Just over two years ago, I wrote a blog post titled “Why I’m NOT Quitting My Day Job” which outlined the struggle I was having trying to work full time while building WP+BFF.
I share how one year into building my side hustle, I was offered a promotion at work, which I accepted and although a very challenging role, it’s one that I really enjoyed, and one that offered even more flexibility to grow my business.
And now, two years later, I’ve decided that it’s time.
I’ve hit the financial targets, I know this business can support me, and it’s time to leave behind the security of a steady paycheck and benefits and knowing exactly what to expect every single day, and join the world of the self-employed. I put my notice in, and I’m leaving my day job. My last day will be December 31, 2017.
Oh, and I'm having a huge party to celebrate!! #SideHustleGoneSerious – RSVP here!
Here's how it all went down:
Back in May, I was sitting with my boss planning the budget for the next fiscal year… and I was just thinking, “If I’m going to make this move, now is the time to say something and then I have 7 months to make the transition.” My heart started beating super fast, and I could feel my face getting hot just thinking about it.
So I mustered up the courage and I said it.
It was really hard to get those words out of my mouth, because once they left, there’s no turning back. And since then, my feelings have been all over the place… I’m excited, I’m anxious. I’m relieved, I’m overwhelmed. I’m confident, I’m insecure.
Then, over the summer I went through about six weeks of bad anxiety.
In the months after I put in my notice, my WP+BFF sales dropped significantly for a few months in a row. I had a huge project at my day job that was commanding 60+ hours a week, and I just didn’t have the time or energy to do anything extra with WP+BFF other than to keep the ship afloat.
My mind became consumed with racing with thoughts like “What if I don’t make enough money to pay my bills? Why would I walk away from a job where my health insurance is paid for and I have financial security? What if I think I’m making enough money to quit my day job but I’m really not?”
I let those thoughts of scarcity consume me so much that I wasn’t able to relax, to sleep, to enjoy down-time with friends and family.
And here’s why having a business coach is SO IMPORTANT, you guys. I’ve never built a business from scratch. I’ve never seen anyone else do it either. I’ve worked in exchange for a paycheck since the day I turned 16. Financial struggle is part of the fabric of my family. So when I finally told my coach about all the doom and gloom worries I had been letting take over my every waking moment… she listened – and then she gave me some tough love (or a #FitchSlap, as she calls it).
My coach pointed out how I’ve been focusing on all the bad things that can happen, and not focusing on all the amazing things that can happen.
It didn’t even occur to me in that downward spiral of racing thoughts the possibility that all of my dreams can come true.
So I’m focusing on making my dreams come true. My dream to be in control of my schedule and have financial freedom. My dream to work from home, and travel, and empower others.
My belief in the success of my business has guided my decisions, like investing my profit in a business coach, photography, branding, a virtual assistant and other help.
I created this business from ZERO. Zero clients, zero money. So even if my sales tanked, that doesn’t mean I can’t build them back up again.
It’s scary to put in my notice and then see my business bank account balance drop. But it also showed that I get out of my business exactly what I put into it. That even passive income requires time and attention.
So since my big project at work has slowed down, I’ve had my nose to the grindstone creating new content.
I’ve been working with a branding firm to shore up my brand and communicate what I do and for whom with crystal clear clarity (which is why you’ve seen me asking you guys random questions in the Facebook group about WP+BFF and my products are services).
I’ve been working with my business coach to strategize, let go of the fear and regain some consistency in my content creation. Because if I move out of my day job feeling stressed and out of control, that’s exactly how I’ll start my self-employment journey, and that’s not the reason I’m doing this in the first place!!
So like I have been since the beginning of WP+BFF, I’m going to share the REAL journey with you. What it really feels like to transition from other-employed to self-employed. I’ll share with you where I’ve stumbled so that maybe you can look down and not trip like I did.
If you have the belief, if you really believe in what you’re doing, you will totally figure out a way to make it happen, and I’m grateful to help you on your journey.
And BFF, if you’ve ever made the transition to self-employed, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below – what did it feel like? Were you scared? What were the first couple of months like?
