Leaving a High Paying Job

Let's face it.  Money is a great thing.  It helps you feel secure and stable during the worst of times, but does it bring about true happiness?

For the past few weeks I've been on a thinking frenzy.  Trying to weigh the pros and cons of quitting my job to pursue the things that I really want out of life.  It's an interesting situation because I'm quitting a high paying job (to my current standards) that could potentially pay even more over time.  Unfortunately, from the personal development side of things, I've been limiting myself.  My interests outside of work are reading, music, working out, and playing soccer.  But my level of energy and comittment has significantly dropped off since I've started working, so I haven't really been involved in any extra-curriculars as of lately.

The money is great, I'm not going to lie.  But I'm not a big spender and live by simplistic and practical means.  I try not to eat out too much and I have no reason to by a more expensive car.  So what use does this money have for me right now? 

Yes, I could go buy a house, but I'm not ready to settle down.  Yes, I could buy a new TV, but I don't watch television.  Yes, I could go on an expensive vacation, but I'd rather go backpacking in a developing country for a decent amount of time.

I generally only work the 8:30-5 cycle, but it occupies most of my time and energy.  When you are driven into a sales culture for a Fortune 500 Company, you need to make sure that you're on top of everything.  That includes managing 100+ existing clients and being pushed to bring on new companies.  I have certainly learned some very valuable things over the last 4 years, but my position does not enable me to grow into something I desire to be.



Rather than thinking about what I'm sacrificing (ie: stable pay, security, etc.), I'm looking forward to what I will be able to do: learning new things, focusing on building my wealth, and growing through ventures that I actually want to do - ON MY OWN.  Why should I give all my time and energy to my company when I can be using it on myself?

Going through this reflection and phase in my life has taught me a couple things:

1)  Most people allow fear to embark in their lives.  They are afraid to oppose the status quo: maintaing  job stability, buying a house, having a family, etc.

2)  It all comes down to you making the first step into pursuing what you want out of life. Sometimes you just need to build the courage to take the risk, regardless if you fail, you'll always have another chance.