Buyer's Remorse

Buyer’s Remorse is the regret felt after a poor purchase, often occurring soon after spending a significant amount. This regret can stem from the high cost, impulse buying, dissatisfaction with part of the purchase, or considering better options. It’s second-guessing. In real estate, changing your mind can result in losing your earnest money. But what if it’s more personal?

In a new workplace, you feel the adrenaline and excitement with that new job. There’s no buyer’s remorse due to your enthusiasm. But as has been shown elsewhere, people don’t leave their job, they leave their manager. While your allegiance to your new boss starts strong (they hired you after all) frustration or resentment can grow and that dedication becomes unsustainable. After hitching your wagon to a subpar, or even lousy, leader, you second guess your decision, feel frustration and a general sense of dissatisfaction, but that’s not buyer’s remorse, it’s disillusionment.

So what do you do when that disillusionment is too much? Do you cut your losses? Double down? Just hunker down and ride it out? The unsatisfying answer is, “it depends.” Previous posts speak to the fact that too often there is no straw to break the camel’s back, because you’re in for a penny, and in for a pound, and you’ll accept the con artist because they only took your money, but the friend who warned you made you feel stupid. 

In our current climate I’m certain some have buyer’s remorse, but more likely after the lies, unkept promises, bullying, and incoherence, there’s a prevailing sense of frustration and disappointment. Disillusionment can breed passive acceptance; maybe minimize the lies, rationalize the cruelty, defend the indefensible, kind of like that bad workplace. But there is hope. Those disillusioned by the present, can be energized to create a different, positive future where the attributes in the Age of the Heart are embraced and valued.