Left My 9–5 Job and This Is What Happened

There are some decisions that change the course of your life. For me, one such decision was to quit my safe, stable but tedious 9 to 5 job. People say, “Don’t quit your job, your life will be ruined.” But I took the risk – and this became my biggest lesson.

The beginning – when everything was ‘fine’

I used to work in a multinational company. The salary came on time, the boss was not too strict and the work was not too difficult. But one thing that bothered me every day was the constraints of routine.

Waking up at 8 am every day, braving the traffic to reach the office, sitting in front of the computer for 8 hours and then returning home – it started to feel like I was not living life, but just passing time.

Inner voice – is this all there is?

Many times I asked myself – is this what I want to do for the next 30 years? Should all my creativity, my dream, be suppressed just for a monthly salary?

Gradually these questions became so deep that they did not let me sleep. I felt that if I did not do it now, I would never be able to do it.

Big decision – The day of leaving the job

Finally, one day I wrote a mail to my boss – Resignation Letter.

Hands were trembling, heart was beating fast, but there was a strange peace in the mind. It seemed that now I am taking the remote control of my life back in my hands.

But it was not that easy.

People’s reaction – “Have you gone mad?”

When I told friends and relatives that I have left the job, everyone’s first question was –

“What will you do now?”

“Why did you leave such a good job?”

“Did you get anything new?”

I did not have a direct answer to anyone, because I myself was also just listening to my heart. I knew that I had to do something different, but how to do it was not clear yet.

Initial difficulties – fear, doubt and empty pockets

The first three months were the most difficult. Income had stopped, savings were decreasing, and ideas were not working properly. For a moment, I felt that I had made a mistake.

But then I told myself – “If I give up now, I will regret it for the rest of my life.”

I started taking small freelance projects, did content writing, learned social media marketing, and also started a blog. Slowly, I started earning – albeit less, but on my own.

I understood the true meaning of freedom

The biggest thing I felt after leaving the job was freedom –

• I used to decide when to work
• I used to choose with whom to work
• What to do, it was now my choice

Now I wake up every morning with excitement, not with the fear of an alarm.

I understood the value of time

When you are in a 9 to 5 job, you sell most of your time. But when you work for yourself, you understand the value of every moment. I improved my time management skills, learned new things, and kept improving myself constantly.

Money started coming in slowly but steadily

After about 6 months, my freelance income became equal to the salary I was earning in a job. The difference was that now I was doing what I loved. And the biggest thing – I was the master of my earnings.

Now I am earning a good income every month from digital marketing, coaching, and blogging.

Lessons I learned from this journey

1. Risk is a part of life – there is no growth without risk.
2. Contentment is more important than money – Earning is important, but finding happiness in that work is even more important.
3. Not everyone will understand – Your decisions will not seem right to everyone, but you have to listen to your heart.
4. Keep learning, fall and get up – The path will be difficult, but if you keep learning, you will definitely get success.

Today's Status – Independent and Self-Reliant

Today I am my own boss. My time is mine, my dreams are mine, and the hard work is mine. Sure, not every day is easy, but every day is new, full of excitement.

I now have the freedom that I could never get in an office chair.

Conclusion – Are you ready?

If you are also bored of a 9 to 5 job, and want to do something new, then remember:

• First make a plan
• Save little by little
• Learn new skills
• And then when you feel the time is right, take the leap

Life is too short to just fulfill the dreams of others.

Start living for your dreams. Because when you listen to your heart, the universe is with you.