When to Quit (Jobs or People): How “Jolts” Drive Big Changes | Anthony Klotz
3/9/202652 min
How do you know when to leave a job or relationship? Look for the jolts.
Ready to quit your job but unsure if it’s right? A single comment, missed opportunity, or subtle slight can suddenly make everything feel different. But is it really time to leave, or is something deeper happening?
We’ve all had that moment when work or even a relationship feels off. Maybe it’s a meeting that hits differently, a colleague who leaves, or a new role that doesn’t match what was promised. In this conversation, you’ll learn why these moments feel so powerful, and how to respond with clarity instead of impulse.
Anthony Klotz is a professor of organizational behavior at the UCL School of Management and the researcher who predicted the Great Resignation. An award-winning scholar on the psychology of work and author of Jolted: Why We Quit, When to Stay, and Why It Matters, he studies why we leave jobs, why we stay, and how major career decisions shape our lives.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- The hidden psychological trigger that explains why a small workplace moment can suddenly feel career-altering
- A simple diagnostic process to determine whether it’s truly time to quit, or time to recalibrate
- The surprising reason the first year in a new job is the most likely time to leave
- How “quiet quitting” can be reframed as a strategic reset instead of disengagement
- The overlooked cost of leaving, including the social capital and goodwill you may not realize you’re giving up
If you’re questioning your job, wrestling with burnout, or navigating uncertainty about your career path, this conversation will help you slow down, think clearly, and make a wiser next move.
You can find Anthony at: Website | LinkedIn | Episode Transcript
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsJonathan Fields· Host0:01
So have you ever had one of those moments at work where something kind of small happens, a comment, a meeting, a shift in tone, and suddenly you're just thinking, "I am done"? Maybe you've even Googled how to quit your job without burning bridges. So here's the thing. Those moments aren't random. They're what today's guest calls jolts, and they can just completely reshape your relationship with work if you understand what they are and how to unlock their power. And it's not just about work. It's about your relationships. It's about life. Anthony Klotz is a professor of organizational behavior at UCL School of Management and the researcher who predicted the Great Resignation. His new book is called Jolted: Why We Quit, When to Stay, and Why It Matters. And this conversation, we unpack why a single moment can make you question everything. We explore the psychology behind those sudden urges to leave, why the first year in a new job is often the most fragile, how quiet quitting may actually be a healthy reset, but not in the way you think, and how to tell the difference between a temporary emotional spike and a signal that real change is needed. If you've been feeling unsettled about work lately, this one is for you. So excited to share this conversation. I'm Jonathan Fields, and this is Good Life Project. [upbeat music] Good Life Project is sponsored by Bill, an intelligent finance platform that helps businesses and accounting firms