And it was the best thing I ever did – both times.
If you’re thinking about quitting your job without a plan, I know exactly what’s going through your head.
You’re asking yourself, ‘damn, do I really hate my job enough to screw my life up for a bit?’
You’re reading blog posts, watching YouTube videos, looking for that piece of inspiration that will finally push you to take the leap.
Well, I’ve got good news – you’ve found the right blog post.
I’m going to tell you why I think quitting your job without a plan could be the best decision you ever make.
Tales Of A Serial Quitter
Just quickly, a bit of background on the times I quit without a plan – just so you know I’m speaking from experience.
The first time:
I quit my journalist job of two years, moved out of my parents’ place, escaped my home town and started a new life in a city I still live in (and love) today.
The second time:
I quit a six-figure corporate job after the first day and booked a one-way ticket to London, backpacked through Europe for four months and had no income for eight months (I also had the idea to start this blog during my trip).
Those are two incredibly life-changing experiences that wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t have the courage to leave the comfort of a paycheck behind.
I didn’t really know what I was chasing, or running away from, at the time.
But looking back, it’s much clearer to me now.
Let me tell you about it.
Understanding Your Values
My life completely changed when I identified my values and aligned my life accordingly.
I believe there are a very small percentage of people who get true fulfilment and satisfaction from their 9-5s.
That’s usually because the values of the job or company don’t align with the values of the worker.
Although I don’t necessarily think we have a ‘purpose’ that we should be pursuing, I do think we should be chasing work that better aligns with our beliefs.
When you’re working for someone else, you’re working for their values.
If they align with yours, that’s fantastic – I bet you love your job.
But if that was the case, you probably wouldn’t be reading this.
Living out of alignment with your values is detrimental to your sense of fulfilment.
You don’t realise this until you experience the opposite.
When was the last time you woke up, genuinely excited about your work?
If you can’t remember the last time this happened, then there’s your first clue.
Quitting Your Job Removes Plan B
I’m just going to come out and say it… for most of us, our full-time jobs are Plan B.
So what’s Plan A then?
Well, that’s the thing.
Most of us don’t know – because we’ve never given ourselves the space to work it out.
I went straight from school to university, then straight from university into a job.
I was just doing what I thought I was supposed to be doing, because that’s what everyone did.
Writer Dan Koe says if you don’t create a purpose or a career, one will be assigned to you.
We need money to survive, so it seems the logical choice to collect the comfortable paycheck every week.
But shying away from the discomfort of searching for something more eliminates the chance that you actually may find it.
We resign ourselves to a lifetime of monotony as Plan B somehow becomes Plan A… or, the only plan.
But, in my experience, the only way to actually find your true Plan A is to completely eliminate Plan B.
In the immediate term, this will result in a loss of income, increased uncertainty, and days when you question whether or not you’ve really screwed up your life.
But that… THAT… is the precursor to finding your path.
Taking The Pathless Path
“An uncertain future is not a problem to be solved.”
Paul Millerd – The Pathless Path
I read The Pathless Path by Paul Millerd right after quitting my second job.
It resonated with me big time, and if you’re asking yourself the same questions, then I highly suggest you read it.
I wanted to include this section in the article so I could include a long-ish quote from the book that shifted my entire perspective.
Listen to this…
“Your life is too short and too valuable to fritter away in work. If you don’t get out now, you may end up like the frog that is placed in a pot of fresh water on the stove. As the temperature is gradually increased, the frog feels restless and uncomfortable, but not uncomfortable enough to jump out. Without being aware that a chance is taking place, he is gradually lulled into unconsciousness. Much the same thing happens when you take a person and put him in a job which he does not like. He gets irritable in his groove. His duties soon become a monotonous routine that slowly dulls his sense.”
That resonates with you… doesn’t it?
Monotony tends to make us numb.
I remember my first ever day of 9-5 work, I got home and asked my Mum if people actually do this their entire lives.
That’s how much of a shock to the system it was for me.
But sure enough, over time, I became numb to it.
Do you feel like that numb, restless frog right now?
This is your sign to jump the hell out of that pot.
What To Be Careful Of When Quitting Your Job
I hope this article has helped you make a decision.
But I can’t just send you on your merry way without pointing out the cons to consider.
Here are three things you should be wary of when you finally make the decision to quit your job.
1. You Won’t Have An Income
This is the most obvious.
You’re not going to have a paycheck rolling in every week.
I cannot stress this next point enough.
Only quit your job if you have enough savings to support yourself for a minimum of 12 months.
I am a saver, so I have the luxury of having ‘F You’ money – the ability to say no, get up and leave.
This is powerful, and if you don’t have the ability to do this, it’s probably why you’re feeling trapped.
If there’s even a chance you could end up homeless, do not quit your job.
Quitting your job without a plan is risky (slightly).
Quitting your job without a plan AND without savings is stupid (very).
2. You’re Responsible For Yourself
The best thing about leaving your job is not having to answer to anyone.
No more deadlines to meet, no more boss to tell you what to do.
But that’s where a lot of people come unstuck.
When you don’t have a boss telling you what to do, that means you’re in charge of yourself – and that’s a skill a lot of us don’t have.
Being accountable for yourself is hard work, and is something that needs to be practiced over time.
You’ll waste a lot of time when you don’t have a job to go to or people to answer to.
It’s important to try and fill as much of this time learning new skills or trying new experiences.
It’s incredibly easy to become lazy and adopt bad habits.
Please be careful of this.
3. You’ll Feel Like A Loser
For a bit, anyway.
It feels crap to be unemployed, even if it’s by choice.
You’ll feel slightly embarrassed when your friends and family members are going to work whilst you’re sitting at home.
I don’t have much to add to this point, except that this feeling is simply a part of the process.
Isn’t it funny that choosing not to go to a job that doesn’t fulfil us makes us feel ashamed?
Are You Ready To Take The Leap?
If you’re okay with those last three points, then I think you know what needs to be done.
Quitting my job changed my life.
Twice.
You don’t need to have a plan, but you need to be prepared.
Know what to expect, but allow yourself to be swept up in unexpected opportunities.
If you have any questions or want to know anything more about my journey, feel free to send me an email.
Your pathless path awaits.
And always remember, memento mori.
