I just quit my job 4 months ago. Our company, Gist, had just been acquired by BlackBerry and I had just returned from a trip to Iceland.

The day I returned home I had a message from a good friend who I had worked with before who mentioned that he wanted to meet, it was urgent and he would be over to my neighborhood soon. (it wasn't even a question I don't think.)

I was already at a bar having a drink and remembered that before I left for Iceland he had kicked up this new startup, Zaarly.com. I figured it was about that but I wasn't sure.

A 4 hour conversation follows into an agreement that I will quit my job & leave in the a.m. on a flight to Kansas City to meet the team. I felt scared and excited. Most of all though, I felt that I had to do this right. I had to quit right.

I called T.A., my good friend and CEO of Gist, and said we needed to get breakfast. I told him I was quitting. I think I teared up. It wasn't because of being mad it was because he was the reason I had this next opportunity. He is the one who believed in me and brought me on at Gist. He took the chance and now I was leaving. I told him one thing, "I want to do this right. I don't want to leave anything on the table and I want to leave with respect. But, can I do it in 3 days because I have to go to Kansas City today, like in an hour and I don't even have a plane ticket yet."

I spent the next 3 days on the road and returned to finish out what would be my "2 weeks" at Gist.

I can honestly say that today I talk with my past co-workers on a regular basis and have great friends from both Gist and Cobalt that I am excited as heck to hopefully work with at sometime in the future.

So, who knows if I made the right decision at this point in time but in my mind the chapter was already closed when we sold to BlackBerry and it was time to take on my next adventure.

I think we can all agree that we live in a different world than that of our parents generation. It's not a bad thing per say, it's just reality.

I spend a lot of time talking to my parents about their successful careers working a blue collar and sales job at the same company for over 30 years. They both feel blessed and lucky to have had such progress and longevity in their careers.

Then there's me. I'm on my 3rd job. It's both crazy, interesting and maybe some would argue... Not the best way to tackle the career world.

I disagree and so does the older generation that I've had the opportunity to work with over the past few years. Things are changing I think. 

The difference between our generation boils down to one thing in my opinion; connectedness.

The simple fact that we can see and hear everything else out there, talk to anyone across the world in an instant and ultimately be found by any company or recruiter out there will make it hard for any skilled worker to not find themselves with opportunity.

What's fascinating to me is the fact that in the future it won't matter what company you are at or what references you submit for your interviews or who you know at the company.... No, what matters is what you've done. That's it. It's the "Trust Economy."

I won't call your references, I'll find a way to get an intro to your old boss. People at different companies will be one degree of separation between other companies and your legacy and skills are all that matter. If you do a shitty job or you are a pain in the ass to work with then it will follow you forever.

For the record, if my last company had not been acquired by BlackBerry I probably would not have left. I believe in finishing the job at hand. Same thing with my first company, Cobalt Group. I built a concept that became an integral part of a bigger offering and I felt like it was my time to leave there as well. (and you learn that if you aren't in on a startup at the beginning then you really don't gain a lot of benefits if they have an exit...so timing matters and going with your gut.) It's that old "Risk and Reward" thing. Cobalt had a sense of closure and it felt like my job was done there. Also, I've never left a job without another job lined up.

Another thing I believe in more than anything is doing things on the side. I was recruited out of my last job because of teams and groups I had worked with outside of my day job. Starting a company on the side and working on teams at startup weekend events are what led me to this path.

Here's the kicker though, I left both jobs with more friends (I think) than when I started. The future is about building bridges when you leave to the next company. Even if you start your own company, it may not last forever for a number of reasons. 

My favorite thing to do is go back to the office, hang with old co-workers, party with them at events and ultimately create life long friendships with all of them.

That's the only way to do it IMHO and if you don't then just beware, it will follow you with everything else you do in the future.

If you leave, leave right and finish your job at hand. Build bridges not burn them and go above and beyond to always give back even after you leave.

To all my past co-workers, thank you so much for all the love and support you have given me and the pavement that you have laid to set the path that I never knew existed.

Without you, I am standing still and I thank you all for that. You are who you're around and a lot of that time is spent with co-workers so make it worth it. 

The future is one that will follow you everywhere and to quote my favorite Avett Brothers song, The Weight of Lies, "When you run make sure you run to something and not away from... cuz' lies don't need an air-o-plane to chase you anywhere."

Welcome to the "Trust Economy." Welcome to the future.