As many of you have followed my journey through Isagenix, I wanted to tell you that this is the best job I ever had.

But today is my last day at Isagenix. I have been given an opportunity I can’t refuse in California.

However, I wanted to give my praises to Isagenix and I left on a good note.

I found it challenging, rewarding, and I was able to always learn new things. The people there, not only internally, but externally, supported my growth.

Most companies who would find out about the podcast would possibly shut it down, but they encouraged me to keep on going.

The CSO would and still to this last day, put me into the important meetings.

Everyone is cheering me on for the next chapter.

The ultimate goal: founding a company

How to Handle It

I had a 1 on 1 meeting with my CSO. He had this super secret meeting in the morning where I was in before as well. In this meeting, all of the R+D top dogs were there including my boss, so that’s 8 people. The CSO treats me with a lot of respect because I get stuff done so I’m invited to these super stressful meetings because he wants my input on problems, and I get to be the dumbest person in the room.

In that meeting, he said we are the shining examples of the department and we need to set this example as we push the whole company forward. Then a bunch of other things I can’t talk about.

People were hyped after this meeting. Except me, I was going to have a heart attack. After the rest of the people left, I had my 1 on 1 meeting in that room.

I told him that I was going to leave to found my own company, and I wanted to give him a month in advanced. I kept on talking about how this was the best job in the world and how it was because of him, that I was able to be so successful here.

So I kept on blabbing how grateful until I was done and waited for his response.

I looked up and saw him beaming.

He was really happy for me, and we talked about what could happen. I’m so grateful for this.

My boss and a couple of other people had the same reaction. They all agreed that I’ve impacted Isagenix and this was perfectly fine to be…more ambitious.

Better yet, I’m still getting opportunities to participate in high profile meetings and put my input. Yes, I’m leaving, but no one is shutting me out.

The Metrics of Success

A month before I said “I quit”, I asked my CSO, “what do you want me to accomplish here before I leave? If I ever did?”

He told me that it’s not about what I do here, it’s what I do anywhere. It’s not about the goals of the company, he wants to improve me, and if it’s the right decision to leave, then it’s the right decision.

Sometimes, the CSO would tell me “what would make you leave?”

I told him

“I only have two metrics of what would make me want to move to another company.

Creative Freedom and Recognition

If I’m blocked from either of those things, I’ll look for something else.”

Though I did achieve those two things at the end of my Isagenix stint, the opportunity I have is now the absolute apex of creative freedom and recognition.

As a founder of a company, I have 90% of control to direct new product development and the recognition will be all mine for now. Though this whole sentence sounds egotistical, think of this as an artistic perspective. You are now responsible for the outcome of what you do and that can be scary for some, and ambitious for others.

Yet as my CSO has shown me, as our team grows, it is my mission to give credit where credit is due and I hope that my ego won’t consume me. Instead, I want to empower others like my CSO taught me.

So what’s next?

Next week I’ll be going to Chicago for a Protein Technology Seminar. On Wednesday, I have to fly to San Francisco for another conference and I will actually be helping a friend with a media project as well. After I say “hi” to my parents, I’ll be flying back to Phoenix and driving up to the Bay. I’ll be having fun in San Diego and SLO, don’t worry about that!

In June, I’ll be in Sacramento putting the finishing touches on this new adventure. It has nothing to do with the podcast. My cofounders have better credentials than me. I have no idea what I am. I don’t care.

What will happen to My Food Job Rocks? I’ll still continue interviewing people and launching episodes. It’s the highlight of my week. I hope to keep writing. It helps me reflect my actions better. My new team supports me doing this.

Perhaps I’ll take on more side gigs as my salary is cut a significant amount. Maybe I shouldn’t do it because I’ll feel guilty not going 100% on my project.

Yet the podcast and the platform My Food Job Rocks has blurred the lines between my career and fun. It’s not work, yet it benefits my soul. It’s like watching Netflix or dating someone you’ll never see again but the benefits of every single interview has had a long term effect on me.

For me, I always take the path more volatile. I find it makes you grow faster. This will be a bumpy ride, but with your help, we can get through this.