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Chapter 5 When to leave? Two of my friends expressed similar thoughts to me about quitting their jobs. The first was Fosua, a childhood friend who has risen to the top of her career in technology, and the second was Bruwaa, a mother of three who works in banking. They were faced with the same decision: leave their current jobs to pursue their side hustles - passions, or stay. I can tell you from personal experience that it's never easy to admit that things aren't working out and that it's time to try something new. I've seen a few endeavors end in this way, and they've all been difficult. There are always conflicting emotions, and you never know if you're making the right decision, but if something is wrong, it's better to clear the air than to let things fester until they worsen. I had a job as an IT Officer in a reputable institution at the time, with flexible and favorable working conditions. I was having fun and doing my best to improve the institution and the people I served. There will always be crossroads, a valley of decisions, fate-defying moments, and a time when one must decide whether to take the plunge or let things slide. So, after a while, I felt deep in my heart that I should leave the job and pursue my passions, something I can totally pour my heart into, regardless of the remuneration at stake. Thoughts streaming down in my mind… Am I gonna regret it? Will I survive without my day job? What will people say and think? Why must I settle for an uncertain future? Am I throwing in the towel so easily in the fight of finding a job that matters? I fought these thoughts for a while before deciding to speak with an elderly member of the firm's staff. He was having a conversation with me, though he said very few words to me. He said something that struck me and has stayed with me to this day. He simply stated, "You leave when the applause becomes louder." He had been with the firm for over 20 years and was nearing retirement. He stated that the working conditions and salary were far better back then, and it was a dream job that anyone would die for. He had given his all for all these years, but things were beginning to take a different, downward turn. "You are still young and full of passion, vibe, and vigor; don't waste your youth on things that will not benefit your future or the world as a whole," he said. Yes! That was it! It changed my life forever, ushering in a new chapter of uncertainty and fulfillment. So I devised a contingency plan for surviving the upcoming lean seasons while pursuing my passions. To leave the institution gracefully, I took the appropriate steps. Something I learned from my Elders was to always leave a place in peace rather than in pieces. Perhaps you are reading this with a lot of thoughts racing through your head. Is it the right time, you ask? Guess what? My lady friend, Bruwaa has finally quit her job and is successfully running her side hustle; the good news is that she has seen much progress in a month that she has not seen in years. The point is that you never know what will come of your efforts when you decide to leave and pursue something you want to learn about and earn from. Yes, others have tried and failed, and yes, others have tried and succeeded. If you do it correctly, that can be your story as well. You, after all, are the architect of your life. There may or may not be an ideal time to leave or stay. Listen to your heart and, if necessary, take a leap of faith! The thing is that most people think about leaving their job only when they have to - when the time comes for a mandatory transfer or retirement. But the question is what if you don't have to leave? Fear of the unknown is a major deterrent to people leaving when they need to. This has crippled many great talents who would otherwise have been global phenomena or impacted lives in various small ways. What if you're ready to explore your career options and see where they take you? That's not always easy, it can be quite risky. You might end up making mistakes that could've been avoided had you stayed put. However, by taking some time to consider your goals and map out an action plan, the risk can be greatly reduced. So, if you decide to leave, Here are some important things to keep in mind while exploring your career options: - Define your purpose in life. Are you looking for financial security and stability? Or do you want more freedom and flexibility in how you live your life? Once you know what is most important to YOU, everything else will fall into place much easier. - Research the industry you're interested in before making any decisions. This will help you determine whether or not this is something you want to do. - Make a plan - Know exactly what you want from your new career path, and figure out how best to achieve it. This will help avoid surprises down the road, and ensure that all of your ducks are in a row when it comes to leaving your old job. - Stay positive - Remember that no matter what happens during your exit process, there's always at least one silver lining (or two). Keep an open mind about everything unfolding, and stay positive about where things could lead. You never know... - Don't be afraid of change. If something feels right (and it probably will), go with it! The universe usually has a good sense of timing, so dropping the old way of living won't necessarily mean living a boring or uncomfortable existence). - Be realistic about what skills or experience are necessary for the position(s) that interests you. Don't waste valuable time pursuing positions that don’t match your skillset – instead, focus on finding jobs that better align with who you are as a person and what talents/skillsets you possess. Additionally, you can transition slowly by starting a side hustle! Yes, that's right - sometimes the best way to transition from your current job is to begin that on the side - as a side hustle. Until you begin to see some steady progress. Starting a new career can be exciting and daunting at the same time. You want it to be perfect, but you don't want to give up all of your savings or miss out on raises and promotions at your current job. I know well, those little perks kept my friend Bruwaa for years before she eventually decided to let all go. The good news is that starting a new career as a side hustle can help make those transitions easier by allowing you to try something new without risking too much. Exactly, what saved her was that she had already begun something on the side, that was enough motivation that drove her into it fully. There are several reasons why starting a side hustle can be a great way to transition from your current job. For one, it allows you to explore different interests and passions without committing fully to anything. You also have the flexibility to shift gears as necessary for your business to continue thriving. And finally, if things go well, you may find that making your side hustle into a full-time career is something that suits you quite nicely! Starting as an entrepreneur can be daunting - especially when it comes to choosing which direction to take your business in. But by taking some time upfront to brainstorm what you're interested in and where you want it headed, the process will become much easier. Then all you need is some motivation (whether that's financial or simply having fun), good ideas (both for products and services), and plenty of hard work (which usually doesn't come cheap). Sooner or later, though - whether through luck or dedication - success will eventually follow! And to you, are you staying or leaving?