What do you do when you hate your job, but make too much money to afford to quit?

Summary

The content discusses strategies for individuals who dislike their high-paying jobs but feel financially trapped in their current position.

Abstract

The article addresses the dilemma faced by individuals who are well-compensated yet deeply unhappy with their jobs. It emphasizes the rarity of job satisfaction among the global workforce and the privilege of being able to consider a job change due to dissatisfaction rather than financial necessity. The author shares personal experiences and suggests practical steps for transitioning to a more fulfilling life, such as building a side business for financial security, reducing material possessions to alleviate the pressure of maintaining a certain lifestyle, and preparing for a potential decrease in social status. The author also stresses the importance of involving one's partner in the transition to mitigate potential relationship strains, citing the correlation between market downturns and increased divorce rates in high-earning sectors.

Opinions

The author believes that building a side business is a key step in escaping job dissatisfaction, as it provides a source of income and a sense of purpose outside the main job.
There is a critique of materialism, with the opinion that possessions can become a burden that prevents people from making significant life changes.
The article suggests that societal expectations and the fear of losing social status can be significant barriers to leaving a high-paying job.
The author expresses skepticism about the grass being greener in another job within the same industry, implying that dissatisfaction may persist even after a job change.
The author emphasizes the importance of cash flow, suggesting that it is more valuable than a large salary that doesn't provide financial freedom.
There is a concern that the transition to a new lifestyle may lead to tension or even divorce, particularly if a partner is unprepared for a change in social status or financial security.
The author reflects on the regrets and challenges of leaving a high-paying job, while also highlighting the risks of staying in such a position without a backup plan.

What do you do when you hate your job, but make too much money to afford to quit?

It happened to me. I swallowed one yard of shit after another while building a side business. So, what do you do when rich and miserable?

95%+ of the people in this world hate their job. If you can even entertain the thought of hating your job while making too much money, you are already in a privileged category. I watched my mother work as a janitor in a mental asylum when I was a kid. Helping her clean human sh!t on the wall motivated me to study to at least be in a position to choose a job.

The “get another high paying job you don’t hate as much” type of advice is lovely and adorable, but life does not exactly work like that, does it? Similar paying jobs in your industry are probably just as nasty. Going to the next shop is not going to be rainbows and butterflies. Grass is not greener next door.

Most people who are stuck in high paying jobs can afford a thicker carpet, but rarely make the kind of “f.. you” money that will allow them to quit. So, you need to get there on your own

build a side business that generates cash flow like real estate. Not sexy, but puts wine on the table. Once you quit, banks will not lend you anything, so start now. Starting this business got my mind off the daily grind. I enjoyed building something for the future. There are six words you need to remember: cash flow, cash flow, cash flow.

let go of your worldly possessions: we don’t own stuff, stuff owns us. Example: you own a Lambo, you are afraid of scratches. Let’s face it: we sell our soul to buy toys we neither need nor use to impress people we do not even like. Besides, If you are surrounded with rich folks, chances are they are too self-absorbed to even notice when you start scaling down. You can always tell people you are embracing the virtues of stoicism, minimalism or emulating Steve Jobs. No-one cares.

Transition: Lucius Seneca, the patron saint of investment bankers by day and stoic philosopher by night, used to dress as a pauper and eat bad food once a month to immunize himself against his fear of poverty. Your new life will require some adjustments.

Enrol your better half or watch her morph into a bitter half. Women do not build castles. They just move in and give their “feminine touch”. This means you work hard to get there, while she waits for some winner at the finish line. There is an inevitable loss of social status associated with scaling down. “What am I going to tell my girlfriends ?” is a very serious question. The answer might cost you half your life’s work and your kids. Brace for tension, loss of respect, dead bedroom and potentially divorce. The undisputed leading indicator for a market crash is divorce filings in finance. In 2007 in the UK, gold diggers started cashing out of their hedge fund manager husbands. In 2018 and 2022, crypto (ex)millionaires went monk mode the hard way. The 2022 bear market caused more breakups in tech than years of Covid confinement. So, prepare for a transition long before

Do I regret my old life? Of course, I do. Grass is always greener on the other side. I miss the markets. Then, people back in the industry are miserable these days. They make stupid money, but they incinerate it just as fast. Impostor syndrome runs deep. They complain that they can’t quit but they have no plan for the day after. One day, someone will tap on their shoulder and then it will be a hard landing. The reality of having a high paying job is you can get fired easily, so the second best day to get started on your next chapter is today