Going back to a prior thread on this board, I follow the "Loose Lips Sink Ships" approach. I'm very vague when discussing business with others.

If you're leaving a job to work full-time on your sites, that tells people those sites are making money. Those people are going to sit around with groups of friends/relatives and tell them about the person quitting their job where they work to work on web sites full time.

If they know your sites, that's like a roadmap for the motivated person. You did it with time and hard work. Someone else is very likely to "borrow" what you have created and make it as their own.

Loose Lips Sink Ships.

FarmBoy

Drop a few vague hints about personal writing projects (perfectly true) but word it so they'll assume you're writing a novel.

It's been 21 years, so I can't remember what I said except "good-bye." :-)

I just told them "I'm retiring" with a big smile on my face.

Be proud, tell them when you are leaving and why! No sense hiding the truth.
They will find out sooner than later that your on the net and doing well.

Hey, as far as stealing your ideas, not likely. They are still doing the 8 to 5
and wont have the time or inclination to do so.

If your worried about idea thieves, they will be the unknown out there cruising
in cyberspace.

Be bold, go forth and triumph!...KF

When I quit my job that I worked at for 6 years, I simply told them that I was going to start my life over again.

Aunt Fluzy just died and left me a trust fund.

Covers everything.

I once worked for a large multi national, the staff were all corporate soldiers/dreamers, when I said Im leaving to go work fulltime in a business that was already running and had employees, out came the knives.

Savage underhand comments were thrown at me when I was just within ear shot, when the leaving card was being passed around I wandered into a signing - comments were harsh.

It was all pure jealousy.

So now when I give up a contract and im not going onto another job I tell them Im going to work for a friend.

So I rarely now do I say where Im going or what im doing.

I basically said 'take this job and shove it'. But I went from a totally different type of job, from working for a city government that was mostly inhabited by dinosaurs and dodo's.

So that may not be appropriate for all situations :p

Imply that you're going into the sex industry. They'll stop talking about it.

FourDegreez, you’re not obligated to tell anybody anything. Courtesy and common sense dictates that you give proper notice to those that matter (company and personal).

As a side thought, I told everybody the big picture of what I was and had been doing as I have nothing to hide. I also told them about my new offshore yacht ;) I was planning to spend more time on.

Either route you take, be nice (don't burn bridges).

I had never the problem, because I was all the time self employeed.

I only shifted more time to AdSense.

But in Your situation, I would tell, that I have a new job as a jounralist writing for some magzines.

That's the truth, I have my own online magazines,
I write articles for my own online magazines.

Most people see publishing on my web sites as a hobby, they have no idea, that somebody could live by it.

I just told them "I'm retiring" with a big smile on my face.

Same Here. The expression on their faces was priceless, since I wasn't even 40 years old. I even employee some of my ex coworkers from time to time.

I avoided answering the question directly in many cases, in others I just said creating my own websites. Some asked what the websites were for, a few asked what the addresses were. And there were a few good friends who were genuinely interested. Those I told not to click on any ads and explained why. Never tell anyone, except those special few, the address of a website if they are near pencil and paper.

People have very short memories is my experience but maybe that's because my friends like more than the odd drink or two.

Imply that you're going into the sex industry.

That's assuming one's not already in the industry.

I'm with the "not discussing your sites with acquaintances" approach.

I told my co-workers exactly what I was doing. I wanted to "spread the word" on my sites. I told them I'm thinking of it as "semi-retirement" in my 30's. LOL. I've only been doing this exclusively for less than two months now. I'd say I'm doing it full-time but I'm not ;-)

"Well it was either that or go to jail for murder."

:-)

I guess it would depend if you put in a few weeks notice, or if you just split. I myself put in a few weeks notice, and had worked at the company for around five years. And by the end, I didn't like my job at all.

I told all of my co-workers the same thing in an email I sent to the whole company. Here's the readers digest version:

"We've laughed together, we've cried together, and through the good and the bad, we're all still friends. Today's my last day, and I'll miss you all. Here's my cell phone number if anyone wants to go get a beer sometime."

Trust me, there were some harsh and honest things I wanted to say to several people. But I figured I would keep my message nice, because you never where you'll see someone you pissed off.

Who knows, maybe someone you couldn't stand happened to liked you. And maybe that person ends up at another company and wants to use you as a vendor? Staying on their good side could make you money. Stranger things happen.

Always leave on a positive note. No point in burning a bridge, even if it's a poorly built one.

That's my 2 pennies.
-JB

I just left and said I'm leaving to "Consult" full time.. they don't need to know anything more..

I just left and said I'm leaving to "Consult" full time..

Who did they assume you would be consulting?

Judah_Ben, well said.

Trust me, there were some harsh and honest things I wanted to say to several people. But I figured I would keep my message nice, because you never where you'll see someone you pissed off.

I think if you had said them, you would have a few more "prisoners in mind". Those prisoners consume brain resources. The best way is to let them go free and you go free as well. You will have more chance of forgetting them if you want it.

:) The prison in my mind is to be shutdown soon, I will have temporary detention centers though. ;)

[edited by: Habtom at 8:15 am (utc) on Aug. 21, 2007]

>>What to Tell Coworkers When Quitting?

ha, just get into 'boss' mode already - there's no need to tell them anything, just that you are leaving.

If your co-workers have a good sense of humor, say you've decided to join a monestary. (If the "joining the sex industry" doesn't go over well.)

Or, adopt a bug-eyed face and tell people you've just joined <insert your favorite cult> and ask them if they have found inner peace yet. (That should put an end to any further questions from them.)

Otherwise, I'd also opt for the "Private Consultant" explanation. If anyone asks further, just say you have confidentiality agreements that prohibit your discussing your clients.