Day jobs can be quite stressful because it enforces a strict routine of waking up early in the morning, obeying our boss’ commands, doing what we’re instructed to do and occasionally it demands staying after working hours to complete urgent work. This keeps us away from our family life for more than half the day, because by the time we get home there is only enough time to have dinner and then call it a night so we wake up early for work the next day. How many of us really have job satisfaction?
This causes a lot of emotional stress and unhappiness for many people, and with the steep rise of online jobs and the fad of entrepreneurship in recent years many employees consider quitting their jobs every single day. There are a few things to consider before handing in your resignation.
It is important to remember that only a handful of start-up companies actually become a success. It requires a lot of hard work, a solid business plan and in most cases, an adequate amount of seed money. Experience in business also plays an important role. If you have a clear cut plan of how to start a business and how to turn it into an income stream then take the risk and quit your job. However, remember that it might be wise to have a plan B in case nothing goes as expected. If you feel you can take the risk, then go for it!
I do not think that it is easy to quite the day job so easily. It not only is risky decision economically but socially also it is hard to get going if you fail to earn enough after leaving the day job. One more thing is that online business or jobs are full of risk of not getting payments in time. If you do not get your payments in time, you keep worrying about it as in many cases, payments are not made at-all in online business.
The worst thing about the online business is that you are not able to decide the reliablity of the buyer or seller whom you are dealing with.
I suggest that if you can find some part time jobs online, then it is worth trying out. However, it will take more of your family life but you are sure about atleast one income. That should not be so big a risk as leaving the job and entering into online business without firm support of income.
Thanks for your input Devesh. Here in Seychelles, the only thing that is guaranteed (well, the most guaranteed) is income through a full-time government job. As long as you don’t do something that might run you the risk of getting fired, it’s all good.
Many people believe that all day jobs are guaranteed income. But I don’t believe that there is a definitely financial security when it comes to employment. I know people who have worked in private companies and they have were fired with immediate effect. Pretty scary! I would say that it’s always a risk for people to quit their jobs and they should plan it out properly.
The best preparation to have is enough money in your bank account, at least enough to the point where if the risk fails then you can always go back to employment (or if you feel that starting your own business isn’t really what you’ve been looking for). It does help though, if the person quitting their job is married to someone who has a stable income. This makes the risk more attractive, because if things go wrong then at least the financial situation at home will not be too affected.
Great post Sabrina.
I gave up my day job and I am really pleased I did. I love travelling and working freelance too. (I have not won the lottery yet).
Good for you, Jo! I really admire people who actually take the risk in life and quit their day job to pursue something they feel adds more meaning to their lives. Congratulations.
If you have another (good) source of income you can quit your day job. I left mine some time ago and I’m a full time freelancer. Having a full time job in Sey means your money is guaranteed monthly and most people don’t quite because they know (hell even I’ve been through it once) the hassle of getting a new job even if you have the required certification and/or experience. I personally think, the bottom line that people don’t quit is simply because of the money. I have a few friends that don’t really like their job and their bosses and there’s no job satisfaction but they are afraid to leave.
Good on you, Patrick! I believe in adding a bit of challenge in my life once in a while, and whenever I feel ‘unchallenged’ things get a bit boring. The problem with day jobs is that we end up doing pretty much the same thing over and over again for years and then we realize we should have done more with our lives just when there’s very little we can do about it.