The Framework to Starting Over

7.22.14

It's time for an update on my journey to working for myself.

I turned in my keys on June 26th and have officially been my own boss for about 4 weeks now. The month leading up to my final day at the job I'd held for 18 years, was a bit of a roller coaster ride of emotions. 

Waves of fear, doubt, excitement and peace continually took turns washing over me. 

When the final day approached I felt good. I WAS at peace with my decision and I felt like a caged bull at a rodeo..

...I just wanted to get out and get started!

First things First

Making this decision and taking action - which is always the key: taking action - was not done over night. There was a lot of thought and prep work involved, "walking the line" without any type of safety net is too risky. (I don't recommend quitting your job without some sort of plan in place)

Like Nick Wallenda, I decided to go with a tether attached to my ankle, just in case I slip.

Before turning in my notice here are 5 basic "life" steps I took, in no specific order:

  1. Paid off credit cards
  2. Figured out exactly how much money I truly needed to live for 1 year and began saving towards that number
  3. Diverted the majority of my 401K contribution instead to my savings account for the last 18 months I worked at my previous job, so I had available cash
  4. Tracked everything I spent money on for 6 months, to get a clear picture of where opportunities to scale back existed
  5. Tapped some great resources for inspiration and perspective, I've listed a few of them below :

Two amazing books by Seth Godin:

The Icarus Deception: How High Will You Fly?

The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)

I also listened to some great audio programs. The Ultimate Edge by Tony Robbins and Lead the Field by Earl Nightingale.

I can't say enough about the impact that these books and CDs can have. If you are serious about making changes in your life, you will read and listen to these over and over. 

These initial steps, helped build confidence and point me in the right direction. I found that the more I thought about it and the closer I looked at the details and brainstormed solutions to the hurdles I would encounter, the more realistic making this change appeared. 

I will cover some of the actual "work" steps I took in the next installment. Having an idea about what you want to do, instead of what you currently do, makes the decisions and transition much easier.

Whether you plan to start your own business, change careers, go back to school, or have some other goal in mind, I think some of the basic steps are the same.


We have nothing to fear, but fear itself - FDR

Everyone's situation is unique and risk levels are different. No matter what situation you find yourself in, if you're unhappy or want more, I suggest you take a deeper look at what's possible.

Fear is a powerful thing, it holds most us back. Some people will respond in a negative way towards others who are trying to make a change, only because they are too afraid to try themselves.

Start thinking, reading and listening today if you want to make a change.

It may be more possible than you ever imagined. 


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Picture the future.....

I haven't written a blog since November of 2013. On the surface, that smacks of laziness, disinterest, or distraction. 

Truth is, I've been planning, plotting, and saving while wondering if I’m truly crazy.

Last week, after struggling with the above mentioned "tasks" for some time, I turned in a resignation letter to my boss of 18 years, ending a rewarding career in higher education.

It wasn't easy.

I don't have another "job" lined up. I'm not wealthy. 

What I do have is this web site, a couple of on-line e-commerce stores like this one, a passion for making frames, a desire to work for myself and the love and support of some amazing people in my life.

I've taken some other precautions (I'm not completely crazy!) which I'll outline in future installments.

Why quit your "day job"?

That's a question that keeps popping up as I share the news. Not always verbally of course, many times it's asked with a jolt of the head and a furrowed brow or a "did I just miss something" confused sort of look.

Well, it does sound crazy, I know.


 ...life is too short. In a blink of an eye, 18 years have passed me by. 


Working in a college environment is quite an experience. Youth, energy, and hope surround you all day long. Young people have a way of thinking more about what's possible than what's not. Many of them think they can change the world.

A lot of them do.

Having the privilege to work in that environment for so long has been nothing less than a blessing. It changed me, provided for me and my family, allowed me countless opportunities to learn from the students I served.


 ...sometimes we can’t do anything about it. What’s worse though is when we can do something - but never do.


I feel fortunate to have experienced all I did and to meet so many amazing people. I worked with so many talented and caring colleagues; many that I will call friends long after our working relationship ends.

With that said, the only answer I can give is - life is too short. In a blink of an eye, 18 years have passed me by. As grateful as I am for what I have - I'm not where I'd like to be.

This is not just about money 

So many of us dream of a day when we can spend our time doing something we feel passionate about, something that makes us look forward to getting up, everyday; ready to give all we've got.

We dream of a day when our job doesn't feel like work and it provides more than just a paycheck.

We dream of a day when we can spend more time with our families and loved ones.

We dream a lot, but sometimes we can’t do anything about it. What’s worse though is when we can do something - but never do.

I decided I can do something about it, but if I don’t take action now, my dreams will soon be replaced by the sobering reality that I settled. That I took the safer path and somewhere along the line decided things were “good enough”.  


I'm excited and I'm nervous.


I’m going to embrace the fact that I have the power - we all do - to live the life I want to live; to be the person I want to be; to earn what I want to earn.

Maybe I'll find out I'm unrealistic, maybe I'll realize that's just the way life is. Maybe I'll find myself applying for jobs in higher education again in a year or two.

Or maybe, just maybe, I'll find out that faith is indeed more powerful than fear. Maybe I'll find out that the one thing that prevents us from reaching our goals or living our dreams is - ourselves.

 Either way, I have no doubt I'll learn a lot, grow a lot and be better off in many ways just for trying.  

What does this have to do with making picture frames?

Not too much at all and yet - everything. I'll save that for upcoming entries.

For now, I'm ready now to take a leap of faith.

I'll share my journey with you. I'll fill you in on what I'm thinking as I head into this great unknown. I'll write about the problems I face, the big and small victories and the set-backs. 

This will be life as it comes at me while I find my way.

I'm excited and I'm nervous.

I have to tell you though, that feels a lot better than thinking things are “good enough"

More to come....

Al

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