Why quitting your Job to follow your Passion is Completely Okay?

Do you remember the time when you were growing up? You would have probably painted a vivid picture in your head that you wanted to become a painter, musician, author or professional athlete. Well, we’ve all “been there, done that”. These were our passions we wanted to pursue because we all simply loved doing it. However, once we got older, most of us were told that these dreams would get us nowhere because it didn’t really define a “career”.

Back then, we didn’t have much to say, and simply pursued a field and job that came with a solid pay-check and a so-called promising career track. Every house had doctors, engineers, and so on.

When you realised the job didn’t fulfil you, and you’re probably wasting eight hours of your day, you may have been plagued with the thought – “should I quit my job and follow my dreams”? Putting an end to the rat race, quitting your job and living your life the way you want to isn’t easy. It brings with it backlash, a guilt-trip and a lot of unwanted thoughts.

Is the phrase “chase your passion and live life to the fullest” something that is only restricted to motivational blogs and inspirational websites? Well, it exists in the real world and it is okay to quit your job to follow your passion. As much as we’re advocates of the same, we don’t want you to act rashly. There are several things you need to plan for, and keep in mind before taking the massive plunge.

Things to know before you Quit your Job to pursue your Passion

Through this blog, we aim at educating you on how you can successfully quit your job and pursue your dream.

• Have a clear idea of what you want to do next

Before quitting your job or bidding adieu to your career, have a clear picture of what you want to do next. Having a passion is one thing, turning it into a career is another! A lot of people want to quit their job due to bad bosses or difficult colleagues. While these are valid reasons, don’t make a hasty decision. It might bring you temporary relief but it isn’t going to last if you haven’t thought of something concrete. Don’t wait for your cash reserves to start depleting to figure out your passion. Your dream job comes from knowing what you want first. Once you gain clarity, it becomes easier for you to quit your existing job.

• Be fully dedicated

A common mistake most people with a passion make is that they give it partial dedication. For example, four days of the week they pursue their desk job and devote one day to exploring their passion. Well, this isn’t going to work. The only way you can explore your passion 100% is by letting go of your job. You need to be fully dedicated towards it if you want to turn it into your career and make money out of it. Also, when you’re not tied to a normal job, you tend to receive offers to projects because people realise your mind, body, heart and soul now lies in your dream. Thus, 100% dedication will only take you places.

• Have fire in your soul

Without fire in your soul, you won’t get anywhere. You will reach nowhere if you simply quit your job and sit on the couch all day. Therefore, even before you decide to quit your job, make sure you have a strong vision. The reason should be good enough for you to leave your stable job. It should make you want to jump out of bed to go out there and fulfil your dreams.

• Have a contingency fund

Of the many risks people face after quitting their jobs, financial insecurity is the biggest. It’s all fun and games until the hefty pay-check you were getting every month stops. It’s okay to quit your job to pursue something you love. But remember, don’t quit your job without a backup plan or contingency fund. It’s literally a prerequisite. Everybody has certain recurring costs. Firstly, plan for them before taking the big leap. Ask yourself how you’re going to be paying the bills or leading your lifestyle? Once you have a clear idea about this, it’s worthwhile to pursue your dream job. Also, we can’t emphasise enough on the importance of saving. Keep enough money aside as a contingency fund.

• Stand up for yourself

As Winston S Churchill said “You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.” In the quest of creating your own path, there will be many people telling you what you should and shouldn’t be doing. In fact, the more you defy the norm, the more people will question your choices. Our advice to you would be – don’t be offended by what people say. A lot of people will pull you down but it’s important for you to keep your focus on what you want to achieve. Once you learn to stand up for yourself, you will inch closer to your dream(s).

• Have a support system

As much as we say don’t listen to what people say, we’re emphasising on the need to have a support network. Have at least one person or two people in whom you can confide in. However, they should be your well-wishers. One can be a family member who appreciates you for who you are and the other can be a person who acts as a business advisor to you. These are the people who will not pull you down. Instead, they will work as your strength and give your positive criticism along the journey.

Don’t be afraid of quitting your job to follow your passion. Don’t let the fear of failure or rejection hold you back from unfolding the limitless possibilities life has in store for you. It’s time to quit your job and live the dream, but exercise certain caution while you’re doing so.

Are you someone who recently quit a mundane job to give wings to your passion? We would love to know your side of the story.