Indicators for considering whether to continue your job or change jobs, based on job satisfaction and compensation

Should I continue this job as it is? Or should I change jobs?
You have likely thought about this more than once or twice.

I will create a 4-quadrant matrix to show why this thought arises. The two axes are Job Satisfaction (Yes/No) and Compensation (Yes/No). This is a detailed look at an article I posted previously (Why did you start a second life? What are the reasons for deciding to resign?). I will examine the relationship between job satisfaction and compensation.

A: Job is fulfilling/satisfying + Compensation is sufficient/commensurate

This is the ideal form.
Many people would want to be in this state.
And it is a state that one would want to maintain forever.

If asked, 'Are you considering resigning?'
Since you have achieved your desired state, you would not consider resigning.
However, if you are aiming for even greater heights, you might consider resigning, changing jobs, or starting a business.
(I fell into this category, so I resigned.)

B: Job is boring/unsatisfying + Compensation is sufficient/commensurate

Question: Why are you working?
If the answer is to secure living expenses, then maintain your current job and keep working.
If the answer is that you want to do work that utilizes your potential, contribute to society, or if the work is boring and you are unsatisfied, then change jobs.

Question: A company is a place to go to receive a salary for living.
People with a high percentage of 'Yes' as an answer are in this zone.

To recognize your personal values, I think it is a good opportunity to start by acknowledging that you are in this zone.

A life full of complaints is not desirable for yourself or for those around you, is it? If you re-recognize your personal values and realize that there are no countermeasures for your complaints, I think you will no longer need to say such negative words.

If I were in this zone, I would change jobs immediately.

C: Job is fulfilling/satisfying + Compensation is insufficient/lacking

This is an ideal zone where you are working in a job that involves your dreams or strengths, where you can improve your skills through the tasks assigned to you, or where you are working in a good workplace environment. However, the compensation is not sufficient or is lacking.

Since it is fulfilling, you might be torn between continuing the job, changing jobs for better pay, or supplementing the shortfall with a side job or part-time work.

This is likely a zone where you determine your priorities while repeatedly re-examining your desired self and questioning whether this is okay in relation to your life goals.

If I were in this zone,
I would choose to continue this job even if the pay is low.

The reason is that my priorities are clearly defined as '1. Health > 2. Purpose in life > 3. Money,' and the second priority, purpose in life, corresponds to job satisfaction.

And I would choose not to worry about the low compensation and not to complain about it.

D: Job is boring/unsatisfactory + Compensation is insufficient/lacking

This zone is straightforward.
Change jobs immediately. There is no need to hesitate.

I have heard that many people hesitate to change jobs because everyone has their own circumstances. First, please recognize that if we are discussing this solely based on two axes (job satisfaction x compensation), changing jobs is the only option, and there is no room for debate.

Perhaps those who are feeling hesitant are doing so because other factors (human relationships, location, anxiety, courage, skills, physical condition, etc.) come to mind.

I think that if you carefully examine which has a higher priority than the two axes, you will be able to see whether to continue your job or change jobs.

Summary: To put it simply using inequality signs

A: Job is fulfilling/satisfying + Compensation is sufficient/commensurate
Job OK = Compensation OK -> Continue working
Job OK > Compensation OK -> Continue working in the best possible way
Job OK < Compensation OK -> I resigned in this situation

B: Job is boring/unsatisfactory + Compensation is sufficient/commensurate
Job NG < Compensation OK -> Continue for the sake of living
Job NG > Compensation OK -> Change jobs for self-actualization

C: Job is fulfilling/satisfying + Compensation is insufficient/lacking
Job OK < Compensation NG -> Change jobs, take a side job, or work part-time for the sake of living
Job OK > Compensation NG -> Continue the fulfilling job

D: Job is boring/unsatisfactory + Compensation is insufficient/lacking
Job NG = Compensation NG -> Change jobs immediately
Job NG < Compensation NG -> Change jobs immediately
Job NG > Compensation NG -> Change jobs immediately

Job OK < Compensation OK -> I decided to resign in this situation

This time, I discussed it based only on two axes (job satisfaction x compensation). In life decisions, it is not that simple, is it?

That is why I spent 8 years examining the priorities of my own values and repeated my own personal workshops. Honestly, my impression is that decision-making is complicated.

Since complex and wide-ranging considerations kept emerging, I needed to go through the process of setting priorities simply each time.

Currently, I have retired and started my second life without changing jobs.

I believe I have devoted a lot of time to thinking, but now that my second life has begun, I feel like I am justifying my choices when I put them into text on note. It seems like I am telling myself that my choices were not wrong when I think about it this way.

Is it a bit of an excuse...?

Let's call that okay too. I consider it a technique to have confidence in my own life and to increase my self-affirmation.