Every December 31st, I quit my job. The next day I decide if I want to take the job again for the New Year. It helps me clear the noise and make sure I am 150 percent behind what I am doing and that it is how I want to spend the majority of my waking hours.
Last year was perhaps the hardest year of my career. While learning how to be a co-founder of a company, I was on the road and away from my family. I moved to the opposite coast and away from the rest of my team. There were starts and stops on direction and focus, not feeling deeply connected to our members, and all the realities and challenges of a young startup.
So, on New Year's Eve 2014, I quit.
The following morning I thought long and hard about whether to remain as CEO of my company for 2015. I knew that this wasn't going to be an easy year. Being part of a startup is hard and frustrating work. It is also still challenging for me to be a CEO, dad and husband all at the same time. Most days I feel like I am failing in at least one of those roles -- if not in all three.
Despite it all, however, I knew that this is where I want to be in 2015. I decided to rehire myself. This is the work that matters to me, and I can't think of any other opportunity to make the impact that has even close to the same potential. Now, two months into 2015, I have been more energized and focused. I get to approach this year as if it is the first year of a new job, a new adventure.
I asked each member of my team to undertake the same exercise. Now, I encourage each of you to do the same. You don't have to wait for New Year's Eve. Tonight, when you get home, quit. Take some time to reflect and then decide if you want to rehire yourself tomorrow.
Commit to this exercise every year. It will help you focus on what you want to be doing, and why.
This is my best advice for myself, my team, and you. Are you in?
This post originally appeared on LinkedIn.
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Aaron Hurst is CEO of Imperative, a technology platform helping organizations build cultures alive with purpose. He is also the founder of the Taproot Foundation and author of The Purpose Economy. Follow him on twitter: @Aaron_Hurst