Systems and Processes 101

Part 1 Jake's Story
(It could be yours)

At 27 years old, Jake sat at his desk, staring blankly at the glow of his computer screen.

The fluorescent lights above buzzed faintly, blending with the sound of constant typing from his coworkers. "I hate my job" he muttered.

To him, it was the sound of despair.

This wasn’t the life he had imagined.

He was supposed to thrive, live his dream, and work in a field he was passionate about. Instead, he was stuck in a job he loathed, drowning in endless reports and meetings that seemed to serve no purpose.

Jake sat at his desk, staring blankly at the glow of his computer screen.

Jake had hit a wall. His days were monotonous, his evenings spent mindlessly scrolling through social media, envying the lives of others.

His nights were restless, filled with anxiety about what the next day would bring.

I Hate Going to Work

It wasn’t just his job, he hated himself for getting to this point.

Jake was drowning his sorrows at his local bar. His cell phone was open, displaying a half-written letter of resignation.

On a late Friday night, Jake was drowning his sorrows at his local bar. His cell phone was open, displaying a half-written letter of resignation. He was toying with the decision to send.

Quit Your Job

When Jake Meets John

An older man sat down next to him. Jake acknowledged him and observed his calm yet commanding presence.

Jake looked at the stranger. Studied his posture and made an instant judgement. He liked him.

“Rough day?” the man asked, setting his beer down.

Jake gave a half-hearted nod, “Yeah, something like that.”

“I hate my job,” he continued “I feel stuck, like I’ll never get out of this rut. I’ve tried everything nothing works.”

The man smiled knowingly. “I know how you feel. I have been down that path.”

Jake looked at the stranger. Studied his posture and made an instant judgement.

He liked him.

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“Did you hate your job, hate the boss, hate the brain-dead zombies that take up your space?” Jake ranted on and on.

Dumping issue after issue on the stranger.

Then he went quiet.

They both studied each other. Each poised.

The stranger held out his hand, “I’m John.”

Then the stranger held out his hand, “I’m John.”

Jake responded. “Jake, I apologise for all that crap I just laid on you.”

They shook hands.

John ordered another two beers.

“So, Jake, it sure sounds like you need to fix this issue,” said John.

Reasons To Quit a Job

After about 30 minutes of Jake ranting on and on, he was pretty much exhausted.

He had never opened up to anyone like this before.

John didn’t speak for what seemed an eternity.

Jake sipped on his beer and stared into space.

Then John looked at Jake and said something John still remembers to this day.

“What’s your plan?”

“Plan! Plan!. I do not have a plan.” Jake amplified, feeling quite inadequate.

“Jake, I mentioned that I have been down that path. I have been where you are now. I am 72 years old and I’m betting you are around the 30 mark. You don’t have a plan. This is not unusual. Have you ever heard of systems and processes 101?”

Introducing Systems and Processes 101

Jake raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like 'Corporate HO' speak.”

“Far from it,” the man replied. “It’s a way of reengineering your habits and your life. It’s what saved me years ago when I was exactly where you are now.”

Intrigued, Jake gestured for him to continue.

John told his story. Forty-two years earlier, he too had been stuck in a dead-end job, consumed by negativity and hopelessness. “What changed everything,” John explained, “was realizing, my life was a reflection of my systems and processes—or lack thereof.”

John described how he had begun to view his habits as if they were components of a business. Just like a company needs efficient systems and processes to succeed, so did he. By breaking his life into manageable areas—work, health, relationships, and personal growth—he started building small but effective habits.

How To Know It's Time to Quit my Job

“Think of your life as a business, Jake,” John said. “If your systems are flawed, your results will be too. But if you improve your systems, success will follow.”

They exchanged contact details and called it a night.

Jake decided to give it a shot. He spent the weekend reflecting on his routines and habits, or more accurately, the lack of them. He realized he had no structure, no clear goals, and no processes to guide him.

No plan.

It was chaos.

Jake Starts the Plan

Jake started small. Inspired by John’s advice, he implemented a morning routine designed to set the tone for his day.

He woke up 30 minutes earlier, spent 10 minutes journaling his thoughts, and dedicated 15 minutes to reading a book on personal development.

These were simple actions, but they felt monumental.

He woke up 30 minutes earlier, spent 10 minutes journaling

Next, he tackled his workday. Instead of letting emails and tasks overwhelm him, he created a system.

He prioritized his to-do list, set blocks of time for focused work, and even scheduled short breaks to recharge.

Slowly, he felt a sense of control returning to his life.

But Jake didn’t stop there.

He applied the principles of systems and processes 101, as he called it to his personal goals.

He revisited his dream of becoming a graphic designer, something he had abandoned years ago.

It's Not About the Money

He broke the goal into smaller steps. He researched online courses, made time to practice, and built a portfolio.

John met with John regularly

He met with John regularly.

John had become his mentor and his friend.

The Change

After a few months, Jake’s life looked completely different.

His mornings were purposeful, his workdays productive, and his evenings fulfilling.

The negativity that had consumed him began to dissipate.

His coworkers noticed the change, commenting on his newfound energy and focus.

One day, his manager called him into the office. Jake braced himself for bad news, but instead, he was met with praise.

“Your recent performance has been outstanding,” his manager said. “We’d like to offer you a new role, one with more responsibility and creative input.”

This was the first time Jake felt proud of himself in years.

It was the first time Jake felt proud of himself in years. The systems and processes he had implemented were paying off, not just in his job but in his entire life.

From Loathing to Loving

Jake’s transformation didn’t stop at his current job.

Armed with the confidence he had gained, he began applying for positions in the graphic design industry.

The portfolio he had meticulously built caught the attention of a leading design firm, and within a year, he had landed his dream job.

Jake thought back to that night with a chance meeting with John.

Sitting in his new office, surrounded by creativity and inspiration, Jake thought back to that night with a chance meeting with John. That surely had been the catalyst.

John’s mentoring and the principles and implementation of systems and processes 101 truly changed his life.

“Life doesn’t change by accident,” John had said. “It changes when you change your systems.”

Jake was living proof of that. By focusing on his habits and processes, he had not only escaped the rut he was in but had also unlocked his full potential.

The Take Away

Jake’s story is a testament to the power of getting your systems and processes together.

Your current life, much like Jake’s, is a reflection of the habits and systems you’ve built—or neglected. If you’re unhappy, if you feel stuck, it’s time to evaluate those systems.

Start small. Identify the areas of your life that need change and create simple, actionable processes to address them. Whether it’s a morning routine, a career goal, or personal growth, every step you take builds momentum.