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How long did you wait before quitting your job?

by NoobSensei
21 replies
To all you self-employed internet marketers: How long did you wait before quitting your day job? Did you wait until you had everything neatly in order to make the transition to self-employment as painless as possible, or did you leap head-first to force yourself to make it work?

The reason I ask is because I'm nearing the point of quitting my job to take up internet marketing full time...but I don't think I'm yet to the point where I have everything perfectly in place. I have about 4 months of living expenses saved up (6 months if I really stretch my dollar) which I'll be using to make ends meet until (hopefully) the money starts coming in. I know that it's not much, but there will always be something else that could be done before quitting to make it more comfortable, and I don't want to wait too long lest I wake up one morning a middle-aged man who has wasted his entire youth in a cubicle.

What do you think? What's the best approach to leaving your full-time job to pursue internet marketing full-time, and is it the approach you took yourself?
#job #long #quitting #wait
  • Profile picture of the author shafinazahra
    I'd do it on the basis of your recurring online income.. if you're working on things that are give you money on a monthly basis, and that it mostly covers your expenses, then I think it's ok to quit because then you can spend your time making more.

    Decide how much time you want to spend a day in IM and know for sure that you can make a minimum amount per month.

    If it seems reasonable then go for it.. but never burn your bridges with your drop..leave the door open in your previous position, or make sure you're able to get another job if need be.
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  • Profile picture of the author kellyyarnsbro
    I've waited til it's payday then quit on my job, it's not a good idea to quit when you're not paid yet, i bet most of us does it also.
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  • Profile picture of the author LastingLifeSuccess
    The part that concerns me and probably you too is how and at what rate will the IM money be coming in a few months after you begin.

    I would keep my day job but I would also see what I could do on the side, after work or on weekends with IM practices. This will give you a much better idea what you are facing.

    If your small attempts bear fruit perhaps you are close to severing the tie with regular day work. I sure wish you the best cause I know it is a tough decision, . . . and only YOU can make it.

    Good Luck!

    LLS
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  • Profile picture of the author Jennn
    Originally Posted by NoobSensei View Post

    ... I have about 4 months of living expenses saved up (6 months if I really stretch my dollar) which I'll be using to make ends meet until (hopefully) the money starts coming in.
    You don't want to put yourself in a position where you are broke.

    Once you replace your full-time income consistently for several months and have a sustainable business model you can duplicate over and over then in my opinion you are in a position to leave you full-time job.
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  • Profile picture of the author RockNRolla
    This may not be the best advice to give, but I myself quit my job before I knew anywhere near enough about internet marketing. I had graduated from university and worked for 6 months in a factory. I had saved around £3,500 and just decided to jump in at the deep end and quit.

    Let me tell you, there's no quicker way to learn and start working towards your goal than waking up every day with no job and no money coming in. There is never a perfect time to do it, I suppose the best advice to give is to just do it. If you don't quit and follow our dream, there will ALWAYS be an excuse why you shouldn't or how it's not the right time.
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  • Profile picture of the author SurrealPSD
    A very timely thread, I not only quit my job - but Im also moving across the country tommorow to pursue IM full time.

    Ballsy stuff, got £2000 in my pocket, we'll see how it goes
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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Originally Posted by SurrealPSD View Post

      A very timely thread, I not only quit my job - but Im also moving across the country tommorow to pursue IM full time.

      Ballsy stuff, got £2000 in my pocket, we'll see how it goes
      This is off the topic a bit, but why are you moving across the country to do IM?
      Isn't one of the best benefits of IM that it really doesn't matter where you are?

      What am I missing?
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      • Profile picture of the author SurrealPSD
        Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

        This is off the topic a bit, but why are you moving across the country to do IM?
        Isn't one of the best benefits of IM that it really doesn't matter where you are?

        What am I missing?


        It's a fair question. Ive done it to work in isolation - I was locked in quite a few destructive patterns in my hometown, and distractions were holding me back.
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  • Profile picture of the author GGpaul
    It's crazy how everyone quit their jobs. With me, I got a job cause of Internet Marketing and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! But again, we're all different .
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  • Profile picture of the author Andy Lemos
    The best way is when you can replace your current income through your business. Or even manage to make more of what you're making as a entrepreneur.
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  • Profile picture of the author JamesW3
    Do both as long as you can without dying. It is really that easy.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gary Ning Lo
    I waited until i was making 2 time more than my regular job doing IM part time.

    Cheers,

    Gary
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  • Profile picture of the author QuelThalas
    i'll make a deal with my self. for example if my income doesn't increase or ......... for a date that i already specified, i'll quit my job. but before that, i should have another option to earn money.
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  • Profile picture of the author mitpat
    2 days into the trial period of my first job, after turning down before that which paid even more. Turns out I'm just not willing to do a job for money, this was in January so I'm still quite new.
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  • Profile picture of the author rmolina88
    I didn't have to wait since I was laid off.

    By the time I was laid off, I was already making a tad more than what I was making at the job, so I was ready for it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Coup
      Interesting thread to read. I have a pretty enjoyable part-time job with the government that's web-related and has excellent benefits. It's 2.5 days per week and I'm trying to decide when to quit. I struggle with the decision, especially since we live in an economically-depressed area so once I quit there wouldn't be a similar option with such good benefits -- especially as a part-time (not full-time) job.

      My take-home pay from my part-time job is about 1/5th of what I'm making in IM, but I can't seem to let the job go. Probably because there are definitely some benefits to working part-time for me so I fear that quitting is the wrong decision:
      • The medical benefits for myself and my self-employed spouse are pretty sweet - especially considering that I'm only working part-time.
      • I like having a bit of a schedule for the week.
      • It's social interaction (which I need a couple days a week or I go bonkers working at home on comp) and I get paid for it.
      • It's web-related, so I get to improve my design and video-editing skills on the job
      I guess for me it will hit a critical point where it is just costing me too much money in lost time/opportunities to keep the job.

      The one major downside is that the subject matter is not something I am passionate about, and there is a lot of slow red tape stuff that is the exact opposite of being an entrepreneur, which can be really frustrating. Plus, the job is becoming a bit repetitive now that I've been in it for 3 years (and there's little room for advancement since I don't want a full-time job).

      Not sure if this is related to the the OP, but it was helpful to me to have an excuse to write my thoughts down since I am weighing this decision daily.

      In a way, writing this all down makes me think that I should keep the job. (But maybe that's fear talking.)
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  • Profile picture of the author addyonline
    Glad I stumbled upon this thread.

    I recently left my job to travel to the USA and I am about to finish up my trip, due to return to Australia in a few days. So I have already taken some actions that give me freedom and reduce security.

    However, I have a job lined up for when I return home but I'm not sure if I should really take it as I would kill to make Internet Marketing my full time job.

    Decisions, decisions...
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  • Profile picture of the author LastingLifeSuccess
    The last 8 to 12 hour a day manufacturing job I had took me six plus years before I could or would quit to move into IM.

    When the day finally came I knew it was going to happen. What a relief it was. Now life goes on every day without fret. But of course IM is always challenging being essentially on your own. Unless, . . . you are fortunate enough to have a helpful confidant who is in the same business as you.

    And, I would rather be challenged daily in IM than living a stressful fretful life all the time otherwise.
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  • Profile picture of the author Light5aber
    I quit my stable job before I was making anything on IM.

    On the notion that IM is unsecure in terms of cashflow, and over-dependance on Google etc. It is true to some extent, but a job is never secure either. If a company goes down, they lose a big client, or the economy takes a hit, you might be next on their chopping board.

    The best ways is to diversify your income streams and not solely depend on IM. If you are making bank on IM, then invest wisely in offline investment instruments, such as property, etc. Always try to find multiple streams of cashflow and hedge against inflation.
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  • Profile picture of the author danielotc
    i was in a pretty stable position financially so i was able to do the switch.
    however the first months were tough and you have to be ready to survive a few months with a lower income ( or no income or even loss if you invest ).

    be prepared to life on a smaller budget than usually !
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