What Next Wednesday – I Quit My Job!
Yup I did it, I handed in my notice at work and will be leaving my steady income to something unsure, unstable and really rather scary.
This isn’t the first time I’ve done this, but last time I had a really exciting plan of travelling the world and never getting another ‘normal’ job again. Filled with dreams of travelling the globe and perhaps never coming home filled my mind, but alas things happened, dreams changed and I returned to the UK and was instantly offered a ‘too good to turn down’ job back in London… and life got pretty much back to normal.
This time ‘normal’ is not an option.
‘Knowing what you don’t want is as important as knowing what you want’
I’m really excited about what the future holds, but that spiteful, scary thing called FAILURE has been knocking its old head at my door fairly frequently.
What if I don’t make any money?
Or worse..
What if I start watching day time telly?
To help me on my way I am making the following pledges to myself and to you, my readers, which will hopefully move me closer towards success!
1. I won’t watch day time television
This one is really important. I’m not a big TV watcher but since getting my own apartment with my own television it is really hard to not have it on in the background… NO. I will be allowing morning and lunch time viewings of the news and anything else has to wait until I have done a full hard days work.
2. I will exercise regularly (at least twice a week)
Not something I have a very good success rate with, but to quote Elle from Legally Blonde (yes a favourite motivational movie of mine… don’t judge!)
‘Exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy and happy people just don’t shoot their husbands’.
So exercise it is, for smiles all round 🙂
3. I will leave the house every day, even if only for a short stroll
I have noticed the difference just from the odd days I have already been working from home, a breath of fresh air and change of scenery does wonders for your mood and general well being.
4. I won’t start searching for new full time jobs the moment I leave this one
I know this is going to be very tempting… to quickly move into another steady income job. I am sure it might be fun for a while, but then a few months down the line I will be in the same position I have been in many times before, stuck in the boring 9 – 5, not going in the direction I want… NO Jen. This is your time. If in 6 months I am penniless and in need of an income, I can re-evaluate. BUT..
5. I will look for new opportunities on every corner.
Whether this is networking events, consultancy work, freelance blogging I will always have my eye open for new adventures.
‘You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with’
6. I will work (at least) 8 hours a day 5 times a week
The days and times may change but I MUST keep up the work ethic and work at least normal working hours, though I am imagining these hours may hugely increase, but every minute will be spent on my work, doing what I love.
7. I won’t go off on another unlimited long term travel adventure
I could easily just skedaddle off for another long term jaunt around Asia, but no this is serious. This is about making a career for myself based in the UK, but one that allows the opportunity to move about when I want. BUT…
8. I will perhaps skedaddle off to Asia (or elsewhere) for some smaller jaunts.
Or Africa, or America or in fact anywhere. Travel is where my heart is and I won’t be letting that go, with or without the pennies I will find a way to see more places, experience new adventures and disappear to more foreign lands.
So here are just a few of the first rules I have for my new freelance life. I am determined to work really REALLY hard to make this work and will be sure to keep you posted on the no doubt highs and lows of my experiences.
For now this quote pretty much sums up what I want out of a career… Cheers Seth Godin.
‘Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from.’
Are you planning any escapes or big life changes? I would love to hear about your dreams and fears for creating the life you have always wanted.
Love and positive thoughts
Jen x
Congratulations Jen!!! This is so exciting.
Great list of things to keep you on track too! As long as you’ve got 5 minutes for a quick chat on Google Talk though 🙂 I can’t wait to see how you get on. I love these quotes too, especially the last one about not needing a life to escape from and, of course, the Elle Brooke quote.
Nothing like a good Elle quote. Such an inspiration to us all 🙂
Will of course be keeping you posted on progress over G Chat. x
You go girlie… Hope it’s a fruitful and profitable adventure. Freelancing isn’t risk-free., but it has many, many benefits. Oh and I love your commitments to yourself. Wish I’d done that… I also wish I only worked 8 hours a day… that would be dreamy…
Wishing you pots of luck! x
Thanks love. I am imagining the 8 hours a day thing might not work, but that is my minimum. No dossing about being a lazy arse allowed!
Thanks for all your luck, will keep you posted on how it all goes. Fruitful adventures ahead 🙂 x
I love these lessons, I could do with following some myself, especially the exercise one!
Well done Jen, can’t wait to see what you get up to x
We will see how well I stick to them. The exercise one is the lesson I am least likely to stick by but we will see. Manana Manana 😉
x
Yessssss! I would fail at all of those pledges though. Good luck to you! I reckon you have stronger will power than I do!
We will see. Thanks for the luck. Will power all the way 🙂
9. I will visit my friends who aren’t a million miles away!!!
DEAL 🙂
Could not be more excited for you! Here’s to creating a life that takes you wherever you want to go 🙂 So curious to hear what you are scheming to make this happen!!
Thanks Camille. Lots of ideas, will see which ones work. Lets chat on FB soon and hopefully your life will bring you back our way soon … or perhaps mine in your direction. Keep up your fabulous blogging lovely 🙂 x
Hi! I love your blog and your zest for life, and I love this post in particular. I’m not going freelance but in precisely two months I’m going to hand in my notice and leave my steady, well-paid job with an excellent charity. Instead I’m going to work as a teaching assistant and get paid peanuts! I’m going to have to move into a flat share to do it having lived on my own for over 6 years as well. But I’m so excited! It’s about throwing everything up in the air and seeing where it lands, trying something new and moving backwards to go forwards. Plus I’ll have the holidays to write my book and travel. Your post has made me even more determined to do it. Good luck and I’ll be following what happens with you with excitement! Louise x
Hi Louise,
Thanks for your lovely comment. Congratulations on your upcoming move to teaching. You have to just give these crazy ideas a go and don’t be scared by going in the opposite direction to ‘the norm’. I wish you the very best of luck and I am sure everything will fall into place. Love that you plan on writing a book and travelling more … one of my dreams too. Do keep me posted on how it goes and I promise to keep updating how things are going with my new freelance life. Jen x
Thanks Jen, sounds like a deal!!
This is amazing! I’ve been thinking of doing this for a little while. Don’t have the means or guys to do so get but hopefully one day I will. I wish you success and if you work hard you’ll find it! Congratulations 🙂