes. They were just so happy for me and my family. The last 3 years I’ve been able to spend every day watching my daughter grow into an amazing toddler. I can’t think of anything more important to me, and IWT gave me that.” Gretchen said: “For my 50th birthday I saved up for my dream trip. I spent 5 days at one of the most renowned luxury spas in the world … I watch people I know age and their world gets smaller and smaller. IWT lets me see that’s a choice. Age, money, location — none of that matters. YOU get to choose your Rich Life … What I get from IWT goes so far beyond just a paycheck… “…I can work and do a load of laundry, prep veggies for dinner, stop and meditate for 10 minutes, call my mom in the middle of the day, go to my nephew’s tennis game at 10am, go play with the dog every couple of hours, eat a healthy lunch and not fast food, clean the bathroom, the list goes on. I don’t have to figure out ‘how to get it all done’ because I have a whole day, every day to flex my priorities. Work is a giant and major priority but I have time for home, friends and family, and myself as well.” Jules said: “I got to spend my little old man cat's last years with him happily in my lap when he needed me most. I'll always treasure having had that with him.” Kitty said: “IWT has stretched me in ways I didn’t even realize I needed stretched. I truly feel I grow daily here. I learn every day by my coworkers' examples, support, and sharing. No better role models than the IWT team!” Pramit said: “I’m a big walker and love going for 1-2 hour mini-hikes in the middle of the day when there’s no one else around… “Working at IWT lets me travel. In the past I’ve spent months in places like Portugal, Bali, Argentina, Colombia, and India. I’m typing this to you from my room in Dubai!” And Jonathan works at IWT while [traveling the country in his camper van](). I love it! And speaking of working at IWT, we have an open IT Lead position. [Apply here](). [Signature] WHAT TO DO NEXT JOIN: My Find Your Dream Job program is open — for a limited time. I’m closing it on Friday, April 22, at 11:59pm Pacific so that my team can focus on current students. If you know it’s time for a change in your job, [click here]() to learn more about Find Your Dream Job. [SIGN UP]() APPLY: Or maybe this is your Dream Job: IWT is hiring an IT Lead. Are you maniacal about clean code? Does scalable architecture make your heart sing? Do you want to solve complex problems with crazy smart people in a 100% remote environment? If so, you might be the perfect fit for our open IT Lead position! [Apply here](). [SIGN UP]() How did you feel about today’s email? [insta]() [Twitter]() [twitter]() [youtube]() [Linkedin]() [podcast]() This email was sent to {EMAIL}. 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