Have you ever stayed in a job you hated because you thought that's just what adults do? Maybe you even convinced yourself it was character building, that being miserable at work was some kind of badge of honor. What if the real sign of maturity isn't suffering through a job you hate, but respecting yourself enough to set healthy boundaries while doing what you love?

Rob McRae, a digital producer, writer, and social media manager, shares his experience transitioning to media after burning out at a Big Four consulting firm, and explains why it’s never too late to discover new skills.

(00:00) What Adults Do
(01:46) First Job After Law School
(04:02) Living for the Weekends
(06:12) Confiding in Coworkers
(11:05) Mental Health and Performance
(15:25) Finding Your Voice Online
(19:32) The Taco Bell Tweet
(21:51) Breaking Into Media
(24:42) Being Who You Are
(27:25) Using Your Imagination
(29:47) Loving Your Job Without Losing Yourself
(30:59) Advice for Managers
(32:34) Final Thoughts

Rob McRae is a producer at Meadowlark Media, who previously worked as a digital producer and staff writer for Desus & Mero, following the show from Vice Media to Showtime. At the age of 30, Rob completely reset his career, moving from a Big Four consulting firm into working in social media at Vice.

Follow Rob on Twitter/X or Bluesky and find his work at latebutstill.com.

See also:

Make Your Own Job, by Eric Baker
Designing Your Life, by Dave Evans and Bill Burnet
Work Won’t Love You Back, by Sarah Jaffe
The Internet is Talking | 2016 Taco Bell Quesalupa Commercial with George Takei
Pablo Torre Finds Out on YouTube

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Work Face is produced by Hear Me Out, a culture strategy firm for leaders with the courage to listen. We help them cultivate trust by having real conversations with employees at all levels about what’s working and what’s not.

Learn more at hearmeout.co and follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, and LinkedIn.