Comments on: I Quit My Day Job! Are You Next?

By: Ask The When I Grow Up Coach: How did you overcome your fears as you started out coaching? | When I Grow Up - Creative Career Coach

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 06:12:19 +0000

[...] presence, and having enough consultation calls/clients coming in that I knew people knew I existed. It took me 2 years and 7 months, but I did those things and built that net, which made The Fears (and taking The Leap!) not so [...]

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 17:23:02 +0000

@Deborah – Yay for you! Taking the baby steps, building on what's working, knocking over the roadblocks slowly but carefully and surely. It will absolutely take you far.

@newsprout – You bring up such a good point – that being your own boss isn't for everyone! As a "grown-up", you hafta look at your values, priorities, and what you need for yourself/your family. Heck, if I could've found a corporate-ish job doing something that I was passionate about while being able to live my life on the side, then I would've done it in a heartbeat! But when you hear something else calling you…it's just not acceptable I'd love to see a blog from you as to how you created your business/creative life & how you continue to balance it. So many people could benefit from that!

@Laura – I don't believe in luck, actually. So instead, I wish you the baby steps, the commitment, the plan being executed, the time being put aside every day to get you there, the fuzzy feeling that comes when something clicks, the forward movement, the chutzpah. That's what you need

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 15:45:37 +0000

Great Post! – I've been thinking a lot about why more people don't quit jobs that they're unhappy in. Check out this article for 10 more reasons why now is the best time ever to quit your job – http://rainydaywonder.wordpress.com/2010/10/20/10…

By: Laura

Laura — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 21:39:04 +0000

You are truly inspiring. I'm slowly taking the leap as well (actually perhaps too quickly but it sure feels slow as all get-out) and need encouragement every step of the way. I don't even know where I'll end up, I just know I can't have a normal job. I need to make things every day. I need to spend at least 50% of my waking life at home. And it's these things that will make me happy.. It's just paying the bills until I get there that worries me. Wish me luck?

By: newsprout

newsprout — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 14:44:48 +0000

Love the message about "it's the journey not the arrival matters", it is so true. I truly beleive that everything that happens to us in life leads us to something better, we all make choices everyday that lead us down a new and potentially exciting path. The older you get the harder it seems to reach out of your comfort zone and quit that day job, but with age also comes wisdom and the reality that our life is short and we should make the most of it and do what we love. I have yet to step out of the corporate world and not sure I really want to. I like the security, job and the balance it gives my life. At the same time I needed to find more time for me, to express my creative and artistic side, which I did. Two years ago I started painting, drawing, jewelry making, beachcombing – all things I love – opened an etsy shop and then a blog and have found it all to be very fullfilling personally and artistically. No, I didn't quit my day job – I admit I still love it too, but I have now enriched my life and each day is so full and so alive that I only wish there were more hours in a day to do more. newsprout

By: Deborah Tucker

Deborah Tucker — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:08:20 +0000

I truly enjoyed your blog and was encouraged to pursue my own dream… own my own business,
be my own boss, call my own shots and all the while enjoying the creative life God gave me.
Though I don't hate my job – it does have its perks, I don't feel I am able to use my creative
abilities as much. I started by making one purse and kept going from there. Now I can hardly
figure out which way to go since I've been experimenting with so many different crafts – mostly
sewing. I am having a hard time staying focused as my creative brain is pulling me in so many
directions. Oddly enough, my weakness with finances doesn't seem to fit my job as financial secretary! I can crunch numbers – but have a weakness with hanging onto the dollars! Going
slowly is the advise I needed to hear as I tend to get ahead of myself too easily. I did take the
credit card out of my purse so I won't be tempted to use it anymore to "invest" in my business.
Baaaaaaaaaaad idea!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 10:51:33 +0000

@Sue – Keep on painting!

@Lola – Our stories are more similar than you think! Believe it or not, my last day job was my choice, too. Prior to that, I was in a customer service position with a verbally abusive boss. Not to gross ya out, but my last straw was having to run off the subway on my way to work to dry heave into a trash can – but the second I turned around to go home I was fine! I knew that in order to reach my goal of being a full-time coach I had to get into a 9a-5p position (that one expected me to be on my blackberry 24/7 & travel quite often) with a boss that didn't constantly have it out for me despite the high quality of my work. Only when I found the new job was I able to start achieving my dreams!

@Kasia @Rosalina- Good on you both! I know that this society is all about instant gratification, but I promise that by taking baby steps and doing just one thing every day (like cutting stencils!) will get you where you need to go, with a super solid foundation!

@Priscilla – Not only is your comment so sweet, but I love the alliteration you have in there, too! You are most welcome, Priscilla!

@Pat – What an amazing story. Isn't it wonderful what comes up when we stop looking and just be? Good for you for standing up for your values, your passion and your story. Just wonderful.

@Mary – Thanks for the refresher!

@Marilyn – I wanted to clarify that, while I am married and not necessarily "self-supporting", my husband & I would have to live on Ramen noodles if I wasn't bringing in any income. Also, I didn't get a severance, as I wasn't let go of my job – I spent almost 3 years saving the coaching money I made and putting away my bonus to give myself a cushion of 5 months of my full income.

@Lauren -Amen & hallelujah!

@Marian – Thanks for your extra "secret" & those quotes! Love it all.

@Marilyn – Thanks so very much!

@Glenna – Good luck on your own journey! It seems you're really passionate and focused, and that's half the battle. Have fun!

By: Glenna

Glenna — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 06:20:09 +0000

I throughly enjoyed reading this article about your process to find a truer sense of purpose, to act on it~doing what you love and enjoying it are of the utmost of importance. I do what I love and that is Etsy, Aweteam (FIRSTFRIDAYARTWALK on Etsy), my blog glennasgarden.blogspot and my shop Glenna's Garden. I am in the process of transitioning to a new area hopefully sooner than later so my focus has been on that lately. However I look forward to getting back with Etsy as soon as I am settled. Many blessings and best wishes to you!

By: Marilyn Davenport

Marilyn Davenport — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 21:21:33 +0000

I really admire you for your calculaed decision to quit your day job. Great advice. Much success to you.

By: Marian

Marian — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 03:16:01 +0000

Great advice! I'm sure you're a terrific coach. I guess I'd only add, "Even if *none* of your friends or family "connect with" your products," keep believing in yourself. Here are a couple of my favorite quotes: "It is never too late to be what you might have been." George Eliot. "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined." Thoreau