Going Galt: Choosing When to Withdraw Your Energy
I’ve been volunteering for an organization for three years, serving on the board of directors. The 5 of us together made significant, positive changes in our community, and we took a lot of pride in what we did.
Recently, one person in the organization changed, and all of a sudden, the new member showed up with an army of “Flying Monkeys” who have attacked nearly all of our accomplishments. Before I knew it, my 5-10 hours a week as a volunteer became 25-30 hours a week…and most of that time has been spent doing activities I don’t particularly enjoy: like researching the bullshit, overthinking how to respond to the bullshit, and reading 200+ nasty Facebook posts from Flying Monkeys about myself and my team on Facebook. I know we have support from some of the members, but they don’t want to be cyber-bullied by Flying Monkeys either, so only a handful of members post anything showing support.
At this point, I barely have time for myself and the things I HAVE to do. What used to be fun and rewarding is now a total shit show. I don’t get paid, and it’s taking away from revenue generating activities and things I like to do. And then my subconscious mind remembers this book I read in college by Ayn Rand, and I get the“Atlas is about to shrug” download. I started thinking about the book Atlas Shrugged and its infamous question, “Who is John Galt?” which brought me to this week’s blog topic, “Going Galt.” I’m about to “Go Galt.”
The phrase Going Galt originates from Ayn Rand’s 1957 novel, Atlas Shrugged, a sweeping work of fiction that blended philosophy, economics, and political commentary. Rand, a Russian-American writer and philosopher, had lived through the Russian Revolution and the rise of communism before emigrating to the United States. Her experiences with authoritarianism and state control deeply shaped her worldview.
Rand created Atlas Shrugged as both a story and a manifesto. In it, she introduced her philosophy of Objectivism—the belief that reason, individualism, and free enterprise are the highest values. She wrote the novel as a warning: that societies which penalize innovation, productivity, and self-reliance while rewarding entitlement and dependency are destined to collapse.
The novel’s central figure, John Galt, becomes a symbol of resistance. Instead of fighting broken systems, he and other innovators simply withdraw their talents, leaving society to witness what happens when its most capable members stop carrying the burden.
Though controversial in her time and still debated today, Rand’s message has endured. For many, Going Galt has become shorthand for reclaiming personal power by refusing to participate in systems that exploit or undervalue human potential.
The Philosophy of Going Galt
At its core, Going Galt is about recognizing the value of your energy. Your time, talent, and creativity are not infinite. When continually poured into environments that drain rather than nourish, the cost is not only external—it erodes your sense of purpose.
Philosophically, Going Galt invites reflection:
What happens when you stop sustaining systems that diminish you?
How does your absence speak when presence is taken for granted?
Where could your energy create greater alignment, meaning, or impact?
Sometimes, the most powerful act is not confrontation but withdrawal. In this sense, Going Galt is both protest and preservation: a choice to stop fueling what doesn’t serve you and to start honoring your own life force.
The Tension of Responsibility
The decision to step away often brings inner conflict. Many wonder: If I stop, who will pick up the slack? If I leave, who will carry the weight I’ve been holding? These are valid questions. Yet so is the opposite: If I stay, what is the cost to my values, my health, and my future?
Going Galt is not about abandoning responsibility altogether. It is about carefully discerning where your responsibility truly lies—and where it has been misplaced.
Why People Choose to Go Galt
People turn toward this path for many reasons, but the motivations often share common threads:
Exhaustion with exploitation – A breaking point after years of giving more than is ever acknowledged or reciprocated.
A desire for freedom – The longing to live and work on one’s own terms, without unnecessary constraints.
Protest through absence – Withdrawing as a statement that participation in a broken system is no longer acceptable.
Commitment to self-reliance – Building independence—financial, practical, or emotional—as a way of regaining control.
Modern Expressions of Going Galt
Unlike Rand’s industrialists disappearing into a hidden valley, today’s versions are often more practical and personal. They may look like:
Career changes – Leaving a job that undervalues your contributions to build a business or freelance path that reflects your strengths.
Minimalism and downsizing – Simplifying possessions and commitments to reclaim freedom and clarity.
Alternative economies – Participating in bartering, local trade, or decentralized financial systems to reduce reliance on traditional structures.
Self-sufficiency – Learning practical skills such as gardening, home repair, or digital independence to rely less on external systems.
Strategic disengagement – Withdrawing from toxic dynamics, whether in workplaces, communities, or personal relationships.
Humorous, modern-day slang - Take this job and shove it!
Practical Steps Toward Going Galt
If you feel drawn to this path, consider small but intentional shifts:
1. Set Boundaries at Work
Stop accepting endless “extra duties” without recognition. Redirect your energy toward work that builds your long-term goals.
2. Simplify and Streamline
Evaluate what you can let go of—commitments, subscriptions, or even possessions—that drain resources without adding value.
3. Develop Self-Reliance
Build skills that reduce dependency on fragile systems, from managing your finances to preparing your own food.
4. Create Alternative Income Streams
Explore side businesses, freelance work, or investments to gain more control over your livelihood.
5. Disengage with Intention
Not every battle is worth fighting. Learn where to step back gracefully, choosing to invest your effort where it can truly make a difference.
Reflective Questions to Guide You
As you consider what Going Galt might mean in your own life, ask yourself:
Where am I giving energy that is never replenished?
What values are compromised by my current commitments?
If I stepped away, what space would open in my life?
How might I redirect that space toward something more meaningful?
Final Thought
Going Galt is not necessarily about disappearing—it is about being deliberate in how you withdraw. It is recognizing that your energy is valuable and finite, and you have the right to choose where it goes.
For some, it will mean a radical lifestyle change. For others, it may be as simple as drawing clearer boundaries, saying no more often, or investing in projects and relationships that align with their values.
Ultimately, Going Galt is about reclaiming the freedom to live on your own terms. It is less about withdrawing from the world and more about engaging with it consciously—choosing to direct your time, talent, and creativity where they are respected, appreciated, and most powerfully used.
I’m looking forward to doing more of what I love!
