Hey friends!

Big life update here…I QUIT MY JOB…with no real back-up plan.

Well…that’s not entirely true. Let me explain.

The Catalyst

About three years ago, I left my 13 year career as a high school English teacher to pursue a career in writing.

I was lucky enough that an academic enrichment company took a chance on me with ZERO writing experience. But I had a lot of enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. So, that was enough.

Those three years were amazing. I learned so many skills and lived my dream…I was a staff writer. Someone was paying me to write. AND I got to work 100% from home. As a migraine girly, this was lifechanging.

But somewhere around the two year mark, I started to feel a little fidgety, like I was ready for something more. However, I couldn’t find a good reason why I should be walking away from my job when it was such a good fit. Great work life balance. Great pay. But I couldn’t get rid of the feeling like it was time for me to move on.

Taking the Leap

Just because a thing is good doesn’t mean you should stay.

Just because a thing checks all the boxes doesn’t mean you should stay.

Just because a thing is what you wanted five years ago, doesn’t mean you have to still want that same thing now.

So often, we stay in places that we’ve outgrown because we’re afraid of what we don’t know. We stay in toxic situations because what if there’s only something worse on the other side. We don’t allow ourselves to roam because roaming is scary.

But it’s like my girl, Ina Garten, says, “You can’t stand on the side of the pond and make observations about what’s in the pond. You have to get in and splash around to see what you like.”

So, what happened?

So, while I was still at my job, I splashed around in the pond and started observing what I liked. I started paying attention to how different opportunities made me feel. I also took some time to reflect on things I enjoyed in the past.

What did I come up with?

1. I like writing flash fiction, novels, and blog posts.
2. I do not like teaching and do not want to have teach anyone anything in the traditional sense of the word “teacher” (right now, at least. Never say never.)
3. I enjoy helping/supporting teachers make their lives in the classroom easier
4. I like crafting lessons
5. I want to be my own boss

I always knew I enjoyed these things, but it wasn’t until I really got serious about how I felt when I was doing them that made me go, “Hm. I think there’s something here.”

Leaving the Job

Now that I’d compiled that information, what was I going to do with it? Well, I sat on it for a while. And then I got moving.

I opened up my Teachers Pay Teachers store, The Bookish Classroom. I tried to spend more time contributing to my blog. I worked on my novel, took writing classes, and hired an editor.

I started building. And as I watched my work grow, I thought, “It’s time to go all in.”

Did any of this replace the income my job was giving me? Nope. Even though my TpT store has been seeing a steady incline of sales since I made my first $1 in February.

But I was ready to take a chance on myself. By pursuing my novel and teacher store goals, I was able to build confidence that made it possible to jump full time into being my own boss.

The confidence was the key.

I Say All This to Say…

I am 38 years old. I live with my husband, so there is financial support there along with my savings.

But if not now when?

If you’re in the boat ready to jump out to sea, do it. Jump. This is your sign.

No job is worth sacrificing your happiness. If you feel stuck, that’s your sign that it’s time to move on to something greater. You don’t have to stay in a place you’ve outgrown.

If you can’t make the leap yet, start building. Grow your savings. Apply for new jobs. Build your business. Write the novel/screenplay/story. Invest in yourself. Take those steps. In them you will find the confidence you need to make your next move. It doesn’t matter where you are in this moment, there is always a step you can take that will bring you forward. And it doesn’t need to be a gigantic step either. One small step is still a step.

Don’t compare yourself to other people on similar journeys. Don’t pressure yourself into making a leap you’re not ready to make. Nothing needs to be done on a grand scale. Listen to your gut.

And if you see other people succeeding in a way you wish you were but aren’t yet, take it as your sign that your success is on the way.

Final Thoughts

That’s it for now, friends.

I’ve been officially self-employed since June 1st and couldn’t be happier with the decision to bet on myself.

This week, I hope you make your first step (big or small) toward your dreams. You deserve to be happy. You deserve to feel proud of your accomplishments. You deserve to live your life out loud, any way you want to. ❤