So I already quit my job…. But it’s not what you think.
I quit my job around two weeks ago at a company I was at for 4 years because I was miserable. I was having anxiety attacks because of the job so I decided to quit as I’m not a person who has ever suffered from mental illness. Since I left I’ve felt great.
I’ve found a job in the same industry they offered me similar pay but the company is much different and the things that would cause my panic attacks are non existent in this new work environment.
Since I’ve been off work though I’ve been looking into ways of starting my own business. My background is B2B sales and I’ve been very successful at it so with the right concept in a business I know I can succeed with the selling piece. Somewhere i can start is by doing photography professionally as I already do this on the side and if I dedicated my time 100% to this I feel like I’ll be able to meet my salary.
My dilemma is whether or not I should just take the leap and dive into my photography business or if I should take this other job in the same industry with less hours and work on my photography until I’m 100% sure I can do this.
I have five months of expenses saved up which leaves me with a little wiggle room at least.
I hate corporate life and my dream has always been to own my own business but at this stage I feel like there’s a lot of research I still need to do and setting up before getting going.
So what would you do in my shoes?
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Statistically 50% of businesses fail in their first 2 years, Having a fixed income while you do it on the side can be very useful.
Having said that, trying to focus on anything while doing another is very challenging.
Photography can be really contract-based and freelance. I feel like it’d be a good call to go with maybe a part-time photography position or something not super intensive so you can work on your personal photography business on the side. This way there’s a stream of income to tide you over if the business has a slow start and so you’re able to build a solid foundation instead of needing to be profitable asap.
5 months is going to be no where near enough. With a business like this, you are going to be far better off doing it on weekends while keeping day job. Spend your evenings during the week creating content that will build your reputation and your weekends shooting.
If you quit your job now, you are far more likely to make decisions about your work that will damage your brand because you are desperate.
I’d try it until you run out of savings.
Build up enough savings reserve for at least a year and THEN quit and see if you can handle the stress of solopreneurship, good luck!
My Vote: take this other job in the same industry with less hours and work on my photography until I’m 100% sure I can do this.
My advice. Take the other job. Continue photography as a side hustle on the weekends, and quit when you have a enough business and savings to feel comfortable for 6-12 months.
I would never encourage someone suffering from anxiety to start a business. It’s unbelievably stressful, lonely and life is unfair as an entrepreneur. People can sue you, make up false narratives, publicly review their opinions of you (anonymously).
Take another job and do you passion as a side job for now. If the anxiety goes away and can be set to one particular situation, then maybe go for it later. But it’s a head space that’s dangerous for those with mental health or dependency issues.
Ha, I’m quite anxious and couldn’t stand cubicle life. I have to be out there in the world, driving around, and seeing the results of my work!
I agree with you but I am not a person who suffers from anxiety. The job I was at had a toxic work culture, poor leadership, public humiliation, unattainable goals, and extreme micro-management which I was able to handle fairly better than most people at the company. Before then i’ve never experienced anxiety and as soon as i left that work environment it all went away.
I also think it’s different when you’re working for yourself than working for someone else and a lot of the frustration I felt was that I was sitting at a desk 12 hours a day 7 days a week in a company that sees me at a number and I’m wasting my life away where as i can spend that time energy and effort on my own projects.
Fair answer, then in that case go for it. Nothing worse than a bad situation.
Realise that the entrepreneurial journey in itself has a lot of anxiety, and then decide to embrace it by choice anyway!
This
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You’re going to need more than five months of expenses saved if you want to go out on your own. How much will you need to spend on advertising, equipment, healthcare, etc.? You need to do more planning.
I would encourage you to pursue a job with shorter hours while simultaneously indulging in your passion for photography. This way, you can experience less stress and more happiness.
No
“I don’t want a nation of thinkers, I want a nation of workers.” — John D. Rockefeller, early education school system pioneer. The system is designed for more benefits to Entrepreneurs. You have enough cushion and if you still feel unsure, speak to your local SBA and chamber of commerce. They have grants, counseling, mentoring and training programs and can help you with formulating business plan and getting EIN
For me staring a side business was a lot of stress and anxiety. I can’t imagine what’s it’s like starting a business without a main job or saving. Too much risk for me.
After this experience I started valuing my 9-5 better. But still trying out new ideas
Listen your inner voice. If not today, build a path to became who you wanna be.
Love this. Thank you
No. I have done that. Struggle is real. What if ur photography hustles takes 10months instead of 5. Then what? Better to grind and suck it up for guaranteed pay until your hustle becomes a business. You want to get to a point where your customers come through referrals or you have built a list of clients until then grind my brother because startups require your time, energy and more importantly money. Besides if you need time off then use your sick days thats what they are for anyways.