Leaving Was the Easy Part—Nobody Warned Me About Missing My Work Friends
Tyler, Ron and I in Atlanta for the Uncharted Practice Owner Summit 2024.
“Change is one of those things that sounds great in theory… But the reality? Even when we choose change, it doesn’t always feel great in the moment.”
For the last few years, my mornings started the same way - logging into Slack, catching up on work, and chatting with colleagues who weren’t just coworkers, but friends. The people I celebrated wins with, vented to on tough days, and sent ridiculous memes to when we all needed a laugh.
And then, one day, it changed.
Leaving a job—even when it’s for the right reasons—comes with a whole mix of emotions. The excitement of new opportunities. The anxiety of the unknown. And, if I’m being completely honest, the gut punch of realizing that the people I talked to every single day suddenly aren’t right there anymore.
It’s weird. It’s hard. And I miss them.
Navigating the Hard Part of Change
Change is one of those things that sounds great in theory. Growth, evolution, new beginnings—it all makes for a solid motivational quote. But the reality is, even when we choose change, it doesn’t always feel great in the moment.
There’s a grieving process when we leave something behind, especially when that “something” includes people we care about. The daily check-ins, the shared inside jokes, the unspoken support system—it all shifts. And that’s okay. Missing it doesn’t mean I made the wrong choice; it just means those connections mattered.
The Unexpected Upside: Growth in the Discomfort
Here’s the thing: as hard as change can be, it’s also the birthplace of growth.
Stepping into something new stretches us in ways we don’t always anticipate. It forces us to rethink our routines, expand our circles, and—most importantly—trust ourselves.
Since stepping back and now away, I’ve had the chance to:
• Look at my career (and what I want next) with fresh eyes.
• Be intentional about maintaining friendships, rather than relying on shared work schedules.
• Push myself into new conversations and communities.
• Learn to sit with the discomfort of change, knowing it’s a sign I’m growing.
Is it still hard some days? Absolutely. Do I still want to send a Slack message to my old team just to say “Hey, guess what ridiculous thing happened today?” Yep. But I’m also realizing that just because something is different doesn’t mean it’s bad—it’s just new.
Holding Onto What Matters & Building What’s Next
One of the best things I’ve learned through this transition is that leaving a job doesn’t mean leaving people behind. It just means we have to be more intentional.
So, I’m making it a priority to stay connected. To send the text, schedule the coffee date, and keep the relationships that mean the most to me. And at the same time, I’m staying open to what’s ahead—to new friendships, new collaborations, and new opportunities that wouldn’t have been possible if I’d stayed in the same place.
If you’re navigating a big change, know this: it’s okay to miss what was while still embracing what’s next. Growth isn’t always comfortable, but it’s always worth it.
And if you need a reminder that you’re not alone in this, consider this it. You got this.
💗 Stephanie