Why leaving a $500,000 job at 30 years old was the best career choice I've ever made
Courtesy of Susie Moore
Have you ever said to yourself “If only I made $X amount more, my problems would be solved!” only to get there and soon become unsatisfied?
Me too.
This is what psychologists refer to as “hedonic adaptation,” which means that no matter what new circumstances we find ourselves in, we get used to them much faster than we think we will.
When it comes to income this leads to an ever-increasing pattern of consumption and “more, more, more” as we work our way up the ladder.
And what happens if one day that ladder is suddenly pulled from beneath us? It’s no secret that there is no such thing as job security in 2016.
So what can bring us the real feeling of satisfaction and, dare I say, "enough"? What is that elusive thing that delivers the joy we all seek?
It’s personal progress. Growth. Making an impact in the world, whatever that means to you. And yes — a great income, too. But here’s what a lot of people aren’t open to believing: You’re allowed to love your work, pursue more than one career, and make great money doing it all.
After over a decade in corporate sales, the majority of it in ad-tech, I was fortunate enough at age 30 to be in a position where I made mid-six figures each year. But after entering my 30s and evaluating what I wanted out of my life, I realized I did not want to be limited to one particular ladder. After pursuing Life Coach training at New York University in 2013 my thoughts on the subject cemented.
These were the key benefits that drove my leap in late 2014 from employee (and part-time entrepreneur) to full-time entrepreneur:
1. Paradoxically — safety
It felt more and more logical to me that the “safe” corporate path is not necessarily safe, especially as I saw people get laid off wherever I looked. Employees can have a scarily low amount of job stability no matter how tenured they are or how long they’ve sat pretty in the C-Suite.
I wanted to create a more secure future for me and my family.
In his best-selling book, “Choose Yourself,” James Altucher affirmed this for me. He states that not only is there safety in diversity — to have multiple revenue streams in your life and not just one single paycheck — but that there’s never been a greater time in history to be an entrepreneur. It’s true.
2. To do more meaningful work
I loved teaching others how to get what they want out of their careers and how to be more confident and assertive in their lives. I knew I could make an awesome living doing it after launching a successful side-hustle.
My corporate career was based on revenue generation, which was creative in a way, but I felt limited in my work. Any job can feel one-dimensional over time.
3. Freedom
I wanted sovereignty over my calendar. Who decided a 9-5 office position was the best productivity model? Since working for myself I’ve never been more efficient — I measure my success by projects completed and revenue generated, not hours sat at my desk.
I always dreamed of working in a café if I pleased, walking my dog whenever the weather was nice, and not having to ask permission to visit my family, go to the dentist, or take a yoga class during the week. This lifestyle is what Tim Ferriss refers to in “The 4-Hour Work Week” as “The New Rich.”
4. Owning my agenda
Over the years it’s easy to grow tired being at the whim of ever-shifting management directions and styles. This includes capped horizons and earning potential, even in sales.
I knew I owed it to myself to fulfill my desires sometime, so why not immediately? Launching my side gig while working full-time allowed me to explore entrepreneurship in the safest way possible. As my new income source grew so did my degree of confidence in going out solo.
As my side business crept up to $4,000 per month, I felt compelled to take a risk and bet on myself. I observed a lot of entrepreneurs in my field that branched off into consulting or formed their own start-ups. People left good jobs to start their own businesses all the time! Why not me? What was the worst that could happen? I might not like it and would return to another job? Well then nothing would be lost and I’d have no regrets.
After 18 months of working full time and juggling my profitable side-gig, I resigned from my corporate job in late 2014. Was I scared? Yes.
Especially as my final year as an employee was my most lucrative ever — making around half a million dollars. I felt crazy. But I also pictured myself on my death bed one day, perched atop the perspective of old-age and mortality and thought, “I’ll high-five myself for this bold move!”
Doing work that stirs your soul and ignites your spirit counts. It sustains you over time and brings fulfillment and meaning to your life. Jack Canfield, New York Times best-selling author of “The Success Principles” says, “The worst thing is to climb the ladder, get to the top and then realize it was against the wrong wall."
Now I teach others how to get started on a new ladder, wherever they are. Because, yes — they exist everywhere. And you can choose a different one, too.
Susie Moore is a British-born writer and confidence coach based in New York City. A former sales director for a Fortune 500 Company, she teaches clients how to live the life they imagined by tuning into their authentic power and unlocking the confidence to get what they really, really want. You can sign up for Susie's free weekly wellness newsletter (featuring her celebrity interviews) at her website, www.susie-moore.com.