Some jobs are nightmares, or what Peter F. Drucker referred to as widow makers.

Theyll vex you or bury you in record time, but for a host of reasons, theyre hard to simply leave.

A mortgage might keep you plugging away, or school expenses for the kids, or just a desire to feed yourself next week. Plus, most of us are reluctant to give up at anything, having been reared with the ethic that says, Quitters never win, and winners never quit!

How can you know if the best path to take leads you out the door, as soon as possible?

Here are some broad guidelines:

(1) Do you dread walking in that door every day?

(2) Do you feel your tether is fraying with you co-workers, or with one in particular?

(3) Is it impossible to imagine being there for longer than the shortest possible time?

(4) Do you waste a lot of precious personal or family time complaining about it?

(5) Does it seem little setbacks, petty annoyances, and minor frustrations take an inordinate toll on you?

If you answered yes to most or all of these, you may be a misfit in that job, literally.

As an experiment, see if you can wangle some time off, because Aunt Minnie is visiting from Pluto, or because of a feigned flu.

Stay at home, or do minor errands, and monitor your energy level.

Suddenly, are you exuberant, revved up like a high performance engine, or are you feeling guilty and missing the place, at least a little?

If youre a live wire, or it feels a rock has been lifted, then you might consider leaving, on whatever schedule will suit your patience, needs, and pocketbook.