5 Stages of Leaving Your Job to Become an Entrepreneur
Becoming an entrepreneur is quite a journey. When I told people I quit my job to pursue my dream most people were very encouraging. I got a lot of feedback that others had done it themselves & it was the best decision they ever made.
Although I knew I'd be happier as an entrepreneur, I understood quitting my corporate job didn't automatically mean everything was bound to be hunky-dory. I went through a wave of emotions, from complete excitement to complete doubt & then some.
Quitting my job is one of the best decisions I've ever made. However, it was not a magical, easy, simple choice. I look forward to looking back in a year from now to see how much I've grown, what I've learned, & how I've improved over time. However, it's not an easy ride. Take a look at the five stages of quitting your job to become an entrepreneur. Maybe you'll relate!
Excitement
The first stage is pure excitement. You are blissful, thrilled to be leaving your job & pursue your own venture at long last. You dreamed about this moment, hoped for this moment. You think to yourself, "Wow, this is happening. I'm getting out of here. Yay!" It's thrilling, exciting, & you are ready to make this leap. Look out world, here I come!
Doubt
Right after the excitement stage comes the doubt stage. You think to yourself, "OMG. What did I do? This is a horrible decision. Will I be able to make this happen? There are so many things to do. Can I even make money? What does it take to run a successful business?" You feel overwhelmed, nervous, anxious.
Acceptance
After spending some time feeling doubtful, you accept your reality. "Well, I already put my two weeks notice in at work. It's not like I can un-quit. There's no turning back now. This is it. This is real." You acknowledge your choice & accept your decision to quit your job to become an entrepreneur.Hope
After you accept your current situation, you start to feel little hopeful. It reminds you of that first stage of excitement. You think about the reason you wanted to do this in the first place. Your sense of wonder & joy comes back in full force. You think, "I have a good feeling about this. I can make this happen."Action
What now? The only thing you can do now is take action. Make it happen. Do the work. Put in your hours, your time, your effort. You have to give it everything you've got. You quit your job to become an entrepreneur & now you're going to do this. But it takes action. Might as well get to it.I'm still in the beginning phase of this new journey of self-employment. I felt such a wave of feelings from excitement to action & I'm thrilled to see how my life unfolds. You learn a lot & there is genuinely a lot to take in. I look forward to sharing my knowledge with you & maybe you'll be ready to become your own boss too. :]
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I agree with this! Only I was let go from my job though, and went through pretty much the same stages--spot on!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a scary thought! But the work is worth it!
ReplyDeletebriana
http://beyoutifulbrunette.blogspot.com/
Yes so inspiring, babe!
ReplyDeleteEnclothed Cognition
I can only imagine the vast amount of emotions that come with walking away from a steady paying corporate job. but I CANT WAIT ! You've been such an inspiration to my journey and I enjoy watching your entrepreneurial success :)
ReplyDeleteOh man - with how much I worry I think the doubt stage would be put in between each of those other feelings. Though I can definitely understand excitement, hope and action. Even with action I'm sure there's days where you feel a bit uneasy. Good for you for chasing after your dream! I hope that one day I'll be able to do that as well :)
ReplyDeletewww.sustainablysavvy.ca
Action is so important. It takes a lot of work and sometimes we forget that being an entrepreneur is often a lot harder than a regular job.
ReplyDeleteSounds like we have a lot in common for our entrepreneurial journey! I quit my job for blogging-writing in May and still can't believe I did it. Tomorrow will be 2 months self-employed. No more dressing up, meetings, schedule. Its great to work on your own dream even if it is 2-3x the amount of hours and way less pay (for now) lol. Definitely a rollercoaster ride
ReplyDeleteLove itl. I think action is def the most important. And believing in yourself!
ReplyDeleteI definitely went through all these stages after quiting my 9-5. I definitely got a lot of strange looks and are you sure. But I'm thankful I did it. I learned a lot still have thus moments of fear but a day at a day. One foot in front of the other.
ReplyDeleteDoubt was definitely a big stage for me when I was making my transition. I'd always worked for someone else, from a Native American store to a veterinary hospital.
ReplyDeleteBeing self-employed was definitely scary, but it worked out well and I would never want to go back.
Great post!
- Alexia P. Bullard
www.alexiapbullard.com
So exciting that you took the leap! I whish you all the best of luck and I'm curious to find out how it will all work out for you. So keep on sharing your story ;)
ReplyDelete#idle
I started my entrepreneur journey in January and i am at the action stage now. I don't regret the move i made and i am loving it.
ReplyDeleteYES! Totally have felt all of these things. I quit my job in February to pursue full time blogging and it was the scariest, yet best decision I have ever made in my life!
ReplyDeleteNew adventures are always thrilling with a side dish of fear. But with careful planning, self-education, determination and drive, working for yourself brings beautiful freedom, creativity and in many cases a better financial future. Especially when you're still young, it's definitely worth the risk!
ReplyDeleteI am so proud of you! I decided to take this journey of blogging last year and I still feel like I go through all of those emotions on the daily. I am excited to learn more from you!
ReplyDeletexo Debbie | www.tothineownstylebetrue.com
Thanks so much, Debbie! Blogging is quite a journey, isn't it? I'm glad my blog can be a value to you. I hope to see more of you & your comments around. :]
ReplyDeleteSide dish of fear! Haha, love that. Absolutely, the world & workforce is changing. It certainly a risk, but NOW is the time. I'd kick myself if I didn't give myself a shot. :]
ReplyDeleteThat's so wonderful! It is indeed scary, but most of life's biggest choices are. :]
ReplyDeleteThat's so awesome to meet a fellow entrepreneur & to know that you relate. Now it's time for action. :]
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for reading & I hope you browse around. I've been sharing more of the entrepreneurial journey. :]
ReplyDeleteHi Alexia! Doubt can be crippling, but once we let go, we can see our true potential - almost limitless! :]
ReplyDeleteDefinitely getting heaps of questions & concerned looks. Day by day for sure. :]
ReplyDeleteBoth of those are very important! :]
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! The days go by so quickly. Yesterday someone asked me "didn't you quit your job months ago?" I relate to 100% of everything you said - more hours, less pay, roller coaster ride, but way happier than corporate life! :]
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! It truly is harder because everything falls on you, no boss to blame. :]
ReplyDeleteDoubt is like self-awareness, you have to be aware that you're doing & consciously move forward. Doubt kills more dreams than failure does. You can do pretty much anything you put your full effort into. :]
ReplyDeleteVast amount of the emotions is a great way to describe it.There's a lot of pressure when you only have yourself to blame but then again you only have yourself to thank when you do something right. It's a roller coaster! :]
ReplyDeleteScary thought, sometimes. :]
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling of getting let go for my job as well; it isn't easy! The matter what, you can get through this. :]
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for reading, Keri!
ReplyDeleteSO true! I am going though it as well and this is spot on! Im always here if you need to talk! xo
ReplyDelete