The Courage to Quit

September 24, 2008

Last month, I did something I have never done in my life. I quit my job without having another job lined up. This is something I would have never dreamed of doing a couple of years ago. I never would have had the courage to put my family at risk. I would have “played it safe” and put up with the disrespect from my former employer. I would have remained unhappy, but ensured my income.

The Situation

I won’t go into a big rant about the way I was treated at my former job. Like any job, there was the good and the bad. There were the interesting projects and the constant pressure of being behind schedule. There were the exciting product launches and the stress of bugs and testing. There were the wonderful friends and co-workers and the sting of two years without a raise.

The most important consideration was that I wasn’t happy at this job, in a career I have loved for decades. I dreaded getting up in the morning and coming into work. That’s when I knew it was time to move on. Unfortunately, I had interviews, but no offers. So, I took a huge gamble, typed up my resignation and packed up my desk.

The Change

There are two important reasons I could make this change:

I had the courage to quit.
I had money set aside.

I have always had a certain amount of personal courage. And, I have always made the tough decisions that have carried me forward. But, I had never quite been able to risk quitting my job. Surviving two layoffs and reading Steve Pavlina gave me the confidence I needed to make this change.

Never underestimate the power of finances over your decisions. If I was living paycheck-to-paycheck, I would have never been able to quit. I would have had to stick it out, to protect my family. Having low expenses and money set aside, allowed me the freedom to change my future. It really is that simple and that powerful.

The Result

After a couple of nervous weeks, the gods smiled on me. I landed the kind of job I had always dreamed of. I now work at a professionally run company, in a beautiful building, that is located right here in my town. After 25 years of commuting, I finally work close to home. I also got a big raise, stock options and much better benefits. Most important, is that I wake up every morning thrilled to go to work.

I don’t know how much of this was luck, how much was destiny and how much was intention manifestation. And, it really doesn’t matter. I am feeling very thankful and very fortunate. I am thinking about everyone who pulled for me. I am thinking about the decades of hard work and the years of night school that allowed me to land this job. And, it all seems worth it, right now.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is, when you have control of your finances, you have control of your life. Finances aren’t just about money and investments; they are about freedom, courage and destiny. They are about calling your own shots and choosing your own path. They are about improving yourself and helping others. Sound finances make many of the greatest things in life possible.