Stop working jobs that suck!
Robert JanelleIt’s the end of the year, a time for top “whatever” of “insert year” lists, overcrowded malls and of course, personal reflection.
One year ago, I was working full-time in a call centre, in debt, broke and worst of all, I hadn’t written an article in months as I was struggling to get a 9-5 reporting job.
Needless to say, I was miserable.
Today I’ve got steady clients, find some decent pick-up gigs and mostly make my own hours freelancing. There’s only one problem left: I still work a few shifts a week chained to a desk by a headset.
Hence, my New Years resolution for 2008 is this: Stop working jobs that suck.
And I’ve already got a plan that I’d like to share, first off in hopes that it might inspire readers who are also trapped in dead end and degrading jobs to take the jump. Second, making a plan public is one of the best encouragements to actually carry it out.
As nice as it seems to make a big scene and storm out, never to return, it’s not very realistic. Personally, I don’t think the idea of saving up six months of living expenses terribly realistic either, not at my salary anyway.
But there are other options. Saving up three weeks worth of living expenses, for example, then taking a leave of absence. Sure, it’s not exactly quitting, but there’s the security of being able to return to a steady pay cheque should things not work out.
I see three weeks as enough time to at least secure a few more clients and at worst, have to return to the grind on casual status. Besides, the break would be nice.
Plus, the beginning of the year happens to be a great time to work these things out. The plan can be combined with other resolutions, like cutting back on vices (which should save more money) getting better at time management, etc.
Oh, and I don’t know how many others are in the same position, but still qualifying as low-income, I’m expecting a pretty generous tax return, which should also help fund this break.
Cheers to all and happy freelancing in 2008.
Jon Hughes
December 23rd, 2007
There’s another side to it as well. While I have more than enough clientèle to make more money than I need, I still keep a steady 40 hour job, which only pays about 1/4th of what I make freelancing.
Why?
Well, the first and most important reason? My wife told me to.
Getting my business started was a rocky road, filled with “hooray, it’s finally starting to happen” to “where did all the work go” - understandably, she is a bit nervous of me giving up ‘guaranteed income’ for ‘likely’ income.
Another reason is that they provide fantastic health insurance for me and my family, which would cost much more if I were to pay for it out of pocket.
I am also making HUGE leaps and bounds toward making the company I work for adopt standards, and I am actually winning the war! I was able to make 9 of the 900+ pages validate, and I have been requested to make more pages validate as well.
Note: Part of it is that I reduced their bandwidth bill in half when I converted the main page from tables to CSS, taking what was _19_ pages in rendered source down to 4.
While I will eventually work solely on my own business, for now, I need to focus on meeting the needs of my family.
- Jon
Phazm Webdesign
Ron
December 23rd, 2007
This is great to hear and Inspiring. I have been reading freelance switch for sometime now, and I work full time doing in house design, I have learned a lot but I have been freelancing on the side for the past 2 years and I am getting tired of the way the company that I work for treats its employees. But I have a lot of clients now and I can make more freelancing (at least i think
) its just the fear of stopping the day job.
However I think I got the last little bit of motivation from my day job this past week.
This past week the company I work for cut Christmas bonuses and sent out a letter about why.. in the letter the president.. said why the company was cutting the bonus… then get this he said (in the letter to everyone) that he nows he drives a nice car and lives well but he makes most if money from other things (he owns 5-10 cars and the one we see most of the time is about $120,000 USD) thats about 5 years of pay for me with what they pay me. He owns the company yes but i think this kinda pushed me to the edge, this is just the culture of the company, i couldn’t believe he would cut the bonus then talk about his nice cars and life in a letter, doesn’t hurt me to much young single guy, but for some people with families I felt bad.
So i am enjoying Christmas break and when I get back i will go part time or go full time freelance…. this is not out i no where i have a business plan and thinking about this the past 4months… its just fear… but its time to take the risk… Thanks for the post, nice to know I am not lone!
Zackery, Superpowered Publicist
December 23rd, 2007
BRAVO!!!!
That’s the reality that I am facing right now. Until I’m finished with school it’s hard to make time for big projects and until I get a big project I’m stuck working my odd hours job as a server….. The great news for me in 2008: I’m starting a new job as an intern (PAID!!!!). With the new job/ internship comes a lot of new avenues for me to grow and the best part is I get to quit my serving job. No more waiting tables for me.
Ultimately I want to freelance public relations, but until I find those big projects/ clients I’m happy with my (cringe) 8:30 to 1:00/ 8:30 to 12:00 job. It beats the alternative………
ZM
superpowered publicist
Warren
December 23rd, 2007
You brought up a good point. Something as simple as a leave of absence was what allowed me to really get cash flowing with my business and pursue my dreams. I was able to dive in head first and hold my breath the whole time until I could surface again.
mr. plow
December 23rd, 2007
Another idea is to go from your full-time job to part time, so you get a couple of regular days a week to build up your clientelle, then eventually wind up the part time job. That’s what i’m hoping to do in 08..
John Winningham
December 23rd, 2007
Having gone the reverse route of most people, in that I started frelancing straight out of college, and then went into a 9-5er after 5 years, I can say that a regular paycheck, no matter how sucky the job is, gives you a good sense of security. I still make at least what I make in my 9-5 job, but freelancing is much more fun now, since I don’t have to worry about whether a client’s check will come in on time (or at all) so I can pay my rent and buy groceries for my family. I can do the work on my terms no, I don’t have to take sucky freelance jobs if I don’t want to. Not to say I wouldn’t love to go back to full time freelancing, but it would be on terms I can’t meet yet for various reasons.
Brad
December 23rd, 2007
As a recent college graduate, I’m in a dead-end job that is pretty miserable. I have always done writing on the side, but now I’m getting serious about freelancing. Each day I go into work is very depressing. I know freelancing is the way to go. Life is way too short to spend 8 hours/day stuck in an office doing something you hate.
Great post!
jakub 'kurak slaby
December 24th, 2007
And cheers to you! Really nice article, for me 2008 start’s with a new job so let’s hope that it won’t be “a job that suck”
See you all in 2008
Mark Abucayon
December 28th, 2007
Yes, I really hate job that sucks… It makes me stack up, Next year I will really avoid that type of a work. Thanks for the article , Great post.
Jermayn Parker
January 2nd, 2008
Having an extended break, i like that idea!
My 2008 goal is to be able to knock back the extra offered shifts at my day job