Summary

An individual recounts their journey from a dissatisfying 9-to-5 job to successful entrepreneurship, detailing the steps taken to transition into self-employment.

Abstract

The author describes a transformative period in their life, beginning with the monotony and stress of a job they grew to dislike over seven years. Despite the security of a well-regarded company with excellent benefits, the lack of passion for their work led them to seek other opportunities. After exploring various side hustles and realizing the low likelihood of moving into a different role within the company, they decided to quit and pursue entrepreneurship. The author meticulously planned their transition, setting financial goals and dedicating long hours to build their e-commerce business while still employed. Eventually, they achieved their targets, enabling them to leave their job and continue their entrepreneurial journey, which has evolved over the years. The author reflects on their experience, offering encouragement to others considering a similar leap, emphasizing the importance of planning and execution.

Opinions

The author expresses a strong dislike for their former job, highlighting the daily stress and lack of fulfillment.
There is a sense of frustration with the limited internal mobility within the company, as evidenced by the statistic that less than 5% of peers could transition to different roles.
The author values the benefits and reputation of their former employer but ultimately prioritizes personal satisfaction and the potential of entrepreneurship.
The decision to quit was not taken lightly; it was preceded by careful consideration of personal preferences and a strategic job search.
Entrepreneurship is portrayed as a viable alternative to traditional employment, requiring hard work, planning, and a willingness to adapt to new business ventures.
The author believes in the power of reselling and e-commerce as a means to achieve financial independence and job satisfaction.
There is a clear sense of accomplishment and contentment with the decision to become self-employed, as the author does not foresee a return to corporate life.
The author encourages readers to pursue their own paths to job satisfaction, suggesting that with planning and determination, one can successfully transition from employment to entrepreneurship.

I Quit My Job for My Daydream

Here’s How I Did It

Picture this.

Stuck in a 9-to-5 job hating every moment of work.

Tearing your limp body out of bed in the morning, riddled with stress on the job, suffering away a 10+ hour day.

Then, driving your exhausted body through an hour of traffic to your home.

At home, work doesn’t stop there, especially with a baby but, it feels like a breeze compared to the day you just endured.

This was my life.

How I landed here

After graduating college, I had a few job offers.

I didn’t take the highest paying offer but I did take the job from a company with the best reputation and well respected in my community.

Plus, amazing benefits, twice-a-year bonuses and tons of amenities on campus.

My first year at this job was actually a lot of fun but, once you get past all the glitz of the company, your day-to-day starts setting in.

I was doing a job I really disliked and I was stuck there for 7 long years.

While I expanded my skills there, it was very difficult to move out of the type of job I was in.

In fact, less than 5% of my peers in my position were able to move into a different part of the company.

Sad.

So, I decided I was going to quit.

After coming to know what I really liked and disliked about my job, I was pretty picky.

I applied to dozens of jobs. Most were unresponsive with a few interviews sprinkled in here and there.

The job hunt was really going nowhere, including internal interviews I had at the company and it finally hit me to explore entrepreneurship.

The only problem was, I had no idea what I wanted to do.

Addicted to Shark Tank where inventors pitched their product to a room full of “sharks” for the hope of investment, I knew in my heart I wasn’t clever enough to come up with an invention I could market and sell.

So, I turned to reselling, but not before trying a bunch of different side hustles before that, including envelope stuffing.

My plan

Reselling led me to open my own e-commerce store.

Prior to this though, with no idea how I’d quit my day job, after finding a business that was starting to feel like it was working, I made a plan.

It was simple.

I wanted X dollars in savings. And, I wanted to earn X dollars per month to replace my day job income.

I was spending every spare moment working on my business. Building up the business included setting up a mailing list, continuously improving and updating the website, setting up and being active on social media, networking in business groups to further my education, and more.

My work day was 10 hours or longer then I’d come home, break for 2 hours to shower and have dinner then work for five more hours before falling asleep exhausted. Then the next day, I’d do it all over again.

Working incredibly hard led me to meet both of my goals within a year.

Then, I quit!

Quitting my 9-to-5 job

Before sitting down with my manager and giving notice, I made sure to get all my doctor’s appointments, dental appointments, etc. out of the way.

I wanted to max out the benefits I was paying for before losing them for good.

I called my manager and she asked if I wanted to meet at her desk or privately.

We booked a tiny conference room and I gave my notice.

She was in disbelief, laughing at first before the look on her face changed to horror and she begged me to stay.

My transition away from the company was slightly different than I imagined, leaving 2 days after giving notice, in good standing, compared to the 30 day notice I planned.

All in all though, I’m still so happy with how my exit went and today about 8 years later, I’m still self-employed.

I never see myself going back to corporate life.

How entrepreneurship life is today

Today, I’m in a completely different business than when I started.

How I Made Over $80,000 on the Sale of My First Business

The Start, Growth, and Exit Plan

themakingofamillionaire.com

I’ve transitioned to a new field in business a few times but, I’ve settled with the work I’m doing and I really enjoy it.

If you’re thinking about leaving your day job, I hope this story inspires you. It can happen. All it takes is some planning and execution.

What do you think?

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