There are few more painful dilemmas in life than the decision as to whether or not you should quit your job.
That’s where I was in November 2011. I had just one writing client who had paid me a grand total of $450 in October – approximately one tenth of my outgoings.
Despite that, I made the decision to quit. That may seem like a foolish move given the circumstances, but I didn’t actually feel like it was a difficult decision. At the end of the day, I valued my happiness more than I valued job security.
The Reality of Risk
Moreover, I recognized that staying in my job was arguably more of a risk than quitting. By staying in my job I would be risking unhappiness and perhaps even depression in the long run. I would be risking a lifetime of what ifs and regrets. I would be leaving my fate in someone else’s hands.
That to me was an unacceptable outcome. I wanted to determine how much I earned. I wanted to decide how and where I worked. I wanted to determine what I did between the hours of nine and five (and beyond). I wanted to take a stand against conventional wisdom and rail against the concept that one should spend a huge proportion of their life under the direction of another person.
If you are reading this then you are probably not happy in your work. If you are not happy in your work then you are probably not happy in your life; certainly not as happy as you could be. Your happiness is the most important thing in the world – without it you cannot lead a fulfilled life or positively affect those around you.
Accept the Reality of Your Situation
One of the keys to leaving work behind is in understanding that there is simply too much at stake to plan for future possibilities. Instead, plan for a future eventuality.
Your only option is to quit your job. Few things should take precedence over this decision.
There are many factors keeping you from handing in your notice tomorrow morning. You may feel that some of them are insurmountable. I am here to tell you that nothing is insurmountable. Not only can you quit your job, you need to.
Now I’d like you to share what’s holding you back in the comments sections below, and I want us all to try to help each other with the issues we face, without judgement. I look forward to hearing from you!
Photo Credit: quinn.anya
If someone quits their job, it should only ever be after very very careful consideration… especially if there is no next-job lined up and/or a career involved AND never ever simply on a whim. Not saying you are suggestion anything otherwise in your post of course… just saying is all.
…But DO YOU agree with that Tom? That is MY question..I’m feeling like Brin didn’t read what you said right. No offense, Brin!
Yes I do! You should never quit your job on a whim. Having said that, you shouldn’t necessarily wait until you are ‘100% safe’ – it doesn’t exist.
There’s a difference between being sensible and using ‘not being ready’ as an excuse.
You should of course always bear the practicalities in mind Brin; you’re absolutely right. I would never suggest otherwise.
Couldn’t agree more !
As much as one may want to just wish away his/her job, everyone doesn’t have the nerve to sustain what comes next. A more gradual transition with investing one’s time and energies in his area of interest and ultimately building enough pedestal to let go of the “Not so likeable ” job seems to be a more plausible route.
That being said, I still wish i could just, just quit 🙂
Don’t/didn’t we all. It wouldn’t be worth it if it were so easy 🙂
i guess it depend which country you are in, for example in singapore the living cost is very high.
Never quit your job, get laid off instead. If you quit, you don’t get health care, severance, and unemployment benefits. It’s good to have as long a runway as possible!
Sam
Very true Sam, but “Why You Need to Quit Your Job (Or Get Laid Off With a Generous Severance Package)” is a bit of a wordy headline and not really within the scope of my knowledge. That’s what you’re here for!
I would say “it depends”.
Do you like your job? Are you getting paid well? Do you manage to do your job stuff faster than 9to5?
In that case I’d suggest to start a business in your free time and see if it works for you.
But if you hate your job and it always keeps you busy without a chance to do something for yourself – just drop it.
but it’s just me 🙂
I’m not encouraging anyone who likes their job to quit in a hurry Tim 😉
It seems people really are not reading your article properly!
I have quit many jobs on a whim and tbh there was nothing wrong with it. I did what I really felt. What else can one do!
I think if one is working a job where you are over worked underpaid shows you lack serious self esteem and are a bitch to this weird system.
Even the responses here show how conditioned and brain washed people are to not take risks. Just remember everyone here this one crazy fact. YOU HAVE ONE LIFE AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT YOU WILL BE DEAD EITHER BURIED OR CREMATED AND THEN THAT IS IT! So I say to hell with anything that makes you unhappy (unless you are in to emotional self harm then keep what you are doing and stay in a job that makes you unhappy) Otherwise get out there and open your eyes to the gleaming beautiful world that exists outside the four walls you call WORK!
Good day to you all!
Totally agree with that ! I like my job in the hospital as an international patients asst., but i want also have a better income and express myself through blogging what i like !
Two years ago, I decided to work as a freelancer. It was never easy but it’s a fulfilling journey. My advice would be an old adage, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. If you have guys have time, I wrote about my big leap on my blog. Here’s the link:
http://www.adventuresofafreelanceyuppy.com/raw-confessions-of-a-former-journalist-to-a-full-time-freelancer
Thanks for sharing Mon 🙂
Hi Tom!
Always a pleasure 😀 This community/blog resonates with me a lot. Happy to be part of the conversation.
I agree with Tom. We have to step out on faith and–as a businessman told me years ago–Ask God questions. The answers will come very quickly.
For example, Tom gave a list of platforms to make a living: Vayable, Zaarly, TaskRabbit, etc. Then a woman maintains Dream Home Based Work website & videos. Someone else wrote about shooting a job proposal to up and coming businesses.
Yes, we need money; and, we need peace of mind to dream, think, plan and execute.
That’s all there is Akosua 😉
Hells yeah.
Some people are just not meant to be employees. I want to decide how much I make. I want to work for value, not hours spent sitting at a desk. I want to choose my hours.
No matter how much I loved the work, being an employee stifled so many things in me that it made me miserable. I know I can bring value to the world–and I won’t let someone else tell me what that is–or put a price on it.
Hells yeah Anabelle!
Well I’m stuck guys – at least I feel like it. I am the bread winner and have 5 mouths to feed. My husband has his own business – a brick and mortar and he is in the beginning stages where he is not making any money.
The thing is I’ve made great money online. But then I got a little lost and frustrated at not being able to feel like I could leave the job for fear reasons…and my income went way down as a result.
Plus We’ve been through two bankruptcies already. So I know what it’s like to hit rock bottom and can’t go there again. I’m working on building my online income back up and then I hope to say goodbye. I CANT STAND my job and I MUST leave because I know it’s not what I’m supposed to be doing. Plus it’s holding both of us back (I could be much more successful and so could he).It’s just now I have to build my online income up again and that takes time.
I’m just a little scared my income will tank again and this time I won’t have my job to fall back again. Any advice?
Hey Kel,
You need to quantify a sense of security. How much money would you want in the bank and/or how much would you need to be earning? Once you know that, you can start to work towards it as a tangible goal.
Remember that everything in life carries risk. There is inherent risk in staying in your job; you may feel 100% secure but job security is almost never assured. Not to mention the risk to your state of mind!
Cheers,
Tom
I am in no position to offer real advice and am in a somewhat similar situation, although I’m not the sole bread winner. Sending positive energy. I hope we both make the best decision for ourselves and our families. I will say a couple of things. Your family needs a healthy, happy bread winner. Not one who dreads work every day and comes home irritable and discouraged. Also, we are setting an example for our kids. (I only have one, but I want her to be brave, kind, responsible and happy.) Whatever we do, we probably need to keep that in mind. I do not want my daughter to grow up to be selfish and irresponsible, but I also do not want her to give up on her dreams because other people don’t believe she can accomplish them.
Also, I will share the last words my grandmother said to me before she said goodbye. She was 96 years old. She said, “Whatever you want to do, do it now. Don’t wait until you’re too old.” The woman never gave me bad advice.
Could you get a different, part-time job that you don’t hate while you build up your online income?
You couldn’t have timed this better, Tom! I would love to quit my job tomorrow morning but, I am being held back by a contract. The ironic thing is, I already have 1 year’s worth of savings to fall back on, and I know what’s the next thing I want to invest my time in. But I have set my quit date one year from now. That’s when my contract expires.
I have also been researching the topic of what holds people back from quitting. In fact, this is almost exactly what I wrote about in my last post. This is not just another plug, I share it because I know you are interested in the topic. And it contains a few surprising reasons why people are unable to quit their jobs.
Here’s the link – http://quitbefree.com/17-mistakes-preventing-you-from-quitting/
Same here, Debashish — I’m being held back by a contract.
A fellow prisoner! 🙂
Hi Rhoda. Nice to meet you.
The only thing that’s keeping me sane (while biding my time until I can quit) is looking at this job as an enabler. It provides me the money to build my safety net, invest in education and skill building etc.
I realized that when I was looking at my job as something that was holding me back, I actually wan’t doing anything besides obsessing about how I couldn’t quit. The mindset of “what can I do while in the job” has helped me a lot.
Hang in there. One day we will be free!
Great post Debashish! A great addition to the comments here. Thanks for sharing 🙂
My pleasure, Tom. I’ve missed your “quit your job posts”. So glad you decided to write one again. 🙂
I’m so glad I found your site. I got laid off in August. I’ve been telecommuting for the past two years, and loved that part of the job. But I’ve always wanted to freelance. I need an income, but I do have a tiny bit of $ to fall back on if necessary. While drawing severance, I’ve made some great contacts and believe I could make a go of it.. But now I’m being offered a full-time 8-5 job in a local office. It’s a great job, but nothing I’m passionate about, and I dread going back to the office grind. My heart is saying “No, run for the hills!” But my head and a lot of other sensible voices are telling me to jump on it. Don’t throw away a solid opportunity for a pipe dream, and so forth. I am at that proverbial fork in the road. I already bought health insurance for my family, but I need an income to keep paying for it! I know what I want to do. But I’m not sure I have the stomach for it. I’m beyond nervous, but I feel like I need to either totally go for it or give it up. Thanks for the encouraging words. I’m still not sure what I’m going to do, but thanks for sharing your experiences and insight. By sundown today, I plan to make my decision.
And I would welcome any advice or encouragement. I’ll make my own decision, but I want to consider it from as many angles as possible.
What would you lose if you have an 8-5? Would you have peace? Would you have to live your life around what your company wants or what actually works for you and your family wholistically? I believe you know what the right answer for you is…have the courage to do it.
Hey Janet,
I may already be too late, but here’s my two cents…
Sensible voices will always tell you to take the job, but I wouldn’t let those voices influence you too much. of course taking a job that’s being offered to you right now is the safest option, but not everything in life should come down to the safest choice, otherwise we’d avoid all risk to the extent of barely living life.
Cheers,
Tom
Hi Janet,
I hope you made the decision to not take the job. Because when you go to bed at night and are unable to sleep because you are wondering where your life is headed and how you ended up here, there won’t be any sensible voices to comfort you.
You will be alone with your heart, and you won’t have an answer.
Don’t take it! I think sometimes the Universe tests us to see if we’re serious about wanting to strike out on our own. I think you’ll regret not going for freelancing.
I did not take the job. I explained politely that I’ve decided to freelance and would love to work with them. He still tried to talk me into taking the job and said he hoped I’d change my mind. It is nice to know I did not burn the bridge. Who knows, they may end up being my client. Thanks for the support!
Sounds like you went about things in the best possible way Janet! Excited for you!
I am just now researching work at home/build business options. My biggest fear is that I am not a sales person. I can price and negotiate with the best of them…I have zero sales game. I have not quit my job because I have mouths to feed. I did take a step back in a successful position simply because there was no way to coexist with my work and private life. I figured if I have to be plugged in and available for a job, it needs to be my own. Not for the betterment of people who really only care about dollar signs.
Do you mean selling your services or products online? I wouldn’t let that hold you back. There are courses you can take, and you can reframe your thinking about it, too. It doesn’t have to be “salesy” to be effective.
Hey Lynne,
I hate sales. I try not to do it as much as possible. I’d rather just put myself out there in a genuine manner and hope that people can take value from what I have to offer.
It’s certainly not going to lead to me maximizing my income, but as long as I can make a living, I’ll be happy with my non-salesy approach!
Cheers,
Tom
I took the leap you are describing recently. I wasn’t unhappy in my job. However, I also was not fulfilled and did not feel my bosses appreciated me.
Anyway, I am now a freelance writer (and tutor – prev. was a h.s. English teacher). It has been tough going. My savings are shrinking as I struggle to bring in business/money. It has been difficult and frustrating, particularly since I have a family.
I am also an English teacher of 17 years and have recently quit my job in hopes of being a freelance writer and blogger. I am still struggling figuring out how to get started. Everyone wants to hire those with experience; yet, no one is wiling to give the beginner that experience. I am getting very frustrated and I haven’t even gotten started yet.
My dream has always been to share through writing. Here we are close to Christmas, I have five kids, and I am afraid I have made a poor choice now. Just wish I knew more about the business! Best of luck to those in my shoes!
Discouraged but pushing on! Praying things get better soon…
Sorry to hear that Larry. What do you think is the biggest problem your business faces? (Beyond a lack of customers/clients obviously.)
I took up a job in November 2006 and left it in February 2007. And decided that I’ll never get into a day ( or night) job.
Started my blog in July 2007 and started blogging happily ever after. 🙂
Good for you Asif!
Tom, your view of the world is wonderful, and I thank you for sharing it. 🙂 I was inspired by your posts on LWB to initiate the freelance path, and just last week I myself “left work behind” to begin a creative writing project I had until now only dreamed of doing.
While such a path isn’t for everyone, what it came down to for me was realizing that I had tacitly accepted the conventional money-driven, risk-averse ideology that had been instilled in me by society from a young age. Then I realized that my time and my happiness is surely worth a calculated risk. I had merely forgotten my own free will! I say, never allow others to define your path to success because you know better than anyone where your happiness lies.
James Altucher wrote a piece on this subject that you may also find interesting, Tom. http://www.jamesaltucher.com/2011/04/10-reasons-you-need-to-quit-your-job/
Hey M,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts; it’s great to know that there are kindred spirits out there. We’re very much on the same wavelength!
Cheers,
Tom
Hi Tom you are often very successful in life this is because you comnbine your talents with a lot of of determination ,specially when your case is n’t an example.I think decision to quit job is a real knot and the most likelihood ; for all whenever any body ‘ll get his first blog hire he ‘ll quit on the spot.
Thank you Ketef 🙂
Hello Tom:
I decided a couple of months ago, after reviewing your website, that I had to get out of a job with a lot of responsibility where my boss is very verbally abusive and undermines me. In the past 30 days I have been creating my own website and blog using WordPress as the platform. When I feel the writing in my website is ready, I plan to send application emails with my URL within the content of my email to allow me to give writing samples to potential clients. I feel I have enough past experience and education to be able to actively create content. I would appreciate any further suggestions regarding my plan. My website address is: http://www.writershorizon.com
Thank you for all your help and encouragement that you give your readers.
Ruth Potulin
Hi Ruth,
Using content on your own site as samples is a great start – it’s how I got my first job. But if possible, I would suggest getting material published on other sites (guest posts, etc.) to add a bit of variety to your sample pool.
Your site is pretty good – simple, clean design, easy to navigate. Looks like you’ve still got some work to do on the content (as you alluded to), but so far so good!
Cheers,
Tom
Thank you, Tom, for the suggestions. Also I signed up to receive your free emails and received a lot of good information from it. I am almost ready to sign up for your Jobs board for $30 per month. I would like to be able to draw from your pool of potential clients that I may be able to write for.
Thank you,
Ruth
Just let me know if there is anything else I can do to help Ruth!
Hi Tom.
I’ve spent about ten minutes trying to sum up what’s holding me back, and I’m still having trouble.
I’ve ‘wanted’ to make money from my writing for a long time now – since I left college about four years ago. I’ve finally decided to actually ‘do’ something about it though.
As it stands, I have about 5 hours a day to work on my writing (if I do nothing else). I’d have double that if I quit my job. But it’s the first job I’ve had that I can actually cope with – and I don’t like my chances of finding another position like it in the future.
Though leaving sounds like a daring idea in the pursuit of happiness, I worry about losing my steady income and reliable work. There’s no telling how long it’ll be before I can replace that with my writing.
Sigh. I just don’t know. I WANT to do this and pursue my dream, but I’m worried about forgetting to take reality into account. After all, if I can’t pay the bills, I’m a bit buggered, aren’t I?
Help?
Hey Ryan,
Don’t leave until you’re ready – both psychologically and financially. There are loads of other posts here on the blog that will help – dig into the archives!
Cheers,
Tom
Hi Tom!
4 months ago I applied for a Director of Operations job for a company on a whim! I thought this was the position that would change my life. I spent the last 18 years in the preventative maintenance field and thought it was time to move on (everyone I worked with was so negative-no one was happy and unions are not what they used to be). Well, after about two months I realized that this was definitely not what I wanted to do. (Stuck behind a computer for ten hours a day) after talking with my wife, I submitted my resignation letter. I applied for a teachers aide job to see if my first passion of becoming a teacher is the right path for me. (If I decide to stay – the district will pay for me to complete my education). Well what I’m getting at -hell yes this is the scariest adventure of my life! As many have said here, you get one chance at life! ROLL THE DICE! What makes each of us happy is not the same
one size fits all formula. Sorry for the rambling – first post EVER!
Hell yes Roger!! 🙂
What’s holding me back?
I have no special talent discovered yet, I just have “hobbies” that I jump from one to another, sometimes expressing myself through one at a time in such a manner that it’s incredibly creative or intense.
Also, I have to keep going to a job I hate to pay the rent, the bills, and to survive. Unfortunately, this job is in 12 hour shifts, from 7 to 19 and vice-versa, then one day off, working while standing up, in loud noise and surrounded by stupid “empty” sheep (people), and the salary is almost minimum.
I’ve had a strong feeling or rebellion against everyone and everything since puberty, but I’ve been raised up in a conservative manner, that has lowered my self esteem and has made me directionless in life. Now there’s only hope left and an incredible wish to succeed in life, to be happy by doing what I love, surrounded by loved ones and respectful fellas, and becoming financially independent while travelling the world. Thank you! 🙂