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Tomorrow is my last day of work before I start my own adventures.
I have many thoughts, feelings and reflections that I’ll share in time, but for now I want to talk about a reframe that really helped me take the leap: the idea that even failure is a success.
(Yes it’s a thread)
I have many thoughts, feelings and reflections that I’ll share in time, but for now I want to talk about a reframe that really helped me take the leap: the idea that even failure is a success.
(Yes it’s a thread)
I’ve wanted to make a move like this for a long time, but I’ve always been worried about how I’d survive without a job.
Interestingly, the amount of money I have saved (about $40k) isn’t what gave me the confidence to quit.
No, that came from making $5k from my online course.
Interestingly, the amount of money I have saved (about $40k) isn’t what gave me the confidence to quit.
No, that came from making $5k from my online course.
The idea that I would be able to immmediately generate *some* income felt very different from quitting and then living off savings until I figured things out.
The problem is that I immediately got caught up in a hustle trap of the kind @p_millerd talks about...
The problem is that I immediately got caught up in a hustle trap of the kind @p_millerd talks about...
My brain obsessively started calculating how much I’d need to make from the course to 100% replace my current income.
Now, I work as an engagement manager for one of the Big 4 audit firms. My base salary is c. $104k, not including bonus.
That’s a lot of course sales.
Now, I work as an engagement manager for one of the Big 4 audit firms. My base salary is c. $104k, not including bonus.
That’s a lot of course sales.
But I’m not quitting to replace my income, and certainly not immediately, as my brain was demanding.
I’m quitting to reclaim my time, attention and energy so that I can pursue the things I want.
But there was still pressure for the course to be a big hit.
Then I realised...
I’m quitting to reclaim my time, attention and energy so that I can pursue the things I want.
But there was still pressure for the course to be a big hit.
Then I realised...
Even ‘failure’ around generating lots of revenue from the course could stilll be a life changing success.
Let’s forecast forwards six months and assume I’m not earning enough (to be discussed another time) and I decide to apply for jobs again.
Let’s forecast forwards six months and assume I’m not earning enough (to be discussed another time) and I decide to apply for jobs again.
Failure, right?
Not necessarily. I already know through beta testing that people are willing to buy the course and many are sharing that they are really benefiting from it.
That means that, with some more building and polishing, I’ll have a pretty good course that people want.
Not necessarily. I already know through beta testing that people are willing to buy the course and many are sharing that they are really benefiting from it.
That means that, with some more building and polishing, I’ll have a pretty good course that people want.
So rather than seeing those six months as failure (“I’m going back to work, oh well”), the time will have been a success because I will have created a second meaningful income.
That gives me very different options if I do end up going back into the world of work!
That gives me very different options if I do end up going back into the world of work!
If I want to make as much as I’m making now, I won’t need to get the kind of job that pays $103k (they’re pretty stressful).
I can get a different kind of job, perhaps more fun but less well paid, and make up the difference with course income.
This helped calm my anxiety.
I can get a different kind of job, perhaps more fun but less well paid, and make up the difference with course income.
This helped calm my anxiety.
This isn’t my plan: I want the course to be part of a portfolio of cool stuff, only some of which will make money.
And there will be lots of space for learning and play.
BUT! The idea that, even if I ‘fail’, I’ll still be in a stronger position than now really helped me leap.
And there will be lots of space for learning and play.
BUT! The idea that, even if I ‘fail’, I’ll still be in a stronger position than now really helped me leap.
With that, I’m looking forward to my last day of work tomorrow., saying goodbye not only to my colleagues and the projects I’ve managed, but an identity that I’ve carried for the last ten years: an employee.
And then there will be adventures.
And then there will be adventures.
