I Quit. Now What?

Written by Chris Harris

I have told everyone in my circles how much I despised my job and did not want to get out of bed to go to work in the morning. My boss is a witch who doesn’t care about me and my family and all I am is employee #2901 and if I make my numbers they might leave me alone. I think the highlight of last week was the stale cake left over in the break room from someone’s birthday but I could not even tell you who it was because by the time I was made aware of its presence the only writing left was “Hap thda” and a V and an I. Thank you for the cake whoever you are. 

Then one day I finally do it. I stand up from my desk and walk into middle management’s office and the hot lava of horrible insults and years of pent up frustration come exploding out of me like some cathartic ritual where I am possessed by the spirit of white collar disappointment. Or at least that’s how it went in my head. In actuality, I gave them 30 days notice and I wish it was more like 45 just so I had more time of that safety net of a paycheck. 

So day 46 comes and I wake up at the normal time, make my normal cup of coffee, stay in my pajamas, open my laptop, stare at my email inbox full of promotional coupons, and newsletters I will never read, and then 18 minutes later I have nothing to do. See, I had a plan. I would quit my job and turn my side hustle business into this booming enterprise of residual income and tropic getaways making the same money I was making working 40 plus hours for someone else but instead, I am sitting here looking up funny cat videos. I have no idea where to even start. 

2 months ago I was so confident that I was going to kill it but now that my mortgage, student loans, and health insurance are all dependent on me and only me being able to make this happen I am literally paralyzed by fear. My 13 clients (7 of which are friends and family) are nowhere near enough to actually make this a business and not a hobby. Where do I even start? Why the hell did I do this? Maybe if I hurry my boss will take me back and not even noticed that I was late today. 

Day 81 of owning my own business and doing this full time. I have attended every local networking function possible. I think I have drunk 81 or more cups of coffee over one to one meetings and my booth at Panera seems to now have an imprint of my butt worked into it. The manager affectionately says to me now “I see you are back in your office”. Cute but not what I want to be known for. I have a few more clients but nowhere near as many as I thought I would and my bank account has never seen this low before. I cannot get any business credit yet so my personal credit cards have been over utilized and it is now that I am starting to realize that I have absolutely no idea how to actually run a business. I need help. I need support and I need direction. 

If this story sounds familiar please know that you are not alone. If you are finding yourself somewhere on this journey then know that you have a huge community of other bosses who have walked out that door and made a living doing what they love. It does not matter where you started or where you have been. You are here now and you do not have to look any further for a sounding board, support, and motivation to be your own boss. You did not make the wrong choice. You made the best possible decision and I know I am glad that you are here. Find something to write with and something to write on and let’s get a started. Here is what you will need. 

A Reason

Tell me why you got up from that desk and what you hope to accomplish with your company. What problem are you going to solve and whose life are you going to make better and how?

A Plan

Now that you have the foundation and a strong understanding of what and why you are doing what you are doing, how are you going to move that needle from concept to reality? Who are you going to talk to? Where are you going to go? What message are you going to deliver?

A Posse

You have a purpose and a plan, now surround yourself with individuals who will ensure that you do not give up, fail, slow down, or feel sorry for yourself as I have yet to find a single person who will pay anyone to do either of those three things for a living. You’ve got this. 

So you quit your corporate job and instead of asking “now what” you have a reason for your existence and something to tell your family, you have a plan on how to get that income started and flowing, and the people to ensure that you will be successful. Great job. You are doing it. You are a Boss on Purpose.