What's stopping me from quitting my job?

[Dozer]

Hi guys, I think I need a little push in the right direction.

Currently, I work in a job that I'm not interested in making a career out of. I'm a software developer and although I do enjoy the programming side of things, I'd rather be doing something creative that I'm passionate about. I've never seen this job as anything other than temporary, have been here three years, and each day I feel kinda miserable just being here. I feel I'm wasting my time, and I'm sure a lot of you know the feeling.

I made the decision a couple of months ago that I would leave this job and try to forge something else. I've got enough money to last almost two years without an income and would be much happier not working here, so I don't intend to continue pottering along and try to make the shift gradually. I intend to spend the first year seeing if I can get anywhere making games, which is what I enjoy doing most. I'll tackle the second year when I come to it. If things are going well, terrific, if not I'll find something else to do.

My problem, however, isn't my plan. It's quitting my job.

I get somewhat bogged down with the little details. When I first decided this, two months ago, I decided that I'd leave just before Christmas so as to give myself plenty time to find out what I needed, get a few headstarts, and save a bit more cash. Recently, I pulled that date in to the end of October, because each day I feel more and more demoralised, and thinking more and more that I'm wasting my time.

Now I'm wondering whether or not I should just jump, because a month and a half (having to work a month's notice) is barely going to make a difference, right? It'll at most make my savings last another month. 24 instead of 23. Whoop-de-doop.

If it sounds stupid and obvious, that'll be because it is.

Two things seem to be paralysing me. The first is the feeling that I should somehow earn my freedom. That's utterly insane yet there it is. "I'll just work another five weeks." I dunno why, but it somehow convinces me, or at leasts holds me back.

The other is the feeling that come the end of October, I'd have less money if I quit earlier than I otherwise would have. Never mind the fact that I'd be further along with improving my life, and no doubt quite a lot happier with it. Somehow, that fear that I'd end up worse off is there.

So I guess what I'm asking is, in the face of the obvious answer, why can't I pick it?

[escapeplan]

Understandable problem. Two years savings is nice but you still lack clarity on your future direction.

Part time/ freelance an option?

Whatever you do, don't quit without at least having a business earning enough money to live a basic existence from.

Anyone who says otherwise is not thinking straight IMHO.

[Dozer]

Part time / Freelance isn't an option in my current field because I want to completely move away from it. It doesn't interest me at all, and whilst I won't have a guaranteed income for at least a year, I'm viewing it as a year out exploring my options. I'd think it would be better to commit to that full time and cut ties to what I do now. I find it too easy to ignore the problems when I have the safety net of a job, even one I dislike.

Well, moan about rather than ignore.

I tried for years to reconcile the two but the more I work, the more I seem to get stuck in the rut. I appreciate the sentiment about sustaining myself before quitting, but I'm only likely to become more and more miserable like that. That's been the path of the last two years at least.

[escapeplan]

Excellent- then you have made the decision!

Resign now!

[Dozer]

Yeah, I think I have.

(Made the decision, that is).

I think the reason I keep putting it off isn't because of the money, just to avoid failure. Yet, if I don't try, I fail by default really, and given that my goals are experimentation and discovery, the only way to fail is to not try.

Time to get excited, methinks.

[LostMyMap]

I'd say if you have saved two years worth of money to live on you have definitely earned your freedom.

[Orionjoel]

Dozer, there is one little difference between the people that succeed and the ones that don't. That is making the decision and seeing it through.

At the end of the day over a two year period there will be something that can create for you that extra month expenses if that is what you are using as your current worry to try and hold onto the security of a consistent income. However think about the following.

If you stay with the job for that bit extra time, there is just as likely going to be something else come up in 5 weeks time that makes you question it again. If you keep putting it off it is just as likely you will keep postponing it anyway.

In two years time you are going to be in the exact same spot whether you resign today or in 5 weeks time. You can either have faith in your ability now or in 5 weeks time. There is no more earning your freedom, as LosyMyMap says you have done that with your savings.

You can either stick with what you hate or you can open up the potential for what you really want to go, either way time will pass and life will go on.

**coincidentally this is exactly what I need to hear myself at the moment.**

[Dozer]

Yup, that's something I've been telling myself over and over for the last month or so. Especially given that I've got one year to spend following my passions, regardless of whether I stay in this job for another month or quit, it didn't matter. If I succeed, the month wouldn't matter. If I fail, the month wouldn't matter.

I'll be resigning and going for it.