Quitting The Day Job

Do you have what it takes?

48 Days to Creative Income, Day7

Day #7: Do you have what it takes?

We know we want to leave the day job and triple digit losses on the Dow make it harder to leave!  But even if we could leave, do we have what it takes?  Can we stomach the change?  Can we give up the known for the unknown?  Can we push the boundaries out?

Compare your answers to mine.

Are you a self-Starter?

Yes and no.  If i’m passionate about something, I definitely am.

Do you have a positive outlook?

No.  Absolutely not.  I have never really had a positive outlook, but I never had a negative outlook either.  Until the last few years that is.  As I see the corporate and departmental structures change, and chaos and ineptitude become the norm, well, then I got a negative attitude.

Are you able to make decisions?

ABSOLUTELY YES.  And I stick to them, right or wrong.  I make quick decisions as well.  Sometimes I wish I had done better, but I don’t necessarily regret them.  BUT I hate to be questioned on them.

Are you able to accept responsibility?  (Do you typically blame others when things go wrong?)

Once again yes.  I do accept responsibility.  BUT I also refused to be blamed for items I do not control.  For instance we have one contractor who always questions everything I do.  In a meeting recently where it was pointed out that he had screwed up a bunch of stuff for others, he shoved the blame onto me.  Did I sit there?  NO.  I let him know that it wasn’t me.

Do you plan ahead?

In the past, my answer would have been yes.. . But now I do plan, but my plan ahead is much shorter.  I prefer and try to be flexible.

Are you prepared to work long hours?

WHAT?!?!?  No.  I’m prepared to work SMART hours.  I’m prepared not to just put in time against something, I want it done right and want it done well.  I once was introduced to my new manager and they said “You won’t be bored, we have a lot of work here.”  In my mind I thought, “Hey, quantity does not equal quality.  Just because you have a lot of work, does not mean it’s interesting.”  the same is true of work hours.  Today Desk Coder and I used our lunch to work on a personal project.  In just 1 hour, we cranked out  a lot of quality work.  We didn’t have to put in hours and hours.

That is a ridiculous “brick and mortar” notion.

Do I have what it takes?   The answer isn’t clear.  But I do have the desire and yes, the desperation to change my life and what I do.

Do you?