7 Steps to quit your job and re-ignite your life

Having recently taken the plunge and decided to quit the world of the 9-5. I have compiled a list of 7 tips that I think can help you to do this yourself. A lot of people want to change their careers and their lives but they find it hard to gather the momentum required to do so. Maybe it is a lack of knowledge or maybe it just seems a bit overwhelming to some people. This is why I have compiled a list, and hopefully it will break down the process into more manageable steps.

1. Find your muse

Before you do anything, firstly you need to come up with a legitimate reason for wanting to jack it all in. The best reason is that you have a dream that you wish to follow so take some time to really think about what your life passion is. What is it that could drag you out of bed at an ungodly hour with a spring in your step and a smile on your face? If you’re anything like me, getting up at any time before midday is a pain in the ass but you get my point.

If you already know what you want to do, well, congratulations. Some people however have no real clue as to what their life purpose is or what they want it to be. I think we all know deep down, but sometimes it can get repressed by years of boring uninspiring living.

Take out a pen and paper and just start writing down anything that comes to mind, no matter how ridiculous or ‘unattainable’. Just follow your gut instinct with this and you will have a good idea of what you want to do in no time. Once you have your plan.

2. Do the research

Great you now have your career or goal in mind, so what next? Well now comes the part where you have to really do the research. If it is a new career then try and find out everything that you will need to start it up. Does it cost money? Do you need any qualifications? Is it something you can start right now or do you need to learn how to do it?

If it is something like travelling, then equally you need to seriously look into it. How much will it cost? What route are you planning to take? Are you going alone or with someone? Where will you stay?

When starting something new, preparation really is key here. You need to know what you are letting yourself in for. Be prepared for anything and everything. Can you cope with the challenges that may arise, financially or otherwise? If you find it a struggle can you ride it out?

Another part of researching is to follow where others have been before. Seek out others who are where you want to be and learn from them. Everything that has ever been accomplished has been documented in a book or online. Read as much as you can and take in all the information you can handle. Now that you have done the preparation..

3. Are you ready to succeed?

What do I mean by this you may ask? Well a lot of people are so focused on failing that should they actually succeed they are totally unprepared for it. Success is a scary concept. How will you feel should you start making double the money you previously made in your 9-5 job? How about quadruple? Ten times the amount? I know this seems a million miles away right now but it is very achievable, and people start doing this every day.

People by nature feel intimidated by others who dare to succeed, let alone actually achieve it. How many people do you know that try to put you down when you have a great idea? The more successful you become, the more these people will try to hold you back. There will be friends, family, partners who may start off supportive but will resent you should success come your way. It is a sad fact of life, but being wary of this will help you handle it should it happen.

Of course most people will support you and that is great, so don’t worry about it too much. More importantly, how will YOU feel when the good times come rolling? Being successful can take you way out of your comfort zone so just remember to take a step back, relax and realise you are on to a good thing. Discomfort is a sign of growth, embrace it.

4. Let people know

Okay you have sorted out everything in your own head and you are now mentally prepared for doing this. Now is the time to come clean with your plans. Usually your actions will have some form of impact on those around you. If you have kids or a partner then giving up your job is obviously going to be something they need to know about in advance, as it can be scary for them too. Some people end up moving back into their parents’ home as a way to save money while they start their new journey. You need to ensure that those around you are ready to support you, both mentally and financially should you need it.

Telling people is also a great motivator to get things started. Nobody wants to look silly after telling everyone their plans. Muhammad Ali used to tell the press which round he would knock out his opponent in. To many this was seen as brash and arrogant, and showing a lack of respect for his opponents. In actual fact, he used it as a tool to help motivate him to follow through with his predictions. He simply wouldn’t allow himself to fail after such bravado.

5. Take the plunge

This is it. This is what you have been working towards. The moment you have been dreaming about. Handing in your notice at work and finally being free. There is no going back now. It’s done.

Actually, you’re probably very nervous about taking the plunge. Wondering maybe if you are making the right decision or if you have everything set up ready. This is normal and it is just fear holding you back. Think about everything you have dreamed of and focus on what that means to you.

That first day when you wake up and you don’t have to go to your boring job will feel awesome. Honestly, just wait and see.

6. Work work work

Now you may have given up work, but that doesn’t mean you give up working. Now is the time to really put the hours in. Yet this time, you are working towards your dream and hopefully you will be self-motivated enough to achieve this. Sometimes people can under estimate how much work is needed to get a new project off the ground. We could be talking double the amount of hours that you were used to. Yes this sounds crazy but nobody achieved anything without hard work. It has to be this way or everyone would be successful.

To help you on your way, plan out your days in advance and stick to the times you have given yourself. If you need to wake up at 7am, then get up at 7am. If you want to spend x amount of hours on something, then make sure you do it. You are your own boss now, so learn to be strict with yourself and take your new venture seriously

7. Trust yourself

This is the part where you have to keep the faith. There will be times when things get tough and you start to question your ability to succeed. In almost all cases there will be a so called ‘pain period’. This is when the novelty of pursuing your passion has passed but you have yet to really start making money. There will be times when you wonder if it is worth it, whether you should just give up and go back to the real world.

Stay strong and trust yourself. Trust the process. There will always be a dip and everyone will go through it so try not to worry. You will come out the other side stronger and more determined than ever to make it work. Keep putting the hours in and the results will inevitably come.

That day when you make your first sale or receive your first payment will be one of the best feelings you will ever experience. Keep focused on that goal and remain strong.

So if you find this useful or you wish to let others know you can click the ‘like’ button below or use the share buttons to the right. Also I will post further in depth articles on this subject soon so be the first to read these by subscribing to my email list below.