Save up six months' worth of expenses and then quit my lousy soul-sucking office job to pursue my dreams!

I started having an idea for a song, and it seemed like quite a good idea. If I hadn’t had to get up to come to work this morning I would have sprung right out of bed and probably gotten a draft down and some chords worked out – but as it is, the idea is lost to the ether (or at least postponed until I have time to develop it, alongside all the other half-written ones). THAT is what really frustrates me about this situation – I could be good if I had time but I can’t fulfil my potential. But eventually this goal WILL happen, it just has to! And I need to be doing everything I can towards it.

Yesterday was my last day, it was actually the nicest day at work I’ve ever had. I always knew that the best part of the job was the interaction with all these lovely people, but I never knew they would be so sweet to me, the cards, the flowers, the champagne and of course cake! I didn’t expect a thing, I was overwhelmingly touched.

Sometimes I have wished that this job was enough and I’ve questioned why can’t I be satisfied? But I’ve never been able to shake off the overiding feeling that I’m supposed to be doing something else. I know it’s a risk and that I am definitely no where near the best at what I do but I truly believe that with more time, hard work, practise I can be a million times better than what I am today and I can therefore provide people with work that is so much better which in turn I hope will make them happy.

So today is the first day _{which I’m kinda having off! good way to start!!}

Moose my fellow team mate, I shall be cheering you on as I know you can achieve your dreams!

Well for starters I am counting down the days until I am alone on this goal (woohoo! Excellently done there C!)

For seconds, my boss made this potentially more difficult (guilt!) and potentially easier (more money = faster savings!) today. Uh huh. ::Nods::

There are trade-offs here. Will it be harder to give up my job now that it pays me more? Will I be able to keep the extra and divert it to savings without upgrading my lifestyle?

Realistically, am I going to save 6 months’ expenses as quickly as possible, or am I going to buy a car so we can go off on adventures and make life interesting in the meantime? Not sure yet.

And I also think, realistically, even if I had enough savings suddenly tomorrow, would I want to quit my job before knowing I had some kind of side-stream income already flowing?

All thoughts, but I am one step nearer and I guess that’s what matters!

My last day will be Friday 13th November!

Woohooo!!!

in a way it all seems a little surreal today, but yesterday I sat down with nice boss and gave him my resignation letter. He was so, so, lovely to me and said so many nice things _{that I cried obviously}

I have to say that despite all the cr&p and bad days and stupid stuff, it really has been a pleasure to work for them both, despite all the negative stuff this particular boss has been very supportive, has helped me, given me chances and at least every few weeks brought me starbucks ;) So I am actually really sad, I do feel that I am letting him in particular down as I know how much they trust me and rely on me. BUT I don’t have any regret about moving on or that I’m doing the wrong thing, my gut instinct still says do it, I just regret feeling like I’m letting people down.

Anyway he gave me his blessing (which was important for me to hear), said he couldn’t hold me back and that I am going to be fantastic and successful _{even though I think he is only ever seen one of my photos!} and that he is glad that I am going on to bigger and better things. Isn’t that nice? _{how can you not cry?}

So – I can’t believe I’m writing this but I’m leaving my job and from the begining of December I’ll be pursuing my dream full time!

Tuesday night still brimming with joy and hope possibly fuelled by all the FTF fun, I had the conversation again with M, the one where I screech let me leave work or at least let me ask to go down to 3 days! I’m ready I can do this! And basically he said no. Well not no not ever but no not yet anyway, ‘the plan’ is now January

4 more months of this to go…

at the moment for having this be an option by the end of March next year.
It would be nice to see some more progress with the dreams in the meantime though – hopefully by the end of August there will be something to show for my efforts!

For inviting on this goal!

Since I read Mooses entry on saving up enough to have 6 months ‘off’ pursing dreams I’ve been all inspired.

I have to admit whilst the 4 day week only began a month ago, I’ve felt even more depressed about my situation. I would have thought I would have been elated and refreshed and up to date and having a bit of a life to boot. Maybe because May was so busy personal work wise I had more jobs in one month than I’ve ever had and whilst that has been brilliant, I’ve been so tired. The extra day off just doesn’t seem enough. I also feel even more resentful at work, the whole weird boss, assistant triangle does my head in and whilst obviously S has to have time off she’s booking off loads and having time unpaid which means I have to cover her and do my own job and in those times I will be there full time. All of this just makes me feel even more frustrated and fed up. I do realise that I am lucky to have a job and that the money isn’t bad and despite all the weird stuff it’s not a bad job but inside I’m just so miserable.

I’ve done several budgets, plans and lists! and finally I’ve spoken to M. Despite wanting to never go back there again… reality and being sensible overide this _{plus obviously the recession} so there are a few options. I can work 4 days til the end of September, save as I go and try and work very hard to get lots of foundations laid _{although there won’t be much sleep involved} then from end of September _{because screechy has most of that frigging month off} I will go down to 3 days for Oct, Nov, Dec and then leave when we close for Xmas.

I should have at least four months expenses (maybe more) but that will see me through Jan, Feb, Mar which are usually quiet but will give me time to work on other aspects.

Whatever happens and I’ve told M 2010 I work for myself full time.

_{if I have to get another job after the four months I don’t mind at least I will have tried!}

I think this is definitely the way forward. A LOT can happen, or be made to happen, in six months.

The time-scale I’m looking at for this is some time between the end of this year and the end of March 2010, depending on things like bonuses and holidays and how much B is working.

My plan is to definitely spend the first month just focused on my projects, pursuing singing/co-writing opportunities and so on. To me a whole month doing that would just be a dream and I am determined to have at least that.

If I find my inspiration slipping I’ll take some temp work nearer home, and definitely if nothing works out and I’m not making any money from singing/writing I’ll start looking for a new job once my savings get down to about the two-month level, without the expectation of earning what I’m earning now – I’m living well within my means after all, else this goal wouldn’t be conceivable in the first place.

There’s a big list of things to get on with in the meantime to increase my chances of success in those six months, to follow later…