The first ego poke is to slowly filter in the idea that you are a dumb sheep. If you are an employee you are a weak NPC who cannot think for yourself. The ego stroke? It doesn’t have to be this way. You can change. You are an intelligent individual trapped in a broken system.
I learned from direct experience what harm a dysfunctional manager can bring. Especially if they just can’t listen, will throw you under the bus every chance they get and bully you into submission by using their title. Sometimes, in extreme cases, it’s best to quit. Currently facing that situation and I’m extremely saddened, because it was the first time I actually cared about a job.
Fortunately I have found the guts to leave and my energy came back well enough afterwards because I could find a place that seems saner than the one before. Only time will tell, but let’s see!
That’s not something all workplaces seem to understand… which is absolutely absurd. I hope managers will understand it’s important to collaborate with employees and not just order them around.
Hi Rolf. I’m glad to hear it. It’s kind of bizarre that this is now a contrarian position (at least online). But I do think it’s an important one. People very often don’t need to leave their careers, they just need to find new perspectives
Someone had to say it! Such a good outline of why a full-time job is an advantage. Of course, not any job, etc. The psychological aspects that you mentioned are the key. People usually start thinking of entrepreneurship when they are fed up with their current employee status, there is a lot of knee jerk reaction to it. A great read!
Thank god someone is talking about this. Thank you!!! I fell into the illusion in my first job out of college. “I don’t want to be here, this isn’t what I’m meant to do, look at all these online digital nomads”. That led me to join a media startup and about two months in, that bubble was burst and the magic mirror shattered. Back to the corporate 9-5 I went and I have no intentions of looking back.
I might be one of the few that believes stability allows for creativity.
So happy to have come across your blog! As someone who has quit a job before and has burned all bridges... I am grateful to be so employable and have the ability to secure a job in a short space of time. I have seen many people around me pay thousands for courses just so they can fail slower and still go back to a full time job. I very much prefer to build a business slow, explore, enjoy the journey whilst I have the security and benefits of a full time job.
I have a lot more drive and energy than when I left the job and lived on savings.
I love this advice. I’ve always said to creators and coaches ‘do some other pays the bills. It takes the pressure off what you are building / creating.’
In fact I wouldn’t have started my non profit without following that advice for myself. But that’s a story for another day.
I am a living testament to this and recommend anyone who wants to quit the day job to follow their dreams, to read this first… it will save you from learning things the hard way!
Very insightful post—social media and marketers sell such a disproportional reality, and a majority of people who embark on this solo creator life just become stressed and start to create unhealthy patterns and habits. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the article. It brings an old and still used path of mine:
I struggle at work, then I quit to do my stuff, then it’s not paying me asap and enough (obviously), and then I look for a job, again. It’s tiresome, honestly saying. And I have a question:
How did you not go crazy doing not what your soul and nature want to?
I understand this feeling so well! Thank you for sharing!
I recently wrote a poem about the Golden Handcuffs, that expresses the same theme. Hope it speaks to you. And if you’re up for more discussion, I’m all up for it. At least you called it out - we r not alone in this journey <3
Your 9-5 is undoubtedly one of your biggest advantages, but only if it doesn’t harm your mental peace.
Exactly. Like anything and life there are good and bad jobs. A lot of it comes down to your manager and your colleagues
I learned from direct experience what harm a dysfunctional manager can bring. Especially if they just can’t listen, will throw you under the bus every chance they get and bully you into submission by using their title. Sometimes, in extreme cases, it’s best to quit. Currently facing that situation and I’m extremely saddened, because it was the first time I actually cared about a job.
I know exactly how it feels, that's why I quit my job.
Please look into the matter seriously and see what you can do to leave that place ASAP.
Fortunately I have found the guts to leave and my energy came back well enough afterwards because I could find a place that seems saner than the one before. Only time will tell, but let’s see!
Best of luck:)
and if you don't have kids. Kids don't live in 9-5. things change, things need to be flexible. and parents need autonomy over their "9-5"
That’s not something all workplaces seem to understand… which is absolutely absurd. I hope managers will understand it’s important to collaborate with employees and not just order them around.
That's so true!
I teach entrepreneurship to high schoolers, and I encourage them to be weary of marketers selling marketing material about marketing to marketers.
I wouldn’t mind testing that theory though 😁
Yea very wise. There’s no real substitute for hard work. If it comes easy it will get boring and will not bring fulfillment
Thank you Benjamin! I love the new and unusual
perspective you have created in my head with your post.
Hi Rolf. I’m glad to hear it. It’s kind of bizarre that this is now a contrarian position (at least online). But I do think it’s an important one. People very often don’t need to leave their careers, they just need to find new perspectives
Using your 9-to-5 as a way to guarantee income while you develop skills related to your passion is a thought-provoking idea!
Someone had to say it! Such a good outline of why a full-time job is an advantage. Of course, not any job, etc. The psychological aspects that you mentioned are the key. People usually start thinking of entrepreneurship when they are fed up with their current employee status, there is a lot of knee jerk reaction to it. A great read!
Thank you Monica. :)
This is, indeed, a tale as old as the internet. Maybe older. Most of us been here in one way or another.
Thank god someone is talking about this. Thank you!!! I fell into the illusion in my first job out of college. “I don’t want to be here, this isn’t what I’m meant to do, look at all these online digital nomads”. That led me to join a media startup and about two months in, that bubble was burst and the magic mirror shattered. Back to the corporate 9-5 I went and I have no intentions of looking back.
I might be one of the few that believes stability allows for creativity.
I’m there with you.
So happy to have come across your blog! As someone who has quit a job before and has burned all bridges... I am grateful to be so employable and have the ability to secure a job in a short space of time. I have seen many people around me pay thousands for courses just so they can fail slower and still go back to a full time job. I very much prefer to build a business slow, explore, enjoy the journey whilst I have the security and benefits of a full time job.
I have a lot more drive and energy than when I left the job and lived on savings.
Thank you. I so need to spread this message. And I’m so glad I’m not the only one. Love substack for bringing us together 😀
Definitely not the only one. I'll happily help you spread the word.
It's sad to see people leave good jobs just because of the new wantpreneurship fashion.
Yes. Let’s change the culture around this 💪
I love this advice. I’ve always said to creators and coaches ‘do some other pays the bills. It takes the pressure off what you are building / creating.’
In fact I wouldn’t have started my non profit without following that advice for myself. But that’s a story for another day.
Thanks MamaJ. I wanted to give a different perspective as I see so many people sh*tting on jobs.
I am a living testament to this and recommend anyone who wants to quit the day job to follow their dreams, to read this first… it will save you from learning things the hard way!
Thank you Shelly
Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks for reading :)
Very insightful post—social media and marketers sell such a disproportional reality, and a majority of people who embark on this solo creator life just become stressed and start to create unhealthy patterns and habits. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the article. It brings an old and still used path of mine:
I struggle at work, then I quit to do my stuff, then it’s not paying me asap and enough (obviously), and then I look for a job, again. It’s tiresome, honestly saying. And I have a question:
How did you not go crazy doing not what your soul and nature want to?
I understand this feeling so well! Thank you for sharing!
I recently wrote a poem about the Golden Handcuffs, that expresses the same theme. Hope it speaks to you. And if you’re up for more discussion, I’m all up for it. At least you called it out - we r not alone in this journey <3
https://open.substack.com/pub/thetvinsidemymind/p/golden-handcuffs?r=3i55bj&utm_medium=ios