Deep Breath...and JUMP! Quit My Job!
 

I've made a big change in my life. Our lives actually, as this decision impacts my husband and our children. I've left a job of 5 years. A job that paid well, but has really been making me crazy for about two years with the last 6 months absolutely unbearable.

About a year ago, I opened a consulting business on the side. I fit the work in on weekends and my vacation time. I've had to turn down work because I was out of vacation. Well, a bid I threw out a few months ago panned out. It is enough to replace my income for a year and leave me a huge amount of spare time. Time for my family, my bike, my silly old air-cooled car, time to make more money if I need it... but most of all, time for a life. Best of all, I will be doing exactly the thing that I love best - DOT and Hazardous Materials consulting. I know it's weird but I dig it baby!!!

Today was the last day at the old job. The computer is shut down, the old phone is off, and the equipment has been call-tagged.

Here's to new opportunities and the adventures they bring!

angela

Congratulations!

People are, reasonably enough, very risk averse about leaving a steady job. I find that when people do actually make the jump, it tends to turn out well. (Assuming people with half a brain.)

Very courageous. Best of luck, not that you'll need it.

Hey Now !!!!! Go for it! The old Irish saying; Find a job you like and you'll never work again.

Superb news... major kudos, Angela.

Next time you're standing in front of Butters, you should be able to see a smile. :)

Congratulations.

Life is too short to spend it doing something you despise. I have found it is always best to leave a situation that is toxic to your sanity and your soul. Family time is more important than most things in my book.

Congrats, more time to play with cars & ride..

Well done. I've never been one for a regular job and it's sure paid off well for me. Hoping for the same good luck to you Angela.

Congrats!! It sounds like you've made exactly the right move and are poised to make it work for you and your family.

A HUGE CONGRATS, Angela!

You're too smart to work at a job that sucks and for those who don't appreciate your value.

Corporate world is like that.......and now THEY can work for YOU on your terms!

Good on ya!

BTW, I served as regional safety trainer at the company I worked for before I started my own business back in '02. Never looked back and neither will you!

Thanks for sharing and all the best to you in your new venture! ;)

Impressive. Congratulations!

Congrats! I'm working on going on my own eventually too - inspirational story and I can't wait or when my turn comes! Best to you!

That sounds so awesome, Angela! :) So happy for you!

You are my hero. You title and post read exactly like a thread I want to start very soon.

Way to go Angela!! But you love DOT and Hazardous Materials consulting?? You have a screw loose!! :D

congrats Angela..

my SIL does this..
it's her Co..
she hung up her Paramedic gloves and never looked back..
has clients all over the country..

Rika

I worked on a show this week. The actress (soap opera) had been there since 1998. She's now 48 and had a daughter through surrogate 4 years ago. very nice and talented woman who was a fan favorite on the show.

I was talking with her on her last day (Wednesday) and she told me how her sister had been diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in September of last year. She had been able to attend the majority of her sisters chemo treatments and got to know many of the patients. She was amazed at how we all play the game, trying to win all the time and these people were fighting for their lives just to be able to spend some more time with their loved ones.

She had an epiphany then and there, and decided life was too short. She would leave the well paying acting gig and spend time with her daughter and family and audition for other roles with nothing definite on the horizon.

I told her it took a lot of balls to make that move, she probably felt scared but tomorrow she'd feel like a huge weight had been lifted. She sent me a text this morning to tell me how relieved she was and free she felt.

Good on you Angela for making the change. I think many of us would like to make changes big and small in our lives, some, like you have the guts to do it!

Congrats and good luck!

Good deal, good luck. On the down side you can't really cuss out the boss now

Love that story!

Congrats, good luck to you and now, go look in the mirror and greet your new boss. :)

The best of luck and all success to you Angela!

Cool!! Good luck and maybe we will cross paths as the company I work for transports DOT regulated haz waste.

Good for you. Too many people are too busy making a living to enjoy their life.
Good luck to you.

congrats - I did a "Johnny Paycheck" at age 42.

consulting for commercial haulers? or??

I DID, and you know what? That crazy red-head is walking around with a grin like the Cheshire cat and she's wearing a TIARA! Now seriously - what kind of person masquerades as an adult while wearing a tiara? http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/wat3.gif

Oh wait - I know what kind - a very, very happy person! My work is with truck and bus companies (related primarily to DOT safety but I do have some hazardous materials work coming up in Texas in August).

Right now, my plans are to take my handsome and long suffering husband out to dinner and a movie. Tomorrow and Saturday, I'm going to put in a couple of long rides on the bike. But Monday? Look out world - here I come!

angela

You should tell your boss you want a raise or you will go back to your old job. Just kidding!!! Congratulations on your new adventure, and I hope you are very successful in your new -job.

Dave

Congrats, I hope your dreams come true.

Sounds like the right move at the right time. No more road trips through CA in Butters, though.

1st. YAY!!! I wish I had the guts to do this. I don't. HUGE admiration for people who can take a risk.

2nd. I do commercial insurance in the PNW. I have some / several clients that have fleets that have hazardous cargo. Can you PM me with what you do exactly? Perhaps we can scare up some business?

Larry

Oi...Good luck.

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss....
;)
Kidding! Takes a tremendous amount of courage to do what you have done, Angela. I admire you for that!
You will make it a success I am sure.

That takes great courage & due diligence.
When I went out on my own, a mentor said, "You're worth 3 times more to yourself."
He was right, only far more than that in $$$ and reward.
Congratulations! I don't know you but I am still impressed.

Congrats Angela.
Nothing beats being your own boss.
Went out on my own 36 years ago and have never looked back.
Wishing you a prosperous future.

What he said

Congrats, BUT:

You have a bike? Tell us about it........

Congrats! Now if you can just someone to do the government paperwork and accounting life would be close to perfect. Have fun.

diveredan

She's a pedaller.

Not a motorbike. (though she could have one of those too, but I think it's 4 wheels and a motor or two wheels and she's the motor).

Nice, long hours.

I was hoping to come up with something witty and uplifting, but my mind is stuck, so, Congratulations Angela! The best to you!