So I already quit my job…. But it’s not what you think.
I quit my job around two weeks ago at a company I was at for 4 years because I was miserable. I was having anxiety attacks because of the job so I decided to quit as I’m not a person who has ever suffered from mental illness. Since I left I’ve felt great.
I’ve found a job in the same industry they offered me similar pay but the company is much different and the things that would cause my panic attacks are non existent in this new work environment.
Since I’ve been off work though I’ve been looking into ways of starting my own business. My background is B2B sales and I’ve been very successful at it so with the right concept in a business I know I can succeed with the selling piece. Somewhere i can start is by doing photography professionally as I already do this on the side and if I dedicated my time 100% to this I feel like I’ll be able to meet my salary.
My dilemma is whether or not I should just take the leap and dive into my photography business or if I should take this other job in the same industry with less hours and work on my photography until I’m 100% sure I can do this.
I have five months of expenses saved up which leaves me with a little wiggle room at least.
I hate corporate life and my dream has always been to own my own business but at this stage I feel like there’s a lot of research I still need to do and setting up before getting going.
So what would you do in my shoes?
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I’d try it until you run out of savings.
5 months is going to be no where near enough. With a business like this, you are going to be far better off doing it on weekends while keeping day job. Spend your evenings during the week creating content that will build your reputation and your weekends shooting.
If you quit your job now, you are far more likely to make decisions about your work that will damage your brand because you are desperate.
You just go do it.
The people who read books first never do anything. You’ve got the sales skill and know what it takes to hunt business.
I was a top new label enterprise rep selling data to hedge funds and banks back in 2008-2015, became an SVP running a large business unit, then CRO then CEO in tech at a smaller company. I should have just gone out younger.
Now I have a revenue augmentation company for b2b tech, having a blast, hanging with fam and I own the company, debt free. Scales fast. If you actually know how to build, it’s a travesty seeing people as employees.
Thank you for the advice! This is exactly my fear will I have enough time to work on what I need to be doing to be truly successful?
I recommend listening to Arnold.
Believe him on the concept of the “safety net”, it is poison.
Statistically 50% of businesses fail in their first 2 years, Having a fixed income while you do it on the side can be very useful.
Having said that, trying to focus on anything while doing another is very challenging.
I think part time and getting things started sound great.
Keep the job. Grow your business on the side and maybe figure out a way to market yourself and an course online to supplement your income. I’m assuming it will take more brainstorming and writing of a few other ideas that will make this feeling of entrepreneurship more realistic. How in demand is your new passion? How many clients would you need a month to replace your income? All this should be written down and mapped out before you even think of quitting. Good luck 🤞
I see one of these posts like once a day. My cents: dont quit untill u see proof of concept. Then you can throw some marbles in. If you can find the energy and passion for whatever your doin outside of work hours then I bet you will succeed
I totally relate to feeling like I couldn’t be successful in business with a full time job. I’m just not one of those “grind 25 hours/8 days a week” people. Once I left my job business picked up tenfold. That being said I had been saving and investing hardcore for 5 years and could have supported myself on zero income for several years if necessary. 5 months wouldn’t be nearly enough for me to feel comfortable making the switch. Don’t let your passion become a stressor when money runs low. Having a bigger runway gives you more time to figure it out