Who doesn’t dream of quitting their day job? Every day, countless hours are spent in corporate cubicles daydreaming about lives of adventure, creativity, and play \u2014 lives spent doing what you love.<\/p>\n
Last month, I<\/em> took the leap. I quit my day job to write full time. Now I’m sitting in Buenos Aires writing while my kids play with their grandparents nearby. And I’m getting paid for it.<\/p>\n To say this is the achievement of a dream would be a vast understatement; I’ve wanted to be “a writer” since kindergarten. But I didn’t just want<\/em> to be a writer \u2014 I worked hard and planned for it.<\/p>\n Chasing a dream isn’t for everyone. There are plenty of people who prefer the stability and security of a job. Many creative, interesting, passionate people like the advantages of a steady paycheck<\/strong>, good benefits, and the ability to leave work behind at the end of the day.<\/p>\n Before you consider quitting your day job to follow your passions<\/a>, ask yourself:<\/p>\n If you still think you might want to go after your dream, some preparation can make the risks easier and the rewards greater.<\/p>\n It’s a big leap from karaoke night at the local bar to American Idol<\/em>. See if you can find a way to test-drive your dream life before you leap into it all the way. This will give you a chance to be sure it’s what you want. You’ll also get to fine-tune the details of how you want to go for it.<\/p>\n You may discover that you don’t<\/em> want to do turn your passion into your career. That’s fine. One of the most talented singers I’ve ever known makes her living in psychiatry. As the daughter of two musicians, she knew firsthand singing wasn’t the right career for her.<\/p>\n Many people test-drive their dream jobs by freelancing on weekends or evenings. This works for creative fields like writing, photography and music. It’s harder if your dream is to open a restaurant or become a civil rights lawyer; some things, you can’t just dabble at. But you can still try some jobs on for size by taking a class or finding a mentor. Take a law class at a local university. Cook meals for family and friends. Pick up some night shifts as a chef’s assistant.<\/p>\n Yes, it’s useful to network and gain experience. But don’t sacrifice your time and energy to do things you’re not interested in.<\/p>\n When I started freelancing, I had friends and relatives offer me gigs writing ad copy for their businesses or editing their thesis papers. Those are jobs that use the skills I’ve built up as a writer, but they’re not my driving passion.<\/p>\n Since I wasn’t depending on my freelance business to support me, I turned those jobs down. I focused on what I wanted to do: creative essay writing and blogging. Staying focused helped me joy out of the work and brought me more opportunities to do exactly what I most love.<\/p>\n Play make-believe with yourself right from the beginning. Don’t say, “I want to be a singer someday.” Say, “I am<\/em> a singer.” You may feel a little dopey at first, but you’ll slowly condition yourself to believe it.<\/p>\n The most important aspect of “faking it ’til you make it” is to be professional. That means setting aside time to work at your vocation, even if it means turning down other fun stuff. It means following up on leads, keeping commitments, and presenting yourself like a pro.<\/p>\n Growing up, my mother told me over and over again, “Writers write.” That’s true. But any “dream life” has more working parts than the dreamy bits. Writers write, but they also<\/em> network, edit, invoice clients, build relationships with editors, brainstorm ideas, and read other writers.<\/p>\n Find out what professionals in your chosen field actually do<\/em> \u2014 maybe through an informational interview<\/a> \u2014 and start doing those things. Right now.<\/p>\n Does your dream require a portfolio? A credential you don’t have? A new website? Make sure you have the professional tools to do your work, and then do it. Don’t spend a lot of money or time getting set up, though; you’ll learn more about what you need as you go.<\/p>\n Simply saying “I want to be a writer” was like trying to catch the moon in my hands. Clear goals helped me work. I knew what I was working towards, and I could break down the steps to get there each day.<\/p>\n Don’t be afraid to aim high.<\/strong> If you want more than anything in the world to be a contestant on American Idol<\/em>, write that down and then draw up a plan to get there. Even if you don’t wind up singing on TV, the work you do pursuing while pursuing this goal will take you somewhere good.<\/p>\n And you may surprise yourself. When I made my<\/em> list of dreams and goals, being published in The New York Times<\/em> seemed like a pipe dream. When it happened<\/a>, it was just one more step forward with a writing career that was beginning to pick up its own momentum after a year of hard work.<\/p>\n By the time I started making money writing, I was sure I wanted to do it full time. So I banked my paychecks in a savings account<\/a>. My intention was to save up enough money to cushion the ups and downs of freelance income.<\/p>\n<\/span>Should You Quit Your Day Job?<\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/span>Take Your Dream For A Test Drive<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Do What You Love<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Fake It ‘Til You Make It<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Make a Road Map<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Bank Your Success<\/span><\/h2>\n