Today I killed my job

[fduijts]

Hi you all,

Just wanted to share with you that I've killed my job. Actually last monday was my last day, but before I could put this message down I was too busy going to the chamber of commerce, opening a business account, etc. And 'today I killed my job' just sounds so much better

I saved enough money to go without any income for half a year and using this time to set up several muses. I know its a risk, but working for a boss where no remote working agreement or outsourcing was possible I had the option of finding a different job or taking this risk and using the time to set up several muses. I knew that I had to burn the bridges behind me to get ahead, no going back to this job and now it is really up to me to succeed.

If things don't work out the worst that can happen is that I need to find a job again, working for a boss again is also my worst nightmare.

If you have a similar story I'm glad to hear about it, best if they are success stories. It would be a real bummer to hear lot's of negative experiences now

Best regards,

Frans

[Sven]

Gefeliciteerd!

[TinaD]

Congratulations!

I killed my job two weeks ago...sort of...it wasn't working out and I wanted to try Tim's approach. I can make it to January without working, so I am in the process of setting up my muse.

I have the idea for the first and second and possibly a third. The first one is in the phase of getting it's website built. I am hoping to be live by early next week and start driving traffic to the site.

Oddly, my dreamline and muse are somewhat related as I am an artist and my muse will be massmarketing prints of my work.

I hope to be the next Thomas Kincaid! Hey, if he can do it, anyone can:-)

[searstower]

Hey Tina,

Congrats on killing your job! You asked for stories, so here's mine. I hope it gives you inspiration and motivation!

June 2007 I killed my tech support job. There was no way to liberate myself in that job (at least not with that boss), and I had two other options (not really muses yet, but income producing opportunities) - 1) web design business and 2) quality travel website with lots of AdSense. I had enough savings to make my living expenses for 7 months.

After killing my job, I spent 4 weeks (spread out) volunteering at a various summer camps out in the boonies, 1 week at a marketing training course and 1 week traveling and 'gathering material' for my travel website. I had a blast! And I was doing a little bit of web work in between these, writing articles, etc.

I did make money, though some months I was scrimping to get by (I own a house and live with my husband, so I couldn't par down any of my expenses). I think the two main reasons I was having trouble was 1) I didn't plan well enough and 2) I stopped going out of the house after all that traveling and got really, really bored. My husband was traveling a lot and because I didn't need to leave the house (and it was rainy, cause I live in Seattle) I didn't leave the house pretty much at all.

I didn't realize it until looking back but I didn't shake the work for work's sake bug once I got back from all my traveling. I worked because I thought (and was told by the people close to me) that if I was going to succeed on my own I needed to work every available minute, and then I burned myself out on the work before I got close enough to having it automated.

But the story has a happy ending. In February, I decided I wanted to go back into the corporate world. I never would have guessed that I would miss it, but I wanted some structure and some office socialization, so using my 4 Hour Work Week knowledge, I jumped into the temporary job I had scored and kicked butt bigtime. They liked me so much that within 2 months they offered me a laptop and to expense my cell phone bill (with unlimited anytime minutes, data and IM, BTW!) and I come into the office once a week (for the Thursday afternoon company happy hour with free food and booze!)

It took me about so little time to learn the job and streamline it, I'm doing better than anyone else ever has in this position and I make the company about $200,000 a quarter, so I think I can stay here as long as I want. Oh, but the best part? It takes me about 2 hours a day to complete ALL of the work.

So the good news is that I have the structure I wanted (get up, 8-10 am get my day job work done, 10-whenever, work on my other businesses), and the socialization I wanted (free food, happy hour, etc) and the flexibility I wanted (I'm going to the Dominican Republic next week for 10 days and will be 'working' from the hotel - 2 hours a day, of course).

Working for the man is not always a bad thing, it's only bad when you think you don't have a choice. Well, that's my story so far.

Can't wait to hear about your successes!

Rebecca

[TinaD]

Wow Rebecca that's awesome!

I can relate in part because I also miss some of the socialization and structure of the office environment.

Having experienced it in the past I know that I can get that kind of stuff by getting a studio with other professional artists. Unfortunately where I currently live there are no viable studio options. So I am unloading my condo, as best I am able, and moving back to my old artist community back home.

During the transition time I am working on my muses and taking a temporary position (haven't found it yet, going to get the house on the market first).

Will keep you all posted.

[gphotoh]

Pardon the phrase Rebecca but, "You da man." Congrats on a phenominal job. Good luck to you Tina. I hope to be hearing a similar story from you soon.

[Bippy]

Hey Frans, any updates on the situation? I hope you're still doing great rockin the 4hww.

And Rebecca, I'm going to show my husband your post when he gets home.