Onyi NProduct Marketing Manager, Quely · Product Marketing Manager at Quely

I Knew I Wasn’t Ready for the Role

6 Apr 2026 · 2 min

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1:47

In this candid monologue, the speaker recounts their experience as a project manager at a small startup, describing how they felt overwhelmed by the revenue‑focused responsibilities that the role demanded. They observed heightened tension within the team, a lack of clear guidance for client acquisition and retention, and recognized that their skill set and career aspirations did not align with the needs of the business. After a period of self‑reflection, they initiated an honest conversation with their boss, leading to a mutual decision that parting ways was the best course of action for both parties.

Chapters

It just felt like everything was over my head. I couldn't really tell exactly where the issue was from, right? And it required that you start thinking revenue. Yeah. A project manager in a small company like that, a startup, let me say, virtually everybody has to be thinking about revenue. It was just not something my mind was cut out for yet. at that point in time because I had not even figured out what exactly I wanted to do. So I saw that everybody was tense, and I felt that we needed somebody who understands the field very well to be able to guide a team. Because, okay, I mean, the marketing team, these business developers— Yeah. Everybody was trying to bring clients in, trying their best, but the effort was just not I didn't know what was needed to sustain the business. So we had to start— what are the different other ways to source for our clients, to retain our clients, which I didn't have. So I just had to have an honest conversation with myself. I didn't want to get to the point, you know, when you get— you get to the point where they start pointing fingers, you know. Yeah. This person needs to go, this person needs to go. I knew that what they needed at that time was just not me. We, my boss and I had to like sit down and have that honest conversation that, okay, this is it. This is what I want to do with my time. And I don't think I have an excuse for this yet. And he also acknowledged it. We had that mutual understanding that, yeah, it is just best for us to like part ways.