Summary

The author has quit their job to pursue financial freedom through side hustles, despite not being fully prepared, and plans to document their journey over the next year.

Abstract

The author of the post has made the bold decision to leave their job, a move they acknowledge as risky and not solely based on financial readiness. They have a deep appreciation for the work they did and recognize that enjoying one's job is not the only factor in job satisfaction. The decision to quit was driven by a desire for a different lifestyle and the pursuit of financial freedom. The author reflects on the downsides of full-time employment that they won't miss and outlines their plan to avoid quick-rich schemes, instead focusing on a sustainable path to income through various side hustles. They are prepared for the challenges of solopreneurship and are committed to learning from the experience, whether it leads to failure, success, or something in between. The author has set a personal deadline of November 2024 before considering traditional employment again and invites readers to follow their journey through a newsletter.

Opinions

The author does not believe that everyone should follow in their footsteps and quit their job.
They have a positive view of side hustles as a means to financial freedom, but do not intend to rely solely on Medium earnings due to its unpredictability.
The author values the experience and growth that will come from their new venture, expecting to learn more than they would in another year of their 9-5 job.
They have a clear understanding of the challenges and potential downsides of working for themselves but are not deterred by them.
The author has a pragmatic approach to their plan, acknowledging that the outcome could vary from spectacular failure to massive success, and they are prepared for any result.
They have a list of aspects from their full-time job that they are relieved to leave behind, suggesting a level of dissatisfaction with the traditional work environment.
The author is open to the possibility that they might return to a 9-5 job if their financial freedom challenge does not succeed or if they discover that a traditional job aligns with their desires after all.

I Quit My Job — No, I’m Not Ready to Rely on My Side Hustles

My Risky Plan for The Next Year

Imagine.art (affiliate link) — prompt by the Author

This post is not an attempt to convince anyone that what I’m doing is right.

And it’s definitely not my advice for anyone to do the same.

You Can Like Your Job and Still Leave

I know a few people who actually love their 9–5 jobs and would never quit — I don’t see anything wrong about that.

I liked my job too.

Even the job before the one I just left.

I remember getting employed as a Web Developer for the first time.

I was preparing myself for that role.

Once I got it, I was finally able to work all day without checking the time every 10 minutes, waiting for a shift to end.

Because I actually enjoyed what I was doing.

The thing is, even when the work you do is enjoyable, there are other things getting in the way.

Decision Has Been Made

This is not how I imagined that moment.

I thought I would leave once I knew my side hustle earnings could match my salary.

I could’ve waited a few months more, but this is no longer the life I want.

Or maybe it actually is, but I need to take that step to realise it.

Some people prefer hustling after 9–5, and that’s okay.

I did that for some time, but now I know it’s time to take a step further.

I like that sense of urgency, and it’s something that will definitely push me to go the extra mile to achieve my goals.

You may like that idea, or you may think it’s a crazy and totally reckless move.

But to be honest, it’s just me being me.

I’ve never left a job having the next one secured.

I wrote more about this in another post.

How Leaving 14 Jobs in 10 Years Completely Transformed My Mindset

11 Thoughts From a Chronic Job Hopper

medium.com

Been there, done that.

The only difference is that this time it’s not about finding another, slightly better 9–5.

It’s about going into the unknown and giving my 100% to become financially free.

We Tend to Remember Only Good Times

So I made a list of things I won’t miss about working full-time to read it each time I want to give up on my Financial Freedom Challenge.

So here it is…

I won’t miss arising anxieties across departments because an important client threatens to leave if things aren’t done faster.

I won’t miss CEO’s presentations about how great the company is doing and what a profitable year it’s been while seeing no difference in my salary.

I won’t miss having twice as much work to complete because someone called in sick or another team member is off for a few days.

I won’t miss having my annual leave rejected because I didn’t report it 30 days in advance or because someone else booked it first.

I won’t miss the meetings.

I won’t miss the strict 9–5 schedule.

This is Not My ‘Get Rich Quick’ Plan

And no, I won’t rely on Medium as my main source of income.

As much as I love this platform, earnings seem to be quite unpredictable each month.

I’m running other side hustles, and I’ll do my best to make it all work a bit better each day.

I won’t come back here with an update just to say, ‘damn, I didn’t make that $100K in two weeks in the end.’

I’m prepared for the long game.

Before You Tell Me About The Dark Sides of Solopreneurship…

Whatever it is I’m not afraid to try it.

I appreciate all the posts where people share why staying in 9–5 and hustling part-time is the best option.

I’ve already done it and now I know it’s time for a new experience.

Whatever The Outcome Will Be, There is One Thing I Know For Sure

I will learn a lot.

Definitely more than from spending another year doing the same thing over and over again each day at my 9–5.

The result may be a spectacular failure or a massive success.

Or maybe something in between, which I think would be best.

Until November 2024, I’m not allowing myself to apply for a new job.

After that, I will only apply if either my Financial Freedom Challenge fails or if I realise that a 9–5 is actually something I want (I doubt, but let’s see).

If you liked this article don’t forget to subscribe to my free newsletter getting access to weekly posts about online money making ideas, writing and self-improvement.

Tips & Tales Newsletter — Image by the Author

Thank you for reading!