Quitter

1. Don't Quit Your Day Job (Yet): The Power of the "And"

Despite the fact that quitting your job is the new American dream, it’s usually the worst thing you can do right now.

The Quitting Culture. Society often glorifies quitting, but prematurely abandoning your day job can be detrimental. The allure of instant freedom often overshadows the practical realities of financial stability and the support a steady job provides. Many see motion as a sign of success, and transition as a sign of progress.

The Donnie Dilemma. Quitting a bad boss doesn't eliminate bosses; it simply replaces one with many – bills, financial responsibilities, and even family members who become concerned about your financial stability. These new "bosses" can be more demanding and less forgiving than your previous employer.

Keep Your No's Open. A day job provides the freedom to say "no" to less-than-ideal opportunities, allowing you to focus on the right ones. It transforms opportunities from deficit remedies to surplus propositions, ensuring you only pursue options that truly align with your dream.

2. Recover, Don't Discover: Finding Your Dream Job in Your Past

I think finding your dream job or what Sinek calls your WHY is more than a revelation or an act of discovery. I believe it’s a process of recovery.

The Myth of Surprise. We often imagine discovering our dream job as a sudden, unexpected revelation. However, the reality is that our passions are often rooted in our past experiences and upbringing. Finding your dream job is more about recovering an old love or an inescapable truth that has been silenced for years, even decades.

Lost Along the Way. Dreams can be lost due to a lack of readiness, everyday distractions, and the "nothing lie" – the belief that our gifts are insignificant. We may not have been ready for it the first time around. Everyday distractions can estrange us from our dreams.

The Power of Recovery. Recognizing that finding a dream is an act of recovery shifts the focus from endless possibilities to a manageable handful of options from within your own experience. It's about reconnecting with something you once loved and finding a way to bring it back into your life.

3. Hinge Moments: Recognizing the Pivotal Points in Your Story

Sometimes we think we need a massive eureka moment to come to grips with who we want to be and what we want to do. But the truth is, the greatest impact tends to come from hinge moments.

Small Details, Big Impact. Hinge moments are seemingly insignificant events that pivot you in a new direction. Like the hinge on a missile launch button, these moments tap into deep emotions and energies, altering your experience and trajectory.

Interviewing Your Past. To identify hinge moments, ask yourself:

• What do I love enough to do for free?
• What do I do that causes time to feel different?
• What do I enjoy doing regardless of the opinions of other people?
• If only my life changed, would that be enough?
• Are there any patterns in the things you like doing?

Happy and Unhappy Hinges. Hinge moments aren't always positive. Discouraging events can clarify that a particular path isn't right for you, helping you focus on what you truly love.

4. Risk Management: Seeing Risks Clearly, Not Magnified or Ignored

Risks are coming... How you perceive them will largely determine how successful you are at overcoming them.

Three Perspectives on Risk.

• Magnifying Glass: Blowing risks out of proportion, losing sight of potential rewards.
• Kaleidoscope: Jumbling fears and worries, creating a distorted view of reality.
• Telescope: Creating a safe distance, acknowledging risks without letting them dominate decisions.

Common Obstacles. Unnecessary risks often trip us up:

• Perfectionism: Striving for unattainable standards, delaying action.
• The Discussion: Endless internal debates, preventing decisive action.
• Fuzzy Math of "What If?": Paralyzed by fear of failure, avoiding any decision.
• "Too Busy": Using a packed schedule as an excuse, neglecting priorities.
• The Money Problem: Equating financial foolishness with commitment, jeopardizing stability.
• "By Now": Believing it's too late to start, succumbing to apathy.

Telescope Approach. The telescope method is the most effective approach. Telescopes are designed to view things that are far away, and that’s where most of our risks are too.

5. Fall in Like: Finding Purpose and Parallels in Your Current Job

We need to learn to fall in like with a job we don’t love because it’s actually the best way to set up your dream for success.

The Platform and the Prison. Your day job can be a platform to launch your dream or a prison that holds you back. The key is to find ways to connect your current work with your aspirations.

The Ripple Effect. Your behavior at your day job impacts all areas of your life. Bad employees make horrible dreamers. You can’t loaf on your day job all week and then expect to magically throw the switch on the weekend and hustle on your dream.

Remember Why You Work. Reconnect with the reasons you work – providing for your family, paying bills, supporting causes you care about. This can provide a renewed sense of purpose and motivation.

6. The Hustle is Real: Dedication and Discipline are Non-Negotiable

Hustle is really that simple.

Simple, Not Easy. Hustle is about putting in the work, even when it's not glamorous or enjoyable. It's about doing the things you don't want to do to earn the right to do the things you love.

Morning Momentum. Working on your dream before your day job allows you to beat the excuses and tap into your energy and creativity before they're depleted.

Like vs. Love. Hustle forces you to prioritize, cutting out activities you merely "like" to make room for those you truly "love."

7. Define "Enough": Guarding Against the Dangers of Success

Success will tell you that your enough is not enough, and it will keep you on a treadmill of your own design, but a treadmill nonetheless.

The Bermuda Triangle of Dreams. More dreams fail in success than in failure. Success can lead to arrogance, overconfidence, and a loss of focus on what truly matters.

The Disease of More. Without a clear definition of "enough," you'll constantly chase more, sacrificing relationships and well-being in the process.

The Power of Definition. Defining "enough" provides a safeguard against the dangers of success, ensuring you stay grounded and focused on your core values.

8. The Go Time Scorecard: Knowing When to Leap

Most of it would not have been possible without a day job that allowed me to duck the Dons, keep my no’s, stay dangerous, and stabilize my marriage.

A Holistic Assessment. The decision to quit your day job shouldn't be based on a single factor, but on a comprehensive evaluation of your readiness. The "Are You Really Ready to Quit Your Day Job?" Scorecard provides a framework for assessing your financial stability, support network, and commitment to your dream.

Beyond the Score. The scorecard is a guide, not a guarantee. Trust your intuition and consider your unique circumstances when making your final decision.

Six Key Indicators.

• Somewhere to Land: A clear opportunity that aligns with your long-term goals.
• Opportunity Filter: Criteria to ensure the new opportunity is a good fit.
• Tested the Dream: Experience and validation in your chosen field.
• Support Network: Encouragement and assistance from friends and family.
• Financial Stability: Resources to weather potential setbacks.
• Divine Alignment: A sense of peace and purpose.

Last updated: March 16, 2025