So my situation is weighing on me mentally.
I’ve been in the restaurant industry for a long time. I’m really talented in my specific area of expertise and I’ve worked hard to get to that point.
I have been wanting to get out of town for a little while now. Applied to some jobs just to work service, take a break from management and responsibility and enjoy the core of the job again. One spot began to pursue me, eventually more and more so. Kind of aggressively. Seemingly overnight my role became upper management, it all happened very seamlessly – and yes, they’re compensating me. I was initially stoked on the opportunity. But now I can’t tell if I’m trying to talk myself out of it because of the responsibility and pressure or if I’m trying to convince myself to do it simply as a way to move to a new city. It all happened so fast, a matter or weeks, I never got to sit back and process it. They seem to want me to run the project “their way or the highway” with no collaboration or creative freedom. They talk a big game and the whole staff opening this project seems fantastic, almost too good to be true fantastic. I want to trust it. They talk like I could retire by 50 but aren’t shy about this being a difficult and challenging path. The only other red flag is that they fired the women in the position previously and I can’t tell if they want me out of necessity since they’re opening the doors in two months or if they actually want to utilize my talents.
While all of this is going on my current job – I’m currently number two to my mentor and dear friend and we work directly with one another – offered me a substantial raise, more money than I’ve ever seen and a cushy promotion. This could put me in a financial position where I can buy a house in the next year and open my own place in the next several.
My gut says stay put for a few more years and take the promotion, it could pay off in the long run. I also hear fancy talk like profit share from multiple locations and partnership from the out of town spot. Neither of these are shitty massive chains but both have ambitions for growth.
Maybe third party Reddit can ask the right questions and help me sort out this professional breakdown I feel like I’m having.