Don’t read this article, quit your job, and then come blaming me for your home foreclosure. Just like any outside the box thinking article I am simply here to provide you with a unique perspective on certain concepts. This article is geared towards those people that are constantly complaining about how much they hate their job, yet they don’t do anything about. We always hear people talking about how they are going to quit their job yet no one actually pulls the trigger. I am not here to directly tell you to quit your job, I just want to provide all of you with a few signs of when you should quit your job:
1. Lost your passion. You started off your job by being the first one at their and the last one to leave. Now you barely make it on time and are watching the clock all day. Is this the way you want to spend the rest of your life?
2. Go to work miserable every single day. You wake up everyday and just dream about your upcoming day off or you hope the subway system is not working so you won’t have to go to work. You don’t want to start off everyday of the rest of your life in a miserable state.
3. You have an amazing business idea. Maybe you have discovered an opportunity or maybe you are willing to take a chance that no one else is willing to. Either way if you truly feel you have an excellent business idea then why not try to slowly build the concept until you are financially able to run your business full time.
4. You want to follow your passions. We all have skills that could make us lots of money. Some of us also have the ability to make lots of money following our passions. If you are one of those people that are so passionate about something then why not try making a living off it? Think of all the people that had regular day jobs and ended up becoming professional bodybuilders, internet entrepreneurs, athletes, collectors, and the list goes on and on. Focus on your passions and then money will come in after.
5. You want more freedom. You don’t want to be tied down everyday to the same job and the same boss. Some of us want to find a job where we can excel in what were good at and focus on activities that bring us pleasure.
Bonus tip: If you are new to the workforce you don’t want to get into the habit of working jobs you hate. Prior to selecting a job try to realistically ask yourself if any of the 5 situations will apply to you 6 months down the road.
Interesting thoughts.
I agree with most of what you say. If you’ve got a great business idea, just make sure your bases are covered before you jump out there and roll the dice. You need a good 6 months to a year’s worth of living expenses as liquid as ever to provide for you in case things don’t go well.
Again- cover your bases and then roll the dice.
And you’re right- if you are really struggling with a number of those points, find something else! Life is too short!
I tell students all the time, “we all have to work, we all need an income, and we all need to make a living. Wouldn’t you rather do something you enjoy?” Life is too short to do something you hate. I get paid to do something I absolutely love and get excited about that opportunity each morning. If you’re not living like that on a regular basis, you should find something else.
I absolutely agree about following your passion. In today’s economy though it might not be a great idea to jump right out there and follow your dreams. There aren’t many companies hiring, new hires are usually the first to get the axe. Even if you hate your job, it might not be the best time to switch.
If you have a great idea for a business that follows your passion it might be good to start moonlighting on it. Once you start receiving some income and are confident you can support yourself then you can move on and make it full-time.
@Trevor Yes I agree in the sense that it would make more sense to quit your job once you have saved up enough money to feel confident you can cover your expenses for many months.
@Grant Baldwin Thank you for the support and for your kind words. If you are going to do something for the rest of your life there is no reason you shouldn’t enjoy it.
@Tom There is nothing written in stone that states how much you should have saved. It all depends on your financial situation and risk tolerance. If you live at home it would be easier for you to last longer without an income than someone that is supporting a family.
@Steve It’s true that it’s so difficult to find a job you truly enjoy that you are better off spending your time on trying to start your own business. Instead of being on the job hunt for months you could spend that time on other ventures.