How I Quit My Job and Now Live My Passion
This is the final part of my series of how I became debt free and quit my job. Here is Part 1 and Part 2. Enjoy!
Some of you may have issues with this statement.
I wake up every morning so excited to start my day.
When I used to work 9-5, I hated getting up in the mornings. I hated Sunday nights. I was just counting the time before I had to go to work again. My best friend and I would email each other about how much we hated our jobs.
Today, I work about 20 hours per week on work that I love. I only work Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until 4:00pm. My husband, Matt, is a performing artist (audiobody.com) and has on average 10 shows per month. That photo is the view from my deck, the place I like to work the best.
We work side by side during the week, and we all hang out as a family on the other days when he doesn’t have a show. (and no I don’t get sick of him seeing him so much!)
When I quit my job, I thought I would stay home with my son for a year. I realized after a short time that I really did love to work. So I decided to start working 5-10 hours per week doing project managing from home for a friend of ours.
My extra income?plus my husband booking extra work has allowed us to live this life style for the past 3 years.
What is my passion?
This extra time has allowed me to figure out what I love to do. I would have never?had time to find work I was passionate about when I was working so much for someone else. Finding what you love to do is a process that takes time. If you only have time after dinner, you will be too tired to try.
I used to be a Project Manager for a Video on Demand company. I was an engineer before that?and have an IT degree. But computers are not my passion. I like them, and knowing a lot about computers has helped in all aspects of my life. But I knew there was so much more. I didn’t want to help people watch more TV.
After months of searching, I found coaching. I started business coaching a few years ago and I was able to find a mentor that helped me grow exponentially. I was able to work for him without getting paid for five months while he taught me everything he knew.
After six months he offered to hire me. I would have never been able to do that if I was working full time. I would have never been able to work without being paid if I wasn’t debt free.
I really enjoy business coaching. I love being able to help businesses generate more revenue, and grow. It’s an amazing feeling to help the people behind the business. I only work a few hours per week coaching, because I want to.
Reaching the decision to become a coach took almost a year. I tried other things that I wasn’t as excited about. I thought I was excited about them… until I tried it and realized the issues out weighed the benefits!
Trying to find your passion is like finding a soul mate. You wouldn’t go on one date and then marry someone. So why would you quit your job to go to another job that you aren’t sure that you like?
While I am still coaching, I started this blog because I am so passionate about finances and life style design. I want to be able to help more than just clients. I am so lucky to have the option to change as my passions grow and change.
Being an Eventual Millionaire
I had the freedom to figure out what I enjoy. I am constantly trying new things that I would like to do business wise. I love entrepreneurship.
I am now starting to earn my way to a million doing work that I love. I could have been a millionaire much faster with my old job. But I would have been a pretty miserable millionaire.
If I worked for my old job for 10 years and died the day before I became a millionaire, I would have wasted my life working at a job I hated.
If I worked for 25 years doing what I love, and died the day before I became a millionaire, it would have been worth every second.
Life is about more than money. But once you have the life you want, then you make your million. That is why I am an ‘Eventual’ Millionaire.
Tags: Debt Free, debt freedom, finances, Lifestyle, Passion
Categories: All, Business, Debt Freedom, Starting A Business
Hi I’m Jaime. Each and every week I bring you the top business advice from the people who know best.
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36 responses
Sounds like a great job, coaching! How is the payment made i.e. per session, per month etc?
Working 20 hours a week would be ideal. I think you just described my blogging routine.. Mon, Wed, Fri most of the times and the amount of hours 🙂
I blog at 6am (it’s 6:11am PST now and I woke with no alarm), and I blog after dinner. It doesn’t feel like work at all!
Best,
Sam
.-= Financial Samurai´s last blog ..Don’t Have Children If You Can’t Take Care Of Yourself =-.
I gave up the rat race 3 years or so ago now. I do work long hours still and I don’t earn a ton of cash but I really like my work (graphic design and blogging).
My blogs are almost getting to the point where they can support me without too much work required so I am hoping I can soon start to cut the hours down little by little until I hit around 20 or so.
You are an inspiration.
Forest.
.-= Forest´s last blog ..Using Tomato Ends For Your Spaghetti Sauce Recipe =-.
Thank you Forest! You made my day. While this site is called Eventual Millionaire, loving your work trumps money in my mind. You can accomplish so much more if you love what you do. 🙂
I’m so interested in productivity and trying to get the most out of those hours. I noticed that I can spend a ton of time ‘working’ or I can plan it and actually WORK. It’s much easier said than done though! Especially now that reading blogs and commenting count as ‘work’. I get carried away sometimes 🙂
It’s also one of the issues that most everyone has that I coach. So if you ever have any questions for me let me know!
The payment is made per month, since I require a three month commitment. (but the cost depends on how many sessions per month)
I find even though I know 20 hours works best for me, I keep wanting to work more! I love working so sometimes it’s hard to stay away from the laptop 🙂
Love your most recent post by the way!
Warmest,
-Jaime
Wow! What an inspiring post.
Plus, your deck is larger than most New York City apartments.
Thanks so much Mike!
When we bought this house the people that owned it before called the deck the helipad. When I’m a millionaire maybe I’ll buy a helicopter 🙂
(of course this is one of the reasons I live in Maine, cheap housing!)
I really enjoyed your post. Recently, I have been thinking about doing something on my own that just really makes my heart smile. Your testimony serves as great motivation.
Thanks for reading 🙂 Before I took the leap I remember reading SO MANY stories for motivation. I would try to find people as close to my situation as possible so I could really believe that it was possible. It’s been the best decision ever. Good luck and feel free to email me with any specific questions!
Just stumbled across your blog and read your story. How inspiring! Loving what you do is so important so that you’re not working for retirement! I look forward to visiting the blog again.
Thanks so much Julie! Really glad you like it. 🙂
Jaime, truely you are much richer then an average Millionaire is :).
You do not have to posses tons of cash to be rich. You just have to find your way in life.
Take care!
DB
Thanks DB. I’m glad I chose the happiness first route. 🙂 It’s worked out well so far.
Hi, Jaime!
It’s me again. I commented earlier on another one of your posts. I am getting hooked! I agree with everyone here…you are a great source of inspiration and motivation to me too. I have a variety of interests and passions too but I don’t know exactly what to do with them yet. I am hoping to learn from you. 🙂
Just read your journey to get out of debt. Well Done!
Hope you become a millionaire soon 🙂
Thanks Tushar! I hope so too 🙂
Great post! I like finding the people who have already paid off their debt, and are not just 5% of the way there, like me :). I used to hate my old 9-5 job, but now I have a 9-5 job where I really enjoy the industry, if not the lack of freedom. I’m hoping to pay off my debt so I can work more remotely, but I I’ve already found my passion, or at least 1 of them!!
Jamie,
How exciting! I’m in almost the same position you were in when you quit your job (my husband is an independent contractor) and I make up 2/3 of our family’s income. Jennifer Gresham recommended I check your blog out and I’m glad I did. Reading up on others who have taken the leap from corporate world to entrepreneurship is truly inspiring and motivating. The one thing that causes me to pause is lack of health insurance. Our oldest son is a type 1 diabetic and his medical costs would crush us without insurance. Any advice?
Insurance is such a hard thing! We were lucky enough to be very healthy and we still have a horrible policy. It all make a difference about which state you live in. Our costs in Maine are expensive because they accept everyone. You won’t know your options until you do all of the research! So find two or three good private companies and see what their rates would be for you. There are organizations too within your state (like your chamber of commerce) that can get you deals on insurance.
If you still can’t handle it financially I know there are places you can get a part time job and full medical benefits. (even Lowes does this!) That might get you started so you have more time for your business. Hope all that helps! 🙂
My brother suggested I would possibly like this web site. He was totally right. This put up truly made my day. You cann’t imagine simply how a lot time I had spent for this information! Thank you!
How amazing that you just summed up everything that crossed my mind lately.
I have been following your podcast for so long and this is the first time I read this article.
I’m sick and tired of my job, and I don’t know no much longer I can take it. I might eventually quit the job, working part time on something else and find my true passion at the same time.
Thank you Jaime for encourage others to find their dream!
I’ve been following your articles since I first read about you paying off your debt and then following your dream job.? I’ve started a business myself offering language translation and proofreading to businesses.? Thank you for the inspiration.
Hi Jamie,
your story touched me and gave me so much motivation and hope!
Thank you 🙂
Maya from Israel
Hi there. Thanks for publishing. You’ve inspired us….. we have already started to pay down debts in the same way as you did and have moved countries to optimise earnings to do this – NZ to UK, sending our hard earned cash home (if only the exchange rate were better!).
Your husband being a performer adds to our momentum as one of us plays in a band which is growing in local popularity so is a useful?source of additional finance but also fun away from our usual hardwork in healthcare. We cannot afford money for bigger ticket and costly ongoing house ownership in our new country but are stashing money to buy cheaper real estate as security for the future – parcels of land and freehold garaging and parking spaces. We have our first parcel of land.?Small amounts of consistent passive income is our aim, whilst owning the freehold land / garages without costly borrowings. Hoping to go home by 2015 to our home there – currently rented out. Debt free living with a small passive income and working part-time at what we love because we’ll be able to – no longer spread so thin by having to keep up with interest payments. We’ll finally be able to enjoy our leisure time together with our animals. Best wishes to all. Kia kaha (be strong!)
k & m
It’s amazing how life turns around once you put a plan together and stick to it. Expectation and focus sounds like it played a huge part in your family’s financial transition. Plus, I hope everyone is realizing the benefits of having a coach. Coaching is probably one of the best investments anyone can make for self improvement!
Jimmy Graham C.H.
http://www.lifepowermastery.com
It does. It takes a lot of work of course. It’s easy to read success stories but much harder to create them 🙂 But a coach or even an accountability buddy can help a lot!
Hello, I was wondering how you would find a great mentor? I feel that is one step I need to take to excel in my passion.
Jamie, your story is AMAZING!
I love your message and the practical action steps…thank you!
Yes!!! I’m so grateful to have come across your podcast at the right time in my life. Your interviews, your energy and awesome questions have kept me motivated and educated. To read your story is inspiring 🙂 Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I really admire what you have achieved. Excellent work, very inspiring, well done! In my personal opinion I think a great help factor for you had been the fact that you were on a dual income as a family even though your husband’s one was not as solid and reliable as yours. If you have any suggestions for a family with debts & on a single income like mine it would be greatly appreciated at our end. I believe I feel exactly the same way as you do and want to quit my day job to follow my passion to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
Thanks in advance.
Cheers
PT
I do! I think you should start something on the side- and slowly build that. Use that money to pay off your debt and build your business to the point that you can quit your job. I wish I did this actually! Thankfully we had my husband’s income, but the learning curve on your own business is quite a bit! 🙂 Better to start learning early, and when you have a job 🙂
Don’t admire a thing about these people. Gee, she worked a “real” job, hated it, got pregnant, told her husband to make the bills and find crap to do for money based on other people’s labor, then gloat about it online? Seriously people….millions do not come easy. Guess what, the American dream always was built on the misery of others working for “your” dream. Just ask the natives who lived a happy existence before European “entrepeanuers” showed up and stole it from them!
Aaron you are a very miserable person and going off topic. This story was posted to inspire not gloat!
I think your story is very inspiring Jamie.
I too, have read many stories about people changing careers to live off their passion. I need the courage to quit my full time job and do what I want. Currently I work a lot of hours, so barely have time to go home and think it do anything else. I have been thinking recently I would love to quit and focus 100% on being a pattern designer!
I loved your story. Great work you did getting out of debt and doing what you love.