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BREAKING FREE

The ultimate guide to quitting your

job and pursuing your passion

By Jamie Flexman

This eBook is for information purposes only

Copyright 2013 by Jamie Flexman. All rights reserved.

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Introduction

I have created this ebook to hopefully inspire and help you with eventually breaking free from the

shackles of everyday life and to pursue whatever passions and dreams that you wish to follow.

This ebook contains a mixture of my best articles and totally exclusive content that focuses on the

following topics;

Page 3 - Dont like doing something? Stop Now

Page 6 - Reasons why having a job is a bad idea

Page 9 You are NOT your job

Page 11 5 Reasons why time is more important than money

Page 13 - 7 Reasons Why You Dont Want to Quit Your Job (and how to ignore them)

Page 15 - Finding your passion

Page 18 - Do you have the courage ?

Page 20 - 6 steps to help you on your way

Personal experience

Page 23 Retail is evil Why I gave up my job

Page 27 6 Things Ive learned from 6 months without a job

Bonus content

Page 30 - How to hand in your notice (Exclusive content)

Page 32 - How to call in sick (Exclusive content)

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Dont like doing something? Stop NOW

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP..

The alarm clock goes off, you reach over, eyes closed, groaning like a zombie, fumbling around in the

dark trying to find that damn button. You finally find it and press it down. Your finger says yes, the

brain says no. The relief of silence is your first victory of the day, yet the zombie returns as the

realisation of what this signals hits you like a hammer.

Yes it's Monday morning and you have to go to work!

Why would any sane logical person do this? I must be a masochist you think to yourself as you

struggle to get out of bed.

Yet this is the default start to the day for the vast majority of people.

The crazy thing is that most people start their day like this. Thinking negative thoughts and totally

dreading getting out of bed because they know their day ahead is going to be a chore. We have all been

there. We have all had a job we hated for whatever reason. So how do we change this?

STOP DOING IT!

Why should you go through your life being bored or fed up with what you do on a daily basis? Its

insanity, it really is. I think it was Albert Einstein who once said the definition of insanity is doing the

same thing over and over, but expecting a different result.

The problem is we fall into set patterns that are dictated to us by society. We are raised with the belief

that we should follow a particular path in life. You know the one. Go to college/university, get a good

job, buy a house, settle down and get married, have kids, grow old, retire, play bingo. I mean, who

wouldnt want to retire and play bingo?

We all have our own set of ideas and beliefs, dreams and aspirations. Not only that, we have dreams

that fall into two different categories. The first category is dreams we have had all of our lives, maybe

since childhood. Some people want to be footballers, astronauts, pop singers etc etc, which is great.

Then we grow up and somehow these dreams change to more realistic careers like lawyer,

physiotherapist or traffic cone maker. (seriously, who makes those things? Is there a traffic cone

factory or what?)

The problem again, is that most of us even fail to achieve the heady heights of the second category. We

end up sat in an office or in customer service jobs that suck the soul out of you quicker than a lonely

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vampire. We are often unfulfilled and this creates negative emotions that linger with us pretty much

every day of our lives. This of course means we pass it on to our family, friends, loved ones. They can

see we are unhappy and over time, this can create problems with our relationships.

Stop doing these crazy things that are bringing you down. You know what you have to do.

I know what you are going to say, that you cant just quit your job. I mean who does that? Its

immature and reckless right? Maybe you will come up with a ton of excuses such as how to pay the

rent or bills. Or you might worry about what your friends and family will think of you. Its okay, I dont

necessarily mean that you must quit today, but put the wheels into motion today. Think about what

you really want to do with your life and take those first steps right now.

In early 2012 I quit my job. For as long as I can remember I have been a slave to the hourly wage.

Giving up my time for 6 an hour. Dealing with sociopathic managers and disillusioned people on a

daily basis can really bring you down.

For several months I considered handing my notice at my last employer, but those negative thoughts

held me back. Worried that I didnt have anything else lined up. Worried that it would take me

another 9 months to find a new job (my last unemployed period). Weeks of frustration finally came to

a head when over the period of a few days I was treated like a child by a couple of managers. The next

day I handed in a weeks notice and I can honestly say that I had no fear or apprehension about the

future. I felt so relieved and free.

My plan, my calling, is to travel. To live in different parts of the world and experience new cultures

and exciting adventures. Obviously I hope to make enough money through some online ventures,

including this blog, but I honestly dont worry about that. I just want to make enough to enable me to

live life on my own terms. That is my dream.

Shortly I will be doing something that I have always dreamed of doing but was too afraid to try. I will

be travelling to a foreign country by myself. To see what it is like not knowing a single person and to

see how I adapt to this. I chose Germany because I wish to put the last two years of German language

learning into some form of practice. That and they have good beer.

This is just the first stop. I eventually want to actually live, not holiday, but to live at least a few

months in every major continent in the world. I say major. I dont really fancy Antarctica for some

reason. Could be the Penguins, I dont know.

If you are already considering breaking away from the daily grind, then read on..

5 tips to help you on your way

Have a plan of action. The first step is to actually have an idea about what you want to do.

Go with your gut instinct here and just follow the one big dream you have always had but

were too scared to try. Think about how you can get started, no matter how small that first

step might seem.

Find people who have done it. This can mean speaking to any friends or family members

that have started their own business or maybe look online and send an email to any role

models you may have within your chosen field. Dont be afraid to ask questions, and if

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possible, spend some time with these people. Just communicating and being around people

who are where you want to be is inspiring.

Surround yourself with positive people. This is a very important part of any big lifestyle

change. There will always be people willing to put you down for daring to change. If you can,

keep your distance from these people and instead focus on spending time with people who

actively encourage you and want to see you succeed.

Work hard. You may be quitting your job but that doesn't mean you can start slacking. This

is where the real hard work begins. Hopefully you are sufficiently motivated to really tackle

this head on and put all of your energy into making your new life succeed. The only one who

can do it is you.

Never give up. There will be times when pitches you make will be knocked back. When

funds can start getting a little low. When you will wonder is it all worth it?. Just know that

all successful people experience anxiety from time to time and it is perfectly natural. Focus on

your goals and everything will come together in time.

Start thinking about what your calling is. Think about it all day every day. Lets say you want to start

your own business. Go ahead and dream about it. Focus on what you want to sell or provide. Visualise

your customers, your surroundings, the money you will be making. Before we can put a plan of action

in place, we must first have the intention. Dont just wish for your dream, but truly believe that you are

already doing it. Look at these two sentences.

One day I want to be a successful vocal coach

I am already a successful vocal coach, I just dont have the students yet

There is a quote from the actor Will Smith. He said that when he has an idea or a plan, its over. Its

already happened, we just havent seen it yet.

This is a powerful mindset that all successful people have. To truly succeed you must already be the

person you wish to become. I know that sounds paradoxical but when you think about it, it does make

sense. To use an example, Successful dieters often have the mindset that instead of wanting to be a

thin person, they are already a thin person, just trapped inside a fat body. It creates the mindset that

our current reality is just temporary.

We have to believe that this isnt our lot. That we can do anything we set our minds to. Go anywhere

we want to go. Be anyone we want to be.

There is no us and them. There is nothing to differentiate those who are successful from the rest of us

apart from one thing. At some point they decided that they were going to take control of their lives and

start living on their own terms. It has to be that way.

What is the alternative? The 9-5 grind for another 40 years? No thanks.

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Reasons why having a job is a bad idea

1. It is literally a waste of time

Great Ive got myself a full time job. Im so excited, I think we should all go out and celebrate. Well yes

that sounds like a good thing initially, until you break it down and it dawns on you what this actually

entails. Youre in essence trading 40 odd hours a week in exchange for money. That is the deal you

have with your employer. If youre lucky you may even get a decent amount of money as part of this

deal, but the chances are you arent getting enough to truly compensate you for giving up that much of

your life on a weekly basis.

The Holy Grail surely is to either have a job that earns you enough per hour so that you can greatly

reduce your working hours, or have some form of passive income. By this I mean an income that you

can earn without actually being there. One of the best ways to make a passive income is via the

internet. On the most basic level, having an eBay business is great for this and is something I used to

do as far back as 2005/6. A better way is to set up a website or a product that can earn you money

while you sleep.

Of course you need to put in the hard work initially, to create your business/idea and to get the wheels

in motion, but once in place you can start earning money without actually being there.

Im sure you can work out that this is better than turning up for your contract and clock watch until

you get to go home again. Thats madness.

2. You probably dont even enjoy it

If you have a job that you genuinely enjoy then congratulations. Youre lucky and nobody likes you!!

Actually Im just joking. Youre one of the few that sussed all this out years ago and you are probably

very content in your life.

For most people, enjoying your job is something that they cannot get their head around. How many

times has your employer turned around and said to you these immortal words; youre not here to

have fun, youre here to work. Urghh its soul destroying isnt it?

Why would any sane person want to do the example above and trade 40 hours a week for something

they hate doing? Its bonkers is what it is. Think of all the fun and satisfying things you could be doing

instead. Go and do that. Go on, now.

3. Say goodbye to your creativity

When was the last time you had the opportunity to really use your brain at work? Youre thinking

arent you... its okay you can stop now. Im not talking about boring stuff like how to solve x problem

or anything like that. Im talking about using your brain to be creative.

The chances are youre in a job that requires a series of steps and actions that have to follow a certain

pattern. Most jobs require you to do as you are told. Creativity and thinking outside the box is usually

frowned upon. This can and probably will lead to disillusionment and frustration.

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What we want as human beings is to be challenged in such a way that we feel we can actually make a

difference based on our own decisions. This is why being self-employed or people that are musicians,

actors, writers, athletes or artists generally have a more content life. They are being challenged and

they respond with their minds and instincts.

Dont be trapped in your stifling environment. Get out there and do things on your terms.

4. Its very risky

How is it risky you may ask? Well gather round and I shall tell you a story.

One day you go to work, content in the knowledge that you are safe and secure in a job you hate (we

established this earlier). You get a call from your boss, he wants to see you in his office. Yes thats

right, youve already guessed it. You get fired! The contract that you signed for that deal to exchange

time for money, means nothing really. If you dont perform or you fall behind certain criteria, there is

a possibility than you can no longer earn money with that company.

Sometimes you may not have done anything wrong. Your employer might need to downsize and get

rid of some staff, and because you were the last one in, you are the first one out. Bit unfair really isnt

it?

If you were your own boss or you earned money by doing it on your own terms, then the security is

actually greater. This is because using your own creativity, motivation and application to create money

is actually a skill. Once you know you can do it, you have the knowhow to do it again and again. You

dont need to rely on someone hiring or firing you. Your ability to generate an income is solely down to

you and how much effort you want to put in.

5. You have to beg for more money

Lets say that you do a damn fine job, wherever it is that youre a slave to. Actually lets say that you

are the best at your company. You are very proud of what you do and the amount of output you are

generating, but are you getting your moneys worth? Are you getting compensated for your efforts?

If you arent then you have to either wait until the end of the financial year for a pay rise that may

never come (or that everyone gets) or you have to actually go and ask your boss for it.

Sorry, beg for it.

Yes thats right, you have to think up what is essentially a sales pitch to try and convince your boss to

give you more money. This is if you are lucky enough to be in a job where you can get pay rises. A lot

of people are in minimum wage jobs where no matter what you do, you get paid the same as everyone

else in the country. How demoralising!

6. You probably work with idiots

This one is pretty self-explanatory. We have all at one time or another worked with people that we

genuinely dislike. For whatever reason, it could be something trivial like they cannot stop talking or

they slack off and let you do all the work. All we know is that being around these people day in day out

is very stressful and unfortunately you cant do much about it.

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Well, you could moan to your boss and move departments but that just makes you beg again, and

weve already established that this sucks.

If you worked for yourself, you can control who you deal with. You can pick and choose business

partners, employees, clients that fit in with what you stand for. No more having to grin and bear it for

the sake of appearing sociable and normal, as last time I checked you couldnt shove a sock in the

mouth of your colleague without your boss getting moody. Shame really.

7. These will become your friends

An unfortunate aspect of the above example is that people tend to make friends based around who

they work with. Its somewhat natural to create social groups from the people we see every day, and

thats before I even get into (shudders) the works Christmas party.

You may not get on with the select few people you dislike in your workplace, but you generally have to

fake affection to a certain degree. The risk here is they can actually like you in return. Then youre

screwed. Then there are the work nights out and events that you are invited to, and you probably

shouldnt go to either. Why is this? Well alcohol and idiots dont mix well for starters. You spend 40

hours a week in a pressure environment with these people and now youre expected to get drunk with

them too? Not for me thanks.

While you obviously do create some good friends from work, it is generally advisable to keep work

relationships and actual relationships separate for the most part.

And for God sake, do not date anyone from work. Just dont even go there.

Not so great is it?

So there we have it. My own personal thoughts on why you should never get a job. I understand that

everyone needs an income and right now you may not be able to just give up everything, and thats

fine. I do say though, that you really do owe it to yourself to have a think about how you can quit the

rat race and start to have that freedom that you deserve.

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You Are NOT Your Job

Most of us have had a time in our lives when we meet someone new and that dreaded question rears

its ugly head.

So what do you do?

Those words can have a crippling effect on our social interactions, to the point where we can even lie

and deceive for fear of being judged on how we make a living.

Have you ever seen an old school friend and purposely changed direction just so you dont have to

engage in small talk

you are not your job

Hey how are you? I havent seen you in years

Yeh I know, its crazy. Im good, how are you?

Yeh cant complain, so what do you do now?

Umm, well

10 seconds is all it took. 10 seconds to take a seemingly pleasant conversation and turn it into a very

uncomfortable moment. The fear of being judged by someone we hardly know and maybe a reminder

of how our life isnt panning out the way we had originally hoped.

A brief reflection

Its easy to believe that there is a stigma associated with minimum wage employment, especially when

we hold these positions later in life. It wasnt so bad when I was younger and everyone was fresh out of

college and about to embark on the big bad world. The problem arose when the years

started to pass and I was still slaving away for the soulless corporations that would eventually kill any

desire I had for regular proper employment.

There are only so many shelves that one can fill and only so many orders that one can receive before

insanity sets it. Minimum wage jobs are often thankless jobs too. Every day is Groundhog Day and

everything that you did the day before has been reset as if it never existed.

When you live this existence and you allow this world to become part of who you are, of course it is

easy to become beaten down with life. I remember starting one such job back in my early twenties and

I actually enjoyed telling people that I now had a full time job and decent regular income, well for a 21

year old anyway. This never became a problem until I changed jobs at the age of 25, but instead of

moving up in the world, I merely moved sideways into a similar company.

Actually apart from a brief 6 months stint working on Bournemouth beach, I stayed in retail until the

age of 31 and a time where most of my peers were doing something that society would seem befitting

of someone my age.

To be honest I grew sick of telling people what I did for a living. I hated their fake approval, oh well

thats cool, and the body language that betrayed their sincerity. It wasnt so much their approval that

I was trying to seek, but every time I would tell someone where I worked, it was a timely reminder of

how I wasnt doing what I truly wanted.

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I always believed that what we do for a career doesnt define who we are inside. Yet social stigma will

always exist to a certain degree. Now I know that a little paranoia was responsible here and that most

people probably didnt really give a damn, but I have no doubt that social status exists and we judge

people based on this, even if its subconsciously.

This is where we imagine other peoples opinions and base our own on what we believe they think

about us.

I dont need to tell you that this is unhealthy.

How can we learn to detach ourselves from what we do?

Do not allow your job to get you down, no matter what it is you do and regardless of how bad your

days are. Many famous and successful people worked in jobs they hated before they eventually moved

on to a more successful career. It is in these types of jobs where your passion and your grit and

determination are formed. It is a test of character and life rewards those who pull through and

manage to escape the grind in favour of following their goals.

The next time someone asks you what it is that you do. Answer them with honesty and with your head

held high. If your tone of voice and your body language shows that you are comfortable with what you

are saying, it will carry more weight. For it isnt really what you say that makes the difference, its what

lies behind it that matters.

If you were a successful author but when it came to explain what you did to others, you did so without

confidence and portrayed that you were ashamed, then yes it will come across like you have something

to hide. Likewise if you told people you were a door to door cheese salesman, but said it with utmost

confidence and conviction, then people would probably think you were happy with what you did and

that it was kinda awesome.

The point is, dont attach yourself to what you do for a living and dont let it define you as a person.

The chances are it is only temporary and in the future you will be doing what you have always wanted,

so focus on that and treat your current job exactly for what it is, a simple way of paying the bills while

you work towards your future goals.

The opinions of others are worthless. It is what you feel that counts and never let the fear of what

someone else may think affect who you are and how you live your life.

You are NOT your job. You are far more awesome than that and you know it.

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5 Reasons Why Time Is More Important

Than Money

If you work ridiculous hours and have no time to actually have a life then you are doing it all wrong!

Time is more important than money! There Ive said it.

The whole idea is that you work to live and not live to work but somewhere down the line a lot of us

get this concept all mixed up. Its like one of those catch 22 situations where you initially take a job to

enable you to earn more money and thus lead a better life, but it becomes a never ending pursuit of

more money and a promise that one day you will cut back the hours. So you end up basing your life

around work and the whole plan has flipped 180!

Its not right is it? Okay you may need the money to support a family or you may work in a profession

that requires long hours with little time off, but there are always ways to increase your earnings

without compromising your life. The first step is to actually realise that a change needs to be made.

So I am going to show you 5 reasons why time is more important than money.

1. We only have a limited time on this planet so make it count

There are various theories that with the advances in science and medicine many of us will live past the

age of 200, and possibly a lot longer than that. Age reversal, stem cell technology and the curing of

various diseases are just some of the ways this will be possible, but so far all of this is still in the

development stage.

We cant expect to solely rely on the idea that we will always be here. Most of us see death as a taboo

subject and we naively believe that we will be around forever, but we should be living our lives as if

there is a time limit.

That timer is counting down and we have no idea when it reaches zero, so why are we wasting most of

our time doing the things we dont want?

2. When you look back on your life, you never wish for a bigger bank

balance

Think of your life like a book that is being written and will be published when your time is up. Im

fairly sure that you cant fill up a book with your bank balance so what else is there?

Each chapter of this book should be focused on a different aspect of your life and to enable this to

happen, your life should be as varied and eventful as possible. Spending countless hours every week

for years on end working yourself into the ground will not make a very good book, not unless you are

making a difference with your job and/or money.

When people look back on their lives they never wish they could have spent more time in the office so

take note of this now and do something about it.

3. There is no point having money if you have no time to spend it

There are many people out there who just love to hoard money away in the hope that one day they will

eventually have enough to retire. These hoarders actually have a scarcity mind-set and are afraid of

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losing their hard earned cash. The truth is, no amount of money will ever be enough for them and they

see their increasing bank balance as a barometer of their success.

It would be unfair to call these people tight as a refusal to spend money can also be attributed to a

lack of hobbies or social life. Its certainly easier to spend 70 hours a week in the office if you feel like

you have nothing fun to do outside of work.

The solution to this is quite obvious. The more we have going on in our private lives, the less time we

will allow work to take from us.

4. Those who have time want money, and those who have money want

time

You know the funny thing is that most people want what they cant have and this is usually true across

both ends of the time/money spectrum. Those who are unemployed or have low incomes will strive for

more hours or a better paid job while those who are on six figure salaries often moan that they have no

time to spend with their friends and family.

Neither of these is desirable and both will ultimately cause unhappiness in your life so the trick is to

find a happy medium which leads me to my next point.

5. A healthier balance leads to a healthier life

Its almost like a cruel paradox. You can have all this free time but no actual money to do anything

worthwhile or you can have all this money but no free time to do the things you want. The trick is to

find a balance and earn enough money without sacrificing all of your free time.

Easier said than done I admit but if you find yourself out of sync with your work and amount of free

time then you should try to find ways of addressing this imbalance in your life.

Remember we only work x hours a week because that is the amount that society arbitrarily places

upon us all. This amount isnt set in stone and it is up to us to decide what we do with our lives.

If you are in a position where you have little choice but to work a lot of overtime or you dont have the

resources to free up a lot of your life, just take the opportunity to have some you time. Keep your

weekends free or have one or two evenings a week where you have the chance to do whatever you

want.

Take that class, have that night out, practice that hobby, have a weekend away, spend time with your

friends/family/partner. Whatever it is that you daydream about at work, make some time during the

week to focus on that and I promise you that you will be far happier and less stressed.

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7 Reasons Why You Dont Want to Quit

Your Job (and how to ignore them)

Youre probably reading this for one of two reasons. Either you have some kind of dissatisfaction with

your job or I bribed you with a promise of chocolate biscuits and copious amounts of alcohol.

Dont worry Im not stooping that low (unless it would work, let me know).

Anyway, if youre here because of the first reason then what Ive done is written an article detailing a

lot of the common excuses we can come up with when faced with the reality of change.

1. I cant quit because I have no idea what to do instead.

Come on of course you know. Think back to when you were a little person, running around wiping

your nose and tripping over unwanted toys. You had a dream, you had a plan. Ok you probably wanted

to be a monkey or something but a dream is a dream right?

Embrace that feeling but instead of trying to change your whole genetic makeup, focus on doing

something that creates such a fire in your belly that it makes you want to eat a thousand ghost chillis

just to cool yourself down.

We all grew up with an idea of what we wanted to be and the chances are you are not doing anything

even remotely as cool right now. Personalities and dreams change with age, I get that. But never allow

yourself to settle for something that just isnt you.

Remember Being realistic is the most commonly travelled path to mediocrity.

2. I cant quit because I wont be able to pay my rent

Well if you quit your job and just sit around on your backside for the next 5 years then youre totally

right, you wont be able to pay your rent. On the plus side, you can probably find a nice family sized

cardboard box and if youre lucky, a bus shelter with a non-leaking roof.

But lets assume youre not totally insane and you use your noggin, there is no reason why this should

even be an issue.

Before you quit you can find yourself a job that is far more enjoyable or if youd prefer to start your

own business then you currently have the opportunity to save up to make that transition far easier.

3. I cant quit because this is a respectable job

Says who? Ahh I get it. Youve got your sensible hat on, well done.

So youre trying to remember what your careers adviser drilled into you when you told them about

your monkey ambitions. Let me help you.

Stop being an idiot. You should get a respectable job that would make your mother proud. Try

working in an office or even better, tell disillusioned teenagers what to do with their lives.

Fantastic you did it, you have a respectable job but are you really happy? Dont just stay in a job you

hate because society arbitrarily dictates that its a respectable position. Your own self-respect is far

more important.

4. I cant quit because this job is my identity

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Now this is even worse than the respect thing. If your self-esteem and your self-worth is attached to

what you do for a living then you have some issues my friend. Ill wait here while you go and slap

yourself in the face.

Done? Awesome.

It doesnt matter if you clean out toilets for a living or if youre a world renowned heart surgeon. We

are all human, with the same hopes and fears as each other. Behind that title we are all the same deep

down and we should all try to find peace with ourselves, not the person we present to the world.

5. I cant quit because Im worried about what people will think

Does this include me? Because I think you need to man up (woman up?) and take some responsibility

in your own life for a change.

Now stop crying and pay attention.

Were all wary about what our peers think, its somewhat natural but its totally ridiculous to live your

life trying to please everyone around you. The truth is, people rarely give a damn what you do as long

as it isnt affecting them directly. Nobody cares if you stay bored in your job or if you try to follow your

passion.

The only person that should care and the only person you should listen to is you.

6. I cant quit because Im not a quitter

Youre a stayer though, which in this context is even worse.

How does it feel to wake up every day and dread getting out of bed? You can change this feeling

anytime you want, all it takes is a bit of self-belief and a shot of courage.

No I dont mean Whiskey. Put it down.

It takes courage to make a big change in life and a lot of people struggle to find it, at least initially, but

try to remember that everything starts with a first step.

If youre too worried about handing in your notice thats understandable but for now focus on

researching your future. Apply for better jobs, rediscover your passions, save some money, get

everything in place so that when you do make that change, you have everything in place to start living

the life you want.

7. I cant quit because erm.

Ha! Youre struggling now to think of an excuse arent you?

Whats that? You cant quit your job because your dog ate it? This isnt homework.

Face it, it doesnt matter what you try and do, a million and one (or 6) excuses will do their utmost to

convince you to stay where you are. This is just a fear of the unknown, an attempt to make you stay

within you comfort zone. Its not real.

If you genuinely want to do something different with your life, regardless whether its about your

career or just your life situation, knowledge is everything. Do your research, plan it out, prepare for

any hiccups along the way and most importantly make sure you keep moving forward.

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Finding your passion

Before I decided to quit my job I spent a LONG time worrying about what I wanted to do with my life.

I would rack my brain almost every day trying to work out something that I could do that was better

than facing hell every day.

Ill be honest, the thought of staying in bed eating jam doughnuts crossed my mind more often than

not, but I didnt think it was the most productive way to spend my days.

So I only did it once. Promise!

Anyway I am going to share some of the tips and ideas that I came up with that could help you find

your passion and how to pursue it.

1. Think back to when you were a kid

Now if you were anyway half normal you probably wanted to be a superhero or something, which

while ambitious is a little unrealistic. I was a little weird and told my careers teacher that I wanted to

work as a journalist for a computer games magazine. When I started to play the guitar at 17 these

ambitions subsided and obviously I wanted to be a rock star.

Kind of like a superhero but less (more) spandex.

Try to remember what you really liked in your youth and see if it is somewhat plausible to do. If you

still harbour similar ambitions then what are you waiting for? Embrace that inner child and go for it.

2. What do you do better than anyone you know?

This one should be easy to figure out. Most of us have a skill that our friends and family are slightly

envious of, but maybe a lack of confidence means we dont really consider it as an option. For

example;

Do you play a musical instrument? If so maybe look into teaching and passing on your

knowledge to others. This is really easy to get started with and its what I currently do.

How creative are you? If you are an avid drawer/painter or if you enjoy making things

then this is a great way to start a new business for yourself.

Are you good at helping people? Maybe look into going to university and work towards

becoming a psychologist or therapist. A simpler option is to start a blog and offer advice and

tips based on your own life experiences.

Do you have any standout physical attributes? If you are still relatively young and you

have a natural talent then maybe sports is an area that you could do well in. Especially if you

have natural speed, strength, endurance etc. Maybe you are good looking and have great

genes. If so the modelling industry could be an option.

The point here is to find something you are good at that you can develop and monitise. In this day and

age careers can be made out of almost anything and the best part is, if the niche is a little obscure the

chances are there is little competition.

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3. What have you always wanted to do but never had the chance to?

This is a great way to find your passion. So far we have looked at the past and at the present for

inspiration but now have a little look towards the future. Both the past and the present are based on

decisions made a while ago which may or may not be in line with the person you currently are.

So what have you always wanted to do? Some people really want to go travelling and that alone can

open up a crazy new world full of opportunities. Not only is it a passion unto itself but you can make

money along the way by teaching English as a foreign language or again, starting a blog and sharing

your experiences with the world. These routes are very popular are pretty easy to get started with.

Just because you havent yet done something doesnt mean that you cant make it happen. You would

be surprised by how easy it can be to pick up a new skill or to transfer your experiences over to a new

niche.

4. Thinking outside the box Go crazy with it

Think of the most obscure ways people live their lives by doing what they love. How did they come up

with their ideas? What steps did they take to get off the ground? Where does their source of income

come from? The next time you read or hear about an obscure job, have a look into it and see if it

inspires you to come up with something equally crazy.

Off the top of my head I can think of;

Work in a circus

Take up an obscure sport like Handball

Become a skydiving instructor

Singer? Play an instrument? Earn a living playing at weddings

Be a bartender on a cruise ship

Try your hand at stand-up comedy

How about becoming a life coach? Dating coach?

5. Remember, passion doesn't have to mean money

If you are determined to quit your job and find your passion it can be easy to just think of the money

that can be made by doing what you love. Sometimes passions dont involve monetary gain at all and

can be fulfilling in other ways.

Volunteering is a great way to give something back to the community and there are many programs

around the world should you fancy getting out of the country. The range of activities you can do here is

limitless. If you feel strongly about poverty you can help build schools and houses in the poorest parts

of Africa. Or maybe stay closer to home with the many organisations that help the homeless or the

elderly.

A great way to contribute is to raise money for a cause you are passionate about. Some sponsorship

schemes allow you to do something crazy like climb Kilimanjaro while at the same time earning

money for you cause. Whatever your beliefs or passions there will always be ways for you to help.

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Do what you can to find your passion and to give up that boring unfulfilling life that may be dragging

you down. Keep working on it, think, create, plan, discover, find, inspire and motivate.

Sometimes these flashes of inspiration can come immediately and other times they can take months

or years. Dont get disheartened or give up.

There will come a time, sooner than you probably think, when you will be able to live the life you want,

whatever your goals may be.

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Do you have the courage?

There are times when we have the opportunity to do something different. Something new and exciting

that will dust the cobwebs from in front of our eyes and stimulate us. We know when this occasion

arises because the butterflies start in our stomach and we wonder if the ability to push past our

comfort zone can be found within.

It can be difficult to change something, I can attest to this first hand. For years I went from menial job

to menial job, largely without much thought. I would work for a particular company for a certain

amount of time and then the sledgehammer would strike and I would realise I had to get out. Only, I

would then seek out another job which was similar to the previous one. Madness!

I give you permission to slap me retroactively.

You can go ahead and slap yourself too if you have done the same.

So it became a cycle, and here is the worst part. When we keep doing the same thing over and over it

just becomes a habit, and one which is hard to break.

Why do we do this?

Simply the brain doesnt like change. It likes being in a comfort zone because it requires less effort

than pushing the boundaries. If enough time has passed, and the brain is too set in its ways then it can

be a monumental effort to break free. How many times have you wanted to search for a new job and

you kept putting it on the backburner because you were too tired or you had something better to do? I

think weve all been there.

It is one part laziness and one part fear I think. They both work together in tandem to keep those

shackles locked tightly. Laziness stems from a fear of doing something new and fear grows from the

laziness of not doing anything different. Like a downward cycle of depression and monotony which

just grows stronger with time

The arghhh moment

I believe that there will always come a point in our lives when we reach that arghhh moment. You

know the one. You wake up one day or someone says something to you and you just think to yourself

thats it, I cant do this anymore. Your life suddenly forks out into two pathways, sanity and insanity.

Which one you choose will often come down to the courage you have at that moment.

We all know the definition of insanity is doing the same over and over but expecting different results.

So that must mean sanity is the result of changing something. Choosing a different path from what has

gone before.

When we reach this make or break moment we must have the belief in ourselves that we can choose

the right path and leave our fear behind.

I have failed to take the right path on many occasions and each time it happened it was soul

destroying. I just knew I had the chance to do something different but I let my lack of courage stopped

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me from even trying. I let fear win and every time this happened it became stronger. It feeds off your

negative emotions and the next time youre faced with a similar situation, its hold on you gets tighter

and tighter.

Break your comfort zone

Courage is always there, bubbling under the surface, teasing us with short glimpses of what is

possible. So how can we tap into it whenever we want? The trick is to recognise when it is there, and

then to act on it with conviction. The next time you get an opportunity to do something that really

pushes your comfort zone, embrace that initial surge of positivity and act on it before it becomes

crushed with fear.

Trust yourself that the decision you want to make is the decision that you should take. Go with your

gut instinct as that is rarely ever wrong. Force yourself to break from the fear that has been holding

you down. I know it can feel like walking in water at times but it does get easier. Like I mentioned

above with fear becoming stronger the more you allow it space. Courage also becomes stronger the

more you allow it to breath.

It is like a long lost friend who constantly leaves you answerphone messages, but you never phone

back. It is reaching out and all you need to do is meet it halfway. The title of this article is a bit

misleading. You dont really need to find courage, you know where it is. Just learn to give it a go.

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6 steps to help you on your way

I have compiled a list of 6 tips that I think can help you to do this yourself. A lot of people want to

change their careers and their lives but they find it hard to gather the momentum required to do so.

Maybe it is a lack of knowledge or maybe it just seems a bit overwhelming to some people. This is why

I have compiled a list, and hopefully it will break down the process into more manageable steps.

1. Do the research

Great you now have your career or goal in mind, so what next? Well now comes the part where you

have to really do the research. If it is a new career then try and find out everything that you will need

to start it up. Does it cost money? Do you need any qualifications? Is it something you can start right

now or do you need to learn how to do it?

If it is something like travelling, then equally you need to seriously look into it. How much will it cost?

What route are you planning to take? Are you going alone or with someone? Where will you stay?

When starting something new, preparation really is key here. You need to know what you are letting

yourself in for. Be prepared for anything and everything. Can you cope with the challenges that may

arise, financially or otherwise? If you find it a struggle can you ride it out?

Another part of researching is to follow where others have been before. Seek out others who are where

you want to be and learn from them. Everything that has ever been accomplished has been

documented in a book or online. Read as much as you can and take in all the information you can

handle. Now that you have done the preparation..

2. Are you ready to succeed?

What do I mean by this you may ask? Well a lot of people are so focused on failing that should they

actually succeed they are totally unprepared for it. Success is a scary concept. How will you feel should

you start making double the money you previously made in your 9-5 job? How about quadruple? Ten

times the amount? I know this seems a million miles away right now but it is very achievable, and

people start doing this every day.

People by nature feel intimidated by others who dare to succeed, let alone actually achieve it. How

many people do you know that try to put you down when you have a great idea? The more successful

you become, the more these people will try to hold you back. There will be friends, family, partners

who may start off supportive but will resent you should success come your way. It is a sad fact of life,

but being wary of this will help you handle it should it happen.

Of course most people will support you and that is great, so dont worry about it too much. More

importantly, how will YOU feel when the good times come rolling? Being successful can take you way

out of your comfort zone so just remember to take a step back, relax and realise you are on to a good

thing. Discomfort is a sign of growth, embrace it.

3. Let people know

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Okay you have sorted out everything in your own head and you are now mentally prepared for doing

this. Now is the time to come clean with your plans. Usually your actions will have some form of

impact on those around you. If you have kids or a partner then giving up your job is obviously going to

be something they need to know about in advance, as it can be scary for them too. Some people end up

moving back into their parents home as a way to save money while they start their new journey. You

need to ensure that those around you are ready to support you, both mentally and financially should

you need it.

Telling people is also a great motivator to get things started. Nobody wants to look silly after telling

everyone their plans. Muhammad Ali used to tell the press which round he would knock out his

opponent in. To many this was seen as brash and arrogant, and showing a lack of respect for his

opponents. In actual fact, he used it as a tool to help motivate him to follow through with his

predictions. He simply wouldnt allow himself to fail after such bravado.

4. Take the plunge

This is it. This is what you have been working towards. The moment you have been dreaming about.

Handing in your notice at work and finally being free. There is no going back now. Its done.

Actually, youre probably very nervous about taking the plunge. Wondering maybe if you are making

the right decision or if you have everything set up ready. This is normal and it is just fear holding you

back. Think about everything you have dreamed of and focus on what that means to you.

That first day when you wake up and you dont have to go to your boring job will feel awesome.

Honestly, just wait and see.

5. Work Work Work

Now you may have given up work, but that doesnt mean you give up working. Now is the time to

really put the hours in. Yet this time, you are working towards your dream and hopefully you will be

self-motivated enough to achieve this. Sometimes people can under estimate how much work is

needed to get a new project off the ground. We could be talking double the amount of hours that you

were used to. Yes this sounds crazy but nobody achieved anything without hard work. It has to be this

way or everyone would be successful.

To help you on your way, plan out your days in advance and stick to the times you have given yourself.

If you need to wake up at 7am, then get up at 7am. If you want to spend x amount of hours on

something, then make sure you do it. You are your own boss now, so learn to be strict with yourself

and take your new venture seriously

6. Trust yourself

This is the part where you have to keep the faith. There will be times when things get tough and you

start to question your ability to succeed. In almost all cases there will be a so called pain period. This

is when the novelty of pursuing your passion has passed but you have yet to really start making

money. There will be times when you wonder if it is worth it, whether you should just give up and go

back to the real world.

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Stay strong and trust yourself. Trust the process. There will always be a dip and everyone will go

through it so try not to worry. You will come out the other side stronger and more determined than

ever to make it work. Keep putting the hours in and the results will inevitably come.

That day when you make your first sale or receive your first payment will be one of the best feelings

you will ever experience. Keep focused on that goal and remain strong.

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Retail is Evil Why I Gave up my Job

It felt like I had just been hit by a train.

Her comment had blindsided me to such an extent that I stood there, open mouthed, struggling to

comprehend what I had just heard.

Her eyes staring at me intently; her ignorance was astounding but yet I couldnt respond. I was

rendered speechless.

I glanced over at my colleague who gave me the slightest shake of his head. He too couldnt believe it.

5 months of hard work, insane shift patterns, putting our bodies on the line and for what?

Nothing!

I looked at the metal bar just inches from my left hand. My fingers twitched; I felt an overwhelming

urge to pick it up and teach her a lesson.

This is why I gave up my job.

Phase one Incompetence

My previous job, as I have mentioned before wasnt exactly a bundle of joy.

I worked for one of the nations largest retailers, one of those stores where its small enough to know

everybody inside but large enough that you felt as though your identity has been stripped and all

youve been left with is a number.

The laughter factory as I liked to call it, with a touch of irony.

My job title was technically a general assistant, or sales assistant. Basically I was a minimum wage

monkey that wasnt being fed enough bananas.

I accepted a change in position just before Christmas that was supposed to be temporary. They needed

people to help with the refurbishment, and when asked, I happily accepted.

It seemed better than serving customers. To be honest punching myself in the face was a better option

than that.

If youve ever worked retail then you will know exactly what I mean.

The trouble being this job was the worst experience of my working life. They expected us to work 512

hour nightshifts in a row. To stay behind even longer if the work wasnt completed.

Well give you night pay they said.

Well give you extra days off they said.

For those 5 months I was underpaid by at least 100 per month. When youre on minimum wage that

is a lot of money but I suppose you cant reason with incompetence.

I stuck at it. I wish I hadnt. I simply lacked courage.

Every day I pondered whether I should ask to be transferred back so I could stand in front of the

unwelcome gaze that is the general public. It was a tough one but I always told myself that it will all be

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over soon. These insane shift patterns will be replaced with normality and this nightmare will surely

end.

I was half right.

Phase two Slave labour

Okay, the nightshifts ended and I started working with a new guy. My initial feeling of relief was short

lived as while I was happy to be working day shifts, the amount of work we were expected to do was

nothing short of brutality.

For 5 days a week between the hours of 8am and 6pm we were basically labourers.

The actual guys that were being paid 200 a day to do a lot of the work were astounded by what we

had to do. They couldnt believe it, especially as we werent being sufficiently compensated for our

efforts.

We were given a task of clearing out a large room full of metalwork. That previous sentence doesnt

convey how much metalwork this room contained.

It was ridiculous. Tons and tons of the stuff, literally 2 weeks solid work. We had to clear it out, tidy it

up and put it all back again. If it sounds a bit pointless then youll be right. It was.

During this time my colleague and I would both injure our backs, cut our hands and arms on broken

glass, suffer badly bruised legs and all because they had trouble finding worthwhile jobs for us to do.

To be fair our manager at the time would check in on us and he was genuinely thankful for what we

were doing. The trouble started when he left for another store 2 days before the end of the job.

One of the senior management team, well call her The Dragon; took over until end of our contract.

She was someone who I had a good working relationship with. I genuinely didnt mind that she was

now my temporary boss.

Surely she had been paying attention to the work we were doing?

Phase three The confrontation

I paused.

Time slowed down while I imagined myself picking up the bar and beating her in the face with it. Her

assistant, a pathetic weasel of a man, would be next. I never trusted him, and I would later be proved

right with my instincts.

But I am not a violent, nor a stupid person.

Youve hardly done any work

Her words were so lethal. In my whole working life I had never heard such ignorance. The first time

she had even been to this room in weeks and she dared to question our work ethic.

Not to mention the sheer amount of floor space we had created.

This all happened in the space of a few seconds before she uttered her next gem.

I want all this completed in 2 days

No I responded, venomously. It cannot be done. Weve been doing this for 2 weeks and you have no

idea how much work this is

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(Assistant) and I could do this easily. You have no excuses. She said.

I glanced again at my colleague who I could tell was doing his utmost to remain calm and silent.

You will stay out here and you will not go inside the store for any reason. You will tell (assistant)

when you go for a break, and you will tell him when you return

Thanks for reminding me, I thought to myself. Its been a while since I felt like a child.

Later that day in what I can only assume was an attempt to strip us of our dignity, she had her

assistant come upstairs and take away our phones (which were essential in our role) and to inform me

that I would spend the next week in the staff kitchen pot washing.

Oh its like that is it? I asked.

He smirked. I punched the box next to me in a fit of rage.

Phase four Interrogation

I took that week off sick. You see all that hard work had caused my sciatica to flare up and I needed

time off for a rest. The fact it coincided with my pot wash week was just a spot of good luck.

Probably.

Anyway, I had spoken with my colleague not long after our little confrontation and he suggested that I

take a week off sick, to screw them over.

I wasnt totally sure if he was serious or not, but I commended him on his creativity.

You see there was a slight problem with this.

On my return from my totally legitimate back injury, I was summoned into The Dragons office. I

would say Dragons Den but sadly I wasnt going to get any money here.

So hows your back? She asked.

Oh much better now thanks, not great but Ill manage I replied.

So Ive been informed that you told (colleague) that you were going to skive off last week

Now Ill be honest here, I did not expect that.

She stared at me, looking for a sign of weakness, something she could latch on to.

I refused to show any.

Firstly I didnt say such a thing, so I can only assume someone overheard our conversation and added

2 and 2 together to get 4.1, but this is irrelevant. In her eyes I was guilty.

My mouth was dry. I could feel my heart forcing its way out of my chest.

Our eyes were locked in a stare down straight out of WWE. She wasnt flinching and neither was I.

Seconds passed.

It felt a bit awkward, but to hell with it. Im not letting her win.

More seconds passed. The tension was increasing and I felt I needed to end it.

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I have no idea what you are talking about.

I see She replied. So are you saying this person lied?

I have no idea. I just cant remember such a conversation.

Take that Dragon.

She must have sensed I wasnt backing down so she moved on. She would inform me I would spend

the next 2 weeks doing pot washing and then I would work under her as a security guard. I put that in

brackets because I wouldnt actually have any responsibility.

In her words;

You will keep an eye out for thieves and then report back to security. You will not speak to anyone at

any time or you will face disciplinary action.

I had two lovely words for her, but I kept quiet. I had other ideas.

Phase five The end

A couple of days passed while I gave it a bit of thought, (not the job offer, stuff that) and I finally

decided that I couldnt work for this person and this company any longer. I handed in my notice and I

had never felt so relaxed and relieved in a very long time.

Yes the final two weeks of my job involved a lot of pot washing and sticking my fingers in various half

eaten pies, but I didnt care. I was free.

I had a vague idea of what I wanted to do but thats it, no idea how to get started but it was OK. This

was a watershed moment in my life and I knew I would never go back to the hell that is retail.

Almost 6 months on and I do not regret a second of my decision. I gave up my job and it was the best

thing I have ever done.

If youre in a job now where you are under appreciated or are being treated with a total lack of respect,

please consider your options. Get out if you can. It doesnt matter if you give up that industry

altogether or simply just try your luck at a different company.

Your dignity and your happiness/health are the most important things you will ever have.

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6 Things Ive Learned From 6 Months

Without a Job

Im lying, its just short of 6 months but a post titled 5.5 months without a job doesnt have the same

impact. So yes, Im a little early but if I didnt write it now I would probably forget.

For those of you who have only just stumbled upon my site, I quit my boring crappy job at the start of

the summer and to be honest I didnt have an exact plan. Well I kind of knew that I wanted to start

teaching guitar but I had no idea how to get that started. So basically I did the very responsible grown

up thing of walking out of a job without anything lined up.

Go me!

If you havent yet seen them, I have written a variety of posts detailing both my story and various how

to quit your job articles which you can read by downloading my ebook over there on the top right

hand side of the screen. Quick, go take look.

Almost six months on I now give regular lessons and I have a fledgling secondary income which I

wont talk about just yet. Sadly its nothing exciting or dangerous, which is a shame. Anyway, I better

move on to the point of the article.

6 Things Ive learned from (almost) 6 months without a job!

1. Time flies by so damn quickly

I read somewhere, I really cant remember where it was but Im almost certain it was legit, that the

less new stimuli our brain receives the faster our days will appear to pass. Thats why as we get older

time seems to fly by and as kids those long awesome summers were, well, long and awesome. It was a

new experience.

Sitting at home glued to my laptop and teaching guitar can start to get a little repetitive. Nowhere near

as bad as sitting in a cubicle for example and Im certainly not moaning but a certain daily rhythm can

be set.

In one way this is good as it feels like I am motoring towards my goals that little bit faster but in

another sense, it also feels like there are only 18 hours in a day. So I quit my job and now I just cant

seem to find the time.

Take note Alanis. THAT is irony.

2. Money just seems to appear?

When I left my job I had a certain number in the bank. Im not going to reveal that number because;

A. It isnt any of your business and

B. It totally would be your business if it was an impressive figure. But it wasnt so get over it.

Anyway, it was a decent amount to live on for a few months but I was certain that sooner rather than

later I would have to dine out with the local hobos.

This hasnt happened yet, and Im not sure why.

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You see pretty much every month since then, the amount in my bank account has remained pretty

constant. Every time it has taken a hit, within a week or two I receive a little windfall from somewhere.

I would take on a bunch of students or sell a few articles and everything gets back to normal. I dont

expect sorcery to be involved here, but that would be cool wouldnt it?

3. My motivation levels are all over the place

The first 6-8 weeks of my self-imposed workforce exile was insanely productive. I taught myself how

to build a website, how to market and promote myself and not just that but I went to the gym most

days and continued to teach myself German.

I was a machine.

The machine needs fixing.

As time went on my motivational levels started to fluctuate, and I suppose this is normal. Nobody can

keep up an insane work ethic 24/7 and I expected my output to falter at some point. The trouble is

that getting back into the groove is proving pretty tricky. I suppose that I am in a little bit of a rut but

every few days I hit my stride again and blast out some articles or do some promotion. I have just

learnt how to maximise these windows of opportunity and when I wake up without any energy, to not

fret about it. These feelings will pass.

4. I wasnt prepared enough for the pain period

Following on from the above, I think everyone at some point will enter what has come to be known as

the pain period. Doesnt it sound lovely?

The way I interpret this is that its the time when your motivation starts to waiver and you start

wondering if it is worth the hassle. Youre putting in all this effort and hard work but have yet to see

any meaningful results. Yeh okay, I am now making a liveable income doing something that I enjoy

and that is great and everything but its not enough money for a good quality of life (in case you didnt

know I chose to move back home before starting).

Ill be honest and say that every day I battle with the thoughts of whether I should get a job. If I did

this would I be a quitter? Or would I simply be sensible and normal?

Screw you sensible and normal. You will not get the better of me!

See what I mean? In the space of 30 seconds I pondered giving up and then decided not to. Its okay

though, these doubts are normal and I know that if I stick with this, I will be rewarded one day. I just

hope that day comes soon or Ill be hitting up those hobos. (Do they have phones?)

5. It becomes easier to tell people what you do

The funny thing with quitting your job is that you always meet people and they ask you what you do,

and it seems like life throws these people at you the VERY MOMENT you quit. Couldnt you have

asked me last week when I was a normal functioning member of society? Damn you all

To be honest, I felt a little awkward, both when meeting new people and catching up with old friends.

People responded with reactions ranging from; you crazy fool to wow I wish I could do that, and

everything in between.

Almost 6 months on I now make money from teaching guitar and writing, and while it isnt a lot, I can

tell people that I am a musician and Im a writer without feeling like a fraud. I have covered this before

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in the article you are not your job, but it sure feels better when youre not a slave to the minimum

wage.

6. Having a job really sucks

It does, lets not lie to ourselves here. Okay most jobs suck. Mine did, so thats my story and Im

sticking to it.

If you have a job that you enjoy then good luck to you and well done for being the object of my insane

jealousy. Dont balls it up, keep it and good things will only happen to you.

Now back to me.

Yes my motivation levels go up and down and Im currently in the middle of the pain period but when

I sit down and think back to earlier this year, I was really unhappy. This wasnt a fluctuating level of

unhappiness either but a constant feeling of total resentment for where I worked and everything

around me. Right now I dont feel stressed at all. My blood pressure is so low its bordering on being

unhealthy. I dont have any feelings of dread when I wake up in the morning.

This is why I do what I do. Will it last? Who knows, I may be forced at some point to get a job if this

doesnt pan out the way I had hoped. I am doing my degree right now in computer programming as a

backup career to future proof myself.

So far so good, lets see what happens next.

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How to hand in your notice

Surely the most satisfying part of quitting your job must be the day when you can finally tell your boss

the great news. You dream of it every day, you talk about it with your colleagues and you just wish you

could do it in such a way that you leave the office to rousing applause and legendary status.

Unfortunately that kind of thing usually only happens in the movies and the reality is that many

people actually dread handing in their notice. The last time I did it, I felt pretty nervous beforehand as

I anticipated an uncomfortable situation but actually it went smoothly, as they usually always do.

The only time when an issue may occur is if you have an important job that requires a particular

skillset that is hard to replace. Almost always these types of jobs have extended notice periods, and not

only that but leaving can really inconvenience your manager/company. But never fear, that isnt your

problem, they are paid to manage and that is what they shall do.

They need to earn their high wages right?

4 Tips to help you get through that awesome day

1. Do you have a notice period?

Hopefully you still have your contract to hand, but if not dont worry as you can easily find out your

notice period by phoning human resources. Usually if you work in an unskilled job you only have to

give 1 weeks notice by law. Yes your employer will generally ask for more, but that is because they

need time to find a replacement. If you have a position of power then this notice period may be

anywhere from 3 months to 1 year. Ridiculous isnt it?

If you break your notice period, the worst that can happen is that they hold back some of your pay but

if you need to leave for a new job before the notice period is up, then usually a compromise can be

reached. In this situation ask your manager/human resources for help.

2. What to actually write?

Again, what you have to write in your letter largely depends on what job you have. The type of job

where you only have to give 1 weeks notice, would usually only require a few lines thanking your

manager for allowing you the opportunity to work there and the date when you intend your last shift

to be.

For other types of jobs, where your resignation will have a negative impact on the company, it is good

practice to detail why you feel you need to leave. You never know when you might need this company

as a reference, so be as polite as possible.

This website has great examples of resignation letters that you can copy if you arent feeling inspired.

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/resignationletters/a/resignationlet.htm

3. How to break the news

Now there is two ways in which you can approach this. The first is to just walk straight up to the

manager and hand your notice in an envelope and telling them the news. The second is to verbally tell

your manager that you are thinking of leaving and that you may be handing in your notice soon.

The plus side of the first option is that it is over and done with quickly. If you are particularly nervous

about leaving, then this could be the best option. It is the method I have used with great success.

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The second option is generally used when you have respect for your manager and the two of you have

a good working relationship. In situations like this, they may even ask you to stay and you never know.

You could get a new improved contract out of it.

Remember though, whatever you decide to do, never be rude and never burn your bridges.

4. What happens if I just quit on the spot?

This is the dream and a lot of people actually do this, but generally only when they feel backed into a

corner. It is almost never a good way to leave your job and especially if you need a reference, as just

walking out will ensure this information will be passed on to your next employers.

Also by breaking your notice period, your employer may decide to withhold your pay and legally they

have every right to do this. If you get paid cash in hand, or you genuinely dont anticipate working in

a conventional sense again, then by all means just quit. Just remember that your actions can have an

impact on others so use common sense here.

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How to call in sick

Sometimes we all have periods where we just dont feel going to work that day. Quite often these

reasons can be mental instead of physical and its usually when we feel down that we consider pulling

a sickie. The feelings of guilt and anxiety rage through us when we make that call but it doesnt have to

be that way. With my helpful tips, forged on my experience in these situations, I can guide you

through this process as painless as possible.

Is it ethical to call in sick?

The easiest answer to this would be, yes. Mental problems like depression and anxiety are just as real

as physical problems, but sadly very few people understand this. Calling in sick because you are

feeling down may come across like you are being lazy or that you are skiving, so thats generally why

sickies exist. Its a way to cover up the truth with something a little more believable.

Put it this way, everyone does it and if you havent done it yet, you will eventually.

Make sure you are a reliable worker

Taking the odd sick day here and there will be a much easier process if you are genuinely respected

within your company. Either that or your manager knows how hard you work each day. It is usually

the ones who take liberties or scrape through each day doing as little as possible that arouse suspicion.

Choose your time wisely

Within the company guidebook there will be a section about calling in sick. READ IT. It will detail the

best practices and there will usually be a specific time period before calling in. For example in many of

my previous jobs I had to call in no later than 2 hours before the start of my shift. Now that may not be

possible but always call as soon as possible. Doing so will cover your bases when you return to work.

Know your enemy

Its always best to find out who is on the other end of the phone line. Learn the patterns of the

managers. Who works what days and what times. The worst thing is expecting a certain person to pick

up the phone and then finding out its someone completely different.

Dont put on a voice and never ever cough (unless you have a cough)

The worst thing you can ever do is to put on a voice when phoning in. It is easily read by most people

and everyone will think you are just skiving. Dont do it, use your ordinary voice and everything will

sound a lot more authentic, because it will be.

Using a truth to cover up a lie

Like I stated earlier, one of the reasons we take a day off is for mental reasons, so we usually make up

something physical to make everything easier for ourselves. When doing this use common sense and

anticipate how long you plan to have off. If you only want to take 1 day off sick and you tell them you

have the flu, then you are expecting trouble. Use a physical ailment that is logical for your intended

time off. Common sense always wins.

They will want details - DONT GIVE THEM DETAILS

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The basis for any white lie is to not go into elaborate details. The more details you give, the more

chance you have of slipping up and making everything a whole lot worse. If your manager starts

asking a lot of questions, answer them but keep them short and be a little blunt, without being rude.

Keep to the absolute basics and just state the facts. Example;

You Hi, Im just calling to say that I wont be coming in today, sorry about this. (Polite and to the

point)

Manager Oh okay, whats wrong?

You Its a stomach thing, just a dull ache and its more comfortable when I lie down. (Vague but

explains why you cant come in)

Manager Oh dear do you know why? (Probing for details)

You No nothing comes to mind (Less you know the less you can say)

Manager I see, have you been to the doctors? (Standard question that comes up every time)

You Well if it doesnt clear up I will see if I can get to one, but just resting now. (Shows willingness to

visit doctor, but you make no promises)

Manager Okay, when do you think you will be back to work? (Another textbook question)

You I dont know, I will see how I feel later and I will let you know asap. (How can you know?

Always be vague but offer to keep in touch)

You see how the manager cycles through various questions to try and find out details? Dont play that

game and keep everything short and simple. Sometimes they may try and play doctor, but if this

happens just reiterate that you dont know what the cause is and you will see a doctor if problems

persist. Remember they arent qualified to give a diagnosis so pay no attention to it.

Points to remember

Calling in sick shouldnt be an excuse to hide away from the world. Sick days are designed for people

who for whatever reason dont feel like they can go into work that day. There is no such thing as a

stupid reason, as if you genuinely feel like you cant go to work then that that is good enough.

Remember that if you have any feelings that persist then please find someone to talk to about it.

Preferably someone who is qualified to do so, or failing that a chat with a friend can be a good

substitute in the short term.

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1. Think back to when you were a kid2. What do you do better than anyone you know?3. What have you always wanted to do but never had the chance to?4. Thinking outside the box Go crazy with it5. Remember, passion doesn't have to mean money