This Ex-Googler 'Followed Her Passion' And Quit Google | Is True Passion Above a Lucrative Career?

You might have come across stories of people who quit their high paying corporate job to pursue their long lost passions. In a more recent trend, you might have observed engineers and MBAs quitting their job to become standup comedians. You've definitely heard of these magical creatures: people who forego six-figure incomes, perfect security, and incredible perks in order to pursue their passion and do what they truly love.

The story is no different for Jessica. Jessica Powell was Google's head of public relations. She has been there for almost a decade. It was a large corporate job that she didn't mind. She enjoyed her coworkers. She was highly compensated. But she was unhappy for a long time.

Jessica Powell’s Resignation from Google

As a result of her unhappiness with the job and long-working hours, Jessica squandered her bravery and resigned. She quotes,

"I felt like my identity was entirely tied to my job. I would go to a party and someone would introduce me and there would be the second where people would be like, Oh, you have that job. We all have some level of ego and that would feel nice, but then a second or two later it would feel very empty."

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Many of us fantasize about doing something like that. It is this type of thinking that may trap individuals in employment long after they wish to quit. Our lives are really brief. When it comes to our professions, we must act quickly. Jessica did exactly that. It takes enormous courage—and a healthy dose of insanity—to abandon what could be a financially secure life in order to pursue your true calling. However, taking a calculated risk is always desirable and it is recommended to consider the given below points before quitting your job. 

You QUIT???

Before you plan to quit your job to take up your passion, consider the following five factors:

1. Look out for the ideal career

Some people leave their jobs because of terrible supervisors, challenging coworkers, or missed promotions. While your arguments are genuine, you should hold your horses and look at the broader picture first. "What is your dream career?" is the broad picture. "In an ideal world, what do you actually want to do?" Because, while resigning may provide you with immediate respite, this relief will not stay. You'll soon be confronted with other concerns, such as lack of financial security and the question, "What do I do now?"

Your dream job/career comes from understanding what you want first, not from rushing. Get clear about your professional vision first, since this will provide you with a goal to strive for. Even if you have no clue what to do, that's normal; the important thing is to start thinking. Even if you're a long way from your perfect job right now, understanding what it is will put you one step forward.

2. Evaluate your current job against your ideal career

Your work should be consistent with your principles and beliefs. If it contains messages that you do not support, such as a corporation that sells cigarettes while you are anti-smoking or a CEO who defrauds people, it is plainly not a good fit. Even if your present career isn't perfect, if it helps you realise your ideal route — whether directly or indirectly — it has a function to play.

Our work should be in line with your life priorities. Perhaps your current focus is to make money, but your present employment pays well below the market rate for your skills. Even if it offers a pleasant working atmosphere, it is plainly not a good fit because it will not help you create wealth rapidly. Perhaps one of your top concerns in life is family, yet your career provides a poor work-life balance. If that's the case, this is also plainly not a good fit.

3. Build a detailed plan

You may have seen videos in which coaches, trainers, and bloggers extol how they abandoned their "boring 9-5 day jobs" to "enjoy the free life," earning a "5-figure monthly / 6-figure yearly income" while "working only a few hours per week" and they go on to promote their courses. This has misguided many people into believing that they also can enjoy a luxurious life by quitting their job and enrolling in such programs/businesses, which obviously isn’t true!

 When you are ready to quit, work out a proper and detailed plan, set targets and strict deadlines, and start working towards achieving them.

4. Build your own bridge

There are two paths you may take to get to your desired profession. One option is to resign from your job right immediately and start again in your desired career. The second option is to transit by constructing a "bridge" that connects you from where you are now to your dream profession, and then resign when you are ready.

It is advisable that unless you have a very clear notion of what you want to achieve and a very clear plan of action. Quitting a job may result in a slew of other variables, including the loss of a money source and the opening of an employment gap, both of which may cause further issues if you are not prepared for them. Rather, It is recommended that you establish a path (your bridge) that connects you from where you are now to where you want to go, and then quit when you're ready.

5. Have a contingency plan

A contingency plan is required since there is always the possibility that things may not go as planned. The goal here isn't to be gloomy, but to guarantee that you've covered all of your bases and that nothing stands in the way of you realising your vision. Contingency planning is an important aspect of any wise goal-setting strategy, especially one with a possible downside. When you plan for the worst, you don't have to worry about it happening (as much), and you can instead focus on what you need to accomplish.

Choosing between a favoured career and one that will pay your expenses may sometimes drive you into a downward cycle of ideas that is difficult to break free from. It is, however, a big decision that will follow you for the rest of your life. When making this decision, consider all of the benefits and drawbacks associated with each of the options. Money and security, as well as happiness and fulfillment, all play a role in this dilemma. But, most importantly, remember to listen to your logic as well as your heart at the same time since they usually arrive at the greatest decision together.

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