Quit Your Job?

by smallbizbee · 1 comment

Once you get bit by the entrepreneurial bug the idea of quitting your job to pursue your dreams can easily dominate your daily thoughts. No more pointless meetings, micro management, or reports to be generated just blissful self employment, being your own boss, and setting your own schedule. Sounds nice don’t it? Well before you march into your boss’s office to tell them they can take their corporate strategy mumbo jumbo and shove it you may want to ask yourself this: Could you really quit your job? "Hell yeah!", the crowd roars from their cubes scattered in offices far and wide. Let’s think about what that really means, and why it keeps so many people (9 out of 10 according to the statistics) from starting their own business.

There are very practical reasons people don’t pursue their dreams of starting a business, financial being a main one, lack of a good idea or a developed business plan being others. For most people the financial uncertainty alone is enough to keep them slogging through TPS Reports and preparing the minutes from the latest team meeting.

But let’s forget the practical reasons for a second, and look at the internal drivers of why people have such a hard time cutting the umbilical cord of the “real job”. Why is it so hard to quit your job and pursue your dreams?

1. For many the jobs people perform define them. They are an Accountant, a Nurse, or a Cab Driver. When someone asks what they do for a living, they have a concrete response. There is self identity there, and some comfort, comfort they wouldn’t get from saying “oh, I’m starting a business”. It is hard to accept that yesterday you were a successful Construction Manager, and today you are a struggling business owner.

2. Jobs are a big part of our social lives. After college you don’t have as many opportunities to meet new people…this is where the job comes in. Most people have a close network of colleagues, and some genuine friends in the workplace, and giving up that social outlet can be daunting. Also, whether it be good or bad you are getting human contact day in and out, which strengthens our social associations and makes us feel “connected”.

3. A job provides a comfortable, structured lifestyle. You have structure at work, usually clear expectations, time off each year, and benefits. When working for yourself a lot of that structure and stability go out the window. No such thing as coming in at eight and leaving at five with the mentality of “oh well, what I didn’t get done today will get done tomorrow”. Two weeks off a year, guaranteed? Forget it! You could have more time off than that, or you could work years without ever taking a day for yourself.

4. Believe it or not, like it or not, there are social stigmas that exists for people starting their own business. When I started my first business I was amazed at the reaction I got from some of my friends and family. Genuine concern about my well being, and utter amazement that I was “throwing my successful career out the window to be a dreamer!”Some people thought that I was literally throwing it all away, and giving up! For people who don’t understand the entrepreneurial spirit I’m sure it seemed that way, while from my perspective staying in my job was giving up.

As would be entrepreneurs you’ll need to make the decision for yourself if giving up the above is worth it to pursue your dreams of working for yourself. I can tell you there is no better or frightening feeling than being self sufficient from your business, but expect the growing pains that come along with it. I was surprised the first few months after I left my job how unconnected I felt even though I had a business partner and we had customers we were dealing with. I was sure I would leave the office on my last day feeling liberated, and thinking that the sky was the limit and my life was just beginning. Reality was it was hard walking out that door for the last time, and it wasn’t until months later I felt that liberation. I missed some of my co-workers, and my office friends I didn’t connect with as much as usual, which led to an awkward lonely feeling. Over time that feeling goes away and now I am much better off physically, emotionally, and financially than I was during my office years.

I would encourage anyone considering quitting their job to start a business to go for it, but do it with your eyes open to those things you give up when you leave the comforts of the nine to five. I would even encourage you to go part time at your “real job” while you start up your small business if that is an option. If not for the financial stability that brings, but to orientate yourself to being your own boss slowly, and ease some of those social strains. Oh yeah, and also have a rock solid, well thought out business plan!

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