Do you dread the alarm clock, rush-hour traffic, and uninspiring packed lunches? Tolerate endless emails, pointless meetings, and salaries that barely reflect your true value?
Like many, you've likely dreamed of quitting for something more fulfilling. If that's you, follow these proven steps from those who've successfully made the leap.
Launch your new venture before quitting. Build momentum, test your enjoyment, and validate its potential.
Develop a realistic financial plan. Early stages can be tough—map out how you'll cover rent, groceries, and essentials, plus project income timelines.
Choose a path you're deeply passionate about. Any meaningful career demands time and energy; passion drives the obsession that leads to success.
"Your past is not your future, and you can do whatever you want."
Gregory Nesmith
40, real estate investor, coach, and radio personality; New York City
I spent 16 years in corporate marketing—prestigious perks like first-class travel, high pay, and collaboration with top minds. For years, I thrived and made my working-class family proud. Approaching 40, though, my childhood dream of on-air radio or TV resurfaced, alongside excitement for real estate investing and entrepreneurship. Marketing someone else's products lost its appeal.
Two years ago, I quit despite nerves over leaving a comfortable salary amid doubts from loved ones. I launched a real estate firm with friends, became a personal development coach, and started hosting two radio shows. Fears persist, but they no longer hold me back. I feel alive again—and the finances followed.
Jim Wang
36, founder of WalletHacks.com and 5DollarMealPlan.com; Baltimore
As a software engineer at a defense contractor, I loved my team but saw huge potential in my personal finance blog. Quitting felt terrifying—a stable job, my entire college focus. Yet blogging energized me; I'd rush home to work on it.
It was my scariest decision, but the blog became highly profitable, selling for a substantial sum. That shifted my mindset: Your past doesn't define your future. Inspired, I've launched two more successful online ventures.
Nicole Cogan
27, founder of NoBread.com; Los Angeles
Raised in a New York suburb pushing finance careers, I hated it but dreamed creatively. After Cornell in 2011, I spent three years in stock sales at JPMorgan Chase, secretly building my gluten-free platform.
Misery peaked—dreading mornings so much I hated bedtime. A Los Angeles trip revealed happier, independent lives. Back home, I quit, crafted a 12-page business plan, and moved in with parents to bootstrap for three months.
Quitting was terrifying—fear of failure, family disappointment, returning to a job. Now in year two, I earn as much as in finance, happier than ever, and committed to never going back.
Related: 5 steps to turn your passion into your profession
This article originally appeared in the February 2017 issue of SUCCESS magazine.
