I meet people all the time who hate their job but rather than help them wallow in their misery, I try and help them see the possibilities. What do you want to do instead? What’s your dream job?
Is it…
… Becoming a Feng Shui consultant
… Moving to L.A to be an actress and photographer
… Quitting accountancy to go traveling around the world
… Starting an exciting new business?
Maybe you just want more pay or less stress in your current job. You might want to get out of corporate life and do something much more fulfilling. Or perhaps you’ve always wanted to work for yourself.
Being in the wrong job can be soul destroying.
Life is infinitely more fun and exciting when you create it exactly the way you want it. And it CAN be done. For some, it will just take a snap decision and you’ll resign immediately. For others, it will require a slow and steady plan – maybe out of your current job into part time work for example.
Many people dramatically quit their much hated corporate careers only to jump straight back into very similar environments just weeks later. Why? Because they don’t have the support to change at a deep level. They don’t believe their dreams are that realistic.
How do you know if you’re ready?
If you’ve got a financial buffer, for example some savings or you have a supportive partner willing to bankroll you for 6 months, then go ahead and hand in your resignation NOW.
If you’re making yourself physically sick from going to work or you’re getting bullied or depressed from your job, then you should seriously consider changing jobs NOW.
However, if you don’t have the emergency cushion and your sanity is relatively intact, I wouldn’t recommend quitting just yet. The stress of paying your bills can suck the creativity right out of you and make it difficult to start from scratch.
But, start your apprenticeship now!
Most careers have a learning curve. If you’re looking to start a service based business, like being a life coach or wedding photographer, offer your services for free before you feel confident enough to charge. Most actors have to audition a lot before they land a big part. You can start your apprenticeship, even when you have a job you hate. At least you can feel like you’re doing something about it.
Put your website together, order some cheap business cards and start working in your spare time to get confident in your abilities. Get that experience and credibility you think you need. Just do something.
If you’re that serious about your dream, you will find time to do it, even if you have a crazy life. Stephen King wrote his first published novel on his lunch-break at the laundromat he worked at, but he had been writing for years, sending in short stories to magazines since he was in his teens.
So, if you’re sitting at work and longing to be somewhere else. I have some questions for you.
In the last month…
- What books are you reading?
- Who have you reached out to for advice?
- How many auditions have you been on?
- How many photos have you taken and uploaded?
- How many stories, blog posts or articles have you written?
- How much study have you done towards your course or degree?
- How many clients have you coached (even for free)?
- How many classes or workshops have you run?
- How many speaking engagements have you done?
- How many press releases have you sent about your new business?
- How many customers have you got in front of?
What steps have you taken towards your dreams?
If the answer is zero, nothing, nada… you have to ask yourself “Do I really want this?”. Because you have to know deep in your heart that you are destined to do more than sit at that desk frustrated.
Life feels a bit sweeter, you have something to look forward to at the end of the day and you don’t have the mental head-space to worry about your job.
And trust me – the universe always rewards action. You’ll start to attract opportunities, people, experiences and money to help you on your way. Life starts to get very exciting.
But seriously, don’t think about how much you HATE your job, unless you’re ready to do something about it.
It’s okay to be scared and not know what to do, but you have to take the first step. Please don’t spend another year, month, week or DAY hating your job. There’s so much more out there waiting for you.
Good luck!
Tagged as: denise duffield-thomas
