Are You Ready To Give Up The Day Job?
July 5, 2008
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Many people struggle to make the decision to give up their day job, so they can start a business, or become a full-time freelancer. Trouble is, even the phrase, “giving up the day job” can create a barrier, because it implies that you’ll be “giving up” or “going without something” to reach your goal.
Hunter Nuthall has been discussing his future options recently, in his mid year round up. And he’s not sure whether he’s ready to give up the security of a regular wage.
But if you’re thinking of quitting your day job yourself, you might want to check out this interview at Sparkplugging, on how to leave your job and take the freelance plunge in six months.
And if you’re still on the fence, Mark of My Tropical Escape shares 5 Questions You Must Ask Yourself On Your Quest For Personal Freedom.
Perhaps you’re hoping to get started as a freelance writer, Monika Mundell shares the 13 Best Freelance Writing Job Websites.
Maybe you want to build an online business, but you’re not sure where to start. Then check out: The Recipe - 26 Practical Resources for Starting An Online Business.
And once you’ve learned the basics, you’ll want to know what not to do, so check out: 13.2 Ways Not To Get Rich by Men With Pens.
If you want to start out alone and relocate, you may find it useful to read: Is Becoming An Entrepreneur Harder Than Surviving In A Foreign Country by Akemi Gaines.
And if you have no start-up capital at all, check out: How I Made £2952 Online With 0 Investment, by Christine OKelly.
How about you - do you want to give up your day job, or are you struggling? What are your biggest fears?
Or have you already given up your day job? How is it going?
Maybe you haven’t had a day job for years. Would you go back to working for someone else in a heartbeat, or would you sell the shirt off your own back before you’d consider working for someone else?
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15 Responses to “Are You Ready To Give Up The Day Job?”
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Not sure if any of the links point to this, but I’ll add something in case not. If you’re going to give up your day job, spend at least a week surfing for resources for opening a small business.
Yes. Online business is considered a ‘real’ business. Tap into the resources available for loans, grants, funding, etc. Get training in business management or bookkeeping.
Don’t just focus on quitting to start your dream - focus on making sure your dream has a solid foundation for success.
Thanks for the link, Catherine.
James Chartrand - Men with Pens’s last blog post..Pricing Your Design and Writing Services
You’re welcome James. That is great advice for people wanting to start out. It’s far better to get training before you start, rather than afterwards.
I quit my highly stressful job as an Israeli attorney and moved to the U.S. with my husband almost 10 years ago.
Since then, I have either stayed home with the kids or worked part-time. I can hardly be an inspiration to anyone, though, because I am in the interesting position of being a feminist who happens to be married to someone who makes enough money at his “real” career (which he loves and is great at), so that she gets to do whatever she wants.
I am not always comfortable with that position (although I am grateful - it would be silly not to be), but that’s the way life worked out for me.
I currently work part time at a web 2.0 startup, and, regardless of what enabled this lifestyle, I can’t see myself ever going back to the rat race.
vered’s last blog post..Will You Still Love Me When I’m Sixty Four?
Cath,
I spent nearly 20 years running my own business. Since I sold that company, I have been freelancing for 12 years. I could never work for someone else again. Aside from having health issues that require a flexible schedule, I’m far too independent.
Lillie Ammann’s last blog post..In Honor of Our Military Troops on Independence Day
The point is NOT about “giving up” your day job — that’s a very limiting belief — but about enriching your life and others by starting a new business. When you think in terms of “my current paycheck job or my dream business” you’d probably get into the infinite seesaw game. You need a higher viewpoint than that.
I think Selene has this perspective, and that is why she could accelerate her process.
Akemi - Yes to Me’s last blog post..Gratitude Friday, Week 4, Gratitude And Independence
Thanks for the link, Cath. (Why am I calling you Cath all the time now instead of Catherine?) I liked that interview on Sparkplugging.
I think Vered has given me a good idea. Maybe I should marry a sugar mommy! I can understand not being entirely comfortable with that, but I’ll take it over the rat race any day.
Hunter Nuttall’s last blog post..The Introverts Strike Back
I could never go back, although there are times I have been tempted. There’s a huge difference. While I have always worked hard, I’ve found that a job doesn’t compare (stress-wise) to your own business. You can switch off when you’re in a job at night.
You don’t have all those tax and overhead problems to worry about.
While I got a thrill from successes when I worked for others, it doesn’t compare with the thrill of the successes you experience when it’s for yourself.
Ian Denny’s last blog post..Another “Credit Crunch Is A Myth” Article With A Difference
Hi Vered - That was actually a smart move. And I have to admit that I have often thought life would have been much easier if I’d married someone with a high income when I was younger.
Hi Lillie - 32 years is a long time. I guess it would be virtually impossible to work for someone else after all that time.
Hi Akemi - Yes - it is definitely important to approach it in a positive way. Sometimes it seems that folk who hate their dayjob the most struggle do to that though? I wonder why that is?
Hi Hunter - That is weird isn’t it. Did I ever tell you that that big RSS button is not really an RSS button?
A Sugar Mommy is not a bad idea. But it will be tough to find one - because they’re always busy. I once read that there’s some online dating agency where you can meet a multi-millionaire but I don’t know the domain.
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..Are You Ready To Give Up The Day Job?
Hi Ian - You’re up early for a Sunday too. Those are good points. I honestly often found that I couldn’t switch off when I was in a job either though. I’d alays be trying to work something out in my head, our reading or studying something related to work.
The thrill of success is important though isn’t it? When you’re in a job, you don’t often get that feeling - especially with small successes. I think that being a small wheel in a big cog, you often wind up not realising they’ve even happened.
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..Are You Ready To Give Up The Day Job?
[...] Cath asks an important question - Are You Ready To Give Up The Day Job? [...]
You know, I think children should be taught from early on that working for someone else is a stepping stone. It’s a chance to learn the ropes so that you can start your own business on better footing. Giving up the day job, or whatever you want to call it to make it less traumatic, should be a right of passage. Like a bar-mithzba, or a sweet sixteen (quinceañera in Latin America), or college graduation; something that is almost expected of people.
Also, I don’t think it was a move on Vered’s part, I think that’s just how it turned out
Marelisa’s last blog post..Inspiration Sunday, July 6, 2008
Hi Marelisa - Thanks. I hope Vered doesn’t think I meant like she planned it or anything - it was just an unfortunate choice of words.
I like your idea. It would certainly make the world very different. But I guess it would depend on the person. I know lots of people who are really happy working for others and wouldn’t dream of doing anything else.
Hi Cath.
I’ve both given up my day job and had my job taken away on numerous occasions. The results have been incredibly positive! In fact, my most recent post touches briefly on this topic.
What I have learned is how important it is to KNOW what you want to do so that you can outline the steps that are needed to get results. If you don’t know, you will just float around aimlessly.
Davina’s last blog post..Magic Happens
Hi Catherine,
Even though I don’t work for “the man” (or woman), being self employed has responsibilities many don’t consider before venturing out on their own. It’s not always as glamorous as it sounds, nor do all self employed people become gazillionaires.
Although I like being my own boss, if the situation changed and I had to go work for someone, I would. It was from previous employers I got a lot of my real world education. For that, I will be forever grateful.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..Commenting vs Social Media-Is One Better
Hi Davina - knowing what you want is really important. It can cost you if you change your mind. Earlier this year, I realised I was totally on the wrong path and I had to take a big financial loss to put myself in the right direction.
I’m wondering - you say you had your job taken away many times. Did the worry of potentially losing your job again make you concentrate on your future goals more?
Hi Barbara - I know what you mean - being self employed often feels like the least glamorous job in the world. I know a guy who gets so stressed about his business and he says he would happily do something as mundane as shovelling shit all day, if someone would pay him £100k after tax to do so.
I thought you might say that about the job thing. I would do the same for a while if I had to. For some of the countries I’m looking at emigrating to - it’s far quicker to get in if you get a job first and I would be willing to do that for a while. Plus it would give me time to do a lot of research - you’ve really got to see a place to know it
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..Are You Ready To Give Up The Day Job?