5 Things to Get Clear on Before You Quit Your Job to Start a Business

Having a plan in place can give you the confidence to quit your job and become your own boss.

You want to make the leap into entrepreneurship and become your own boss. You’re so ready to feel fulfilled and inspired by your work. But the thought of quitting your job and walking away from a stable income is terrifying

So you keep getting stuck in the same cycle – going through the motions of your workday uninspired and craving to work on something more purposeful to you.

If this sounds like you, you’re not alone.

Sadly, I hear so many stories from people who hate their jobs. But you’re here because you know you’re capable and deserving of more, or at least you’re starting to believe this. 

You just need a little guidance on how to quit your job and start your own business. Well, you came to the right place!

I want to help you walk away from your draining 9-5 and start your entrepreneurial journey. 

Stepping outside of the norm to embark on your own path is scary… I get that! But information is the most powerful cure for fear. So I’m sharing the exact steps to take to build the confidence and financial stability to be able to quit your job – so you can feel fulfilled in your work and life.

How to Know It’s Time to Quit Your Job

Do you dread the thought of going to work in the morning? You snooze your alarm as many times as possible before you finally drag yourself out of bed. You get ready on autopilot – already pining for the moment that you’ll finish work.

Mustering up the motivation to complete your job tasks is like pulling teeth. You manage to check off your to-do’s, but you’re not proud of the work you’ve done.

You daydream about what it would be like to walk into your boss’ office and give your two-week notice. You long for the freedom you’d have if you started that business you’ve been thinking about. Control over your schedule, purposeful work – it sounds like a dream come true.

But since you don’t have a plan in place to quit your job and actually start your business, nothing changes, and your daydreams stay daydreams. You keep working day after day – convincing yourself you don’t have the finances or support you need to take the leap.

Let me stop you right there. I know exactly how you’re feeling because that was me once, too. But life is waaay too short to settle for a job that doesn’t make you happy.

Far too many people convince themselves that it’s okay to hate their jobs because “it’s just a means to an end.” When deep down they want to feel fulfilled at work.

Our work and personal lives are not nearly as separate as we think. When we’re unhappy at work it bleeds into our personal lives – and vice versa.

Having a clear plan is going to give you the confidence that you can quit your job. But the first and most crucial part of this plan is setting up your mindset for success. To change your path in work and life, you need to challenge your existing beliefs about them.

Why Your Mindset Matters

There’s a lot of unknowns when it comes to starting a business. If you’re scared to quit your job and take the plunge, that’s completely normal. 

Your brain is basically programmed to be afraid of the unknown. And fear totally has an important job because it’s trying to protect you. It’s up to you to make sure that fear doesn’t end up with too much power over your life.

When you push past fear and take action outside of your comfort zone, your life will expand and grow to new levels. You’ll be able to create a life and business beyond what you thought was possible. 

The key to overcoming fear is being intentional about your mindset. 

Your existing beliefs and narrative about yourself have a ton of influence on you. But they’re often so subconscious that you don’t realize how they’re holding you back.

Your subconscious beliefs affect your brain through:

  • Confirmation Bias. Your brain focuses on and takes in information that reinforces your existing beliefs. So if you believe you’re not good at something, your brain will look for evidence to support that belief.1
  • Negativity Bias. Your brain tends to focus on the negative possible outcomes instead of the positive. This trait is supposed to protect us, but sometimes it does more harm than good.2

If you don’t push back self-limiting and negative thoughts, they’ll only get stronger, so how can you disrupt this narrative? By implementing a morning routine for overcoming fears and cultivating the confidence for success.

An impactful morning routine incorporates meditation, mindfulness, and affirmations. By visualizing and stating the person you want to be, you can overcome your deepest fears.

It took years for you to form self-limiting beliefs, so mindset work is a continual process! But it’s the number one thing that will propel your success. From building the confidence to start your business – to creating huge success when you do.

5 Steps for Quitting Your Job to Start a Business

Aside from mindset work, there are five main things to think about before you quit your job. When I was working a job I hated, I didn’t have a plan like this in place. This led to me actually getting so fed up that I stormed into work and quit in my pajamas. Yep, that happened.

I want to save you from reaching the quitting-in-your-pj’s level of desperation. These steps will help you quit in an intentional and confident way.

1. Plan Your Finances:

Plan out exactly how much you’ll need to earn monthly to replace or exceed your income. Including health benefits and contributing to your retirement. Then, break this down into how much you need to earn daily to reach your monthly goal. It might be more manageable than you think!

I see so many people getting afraid at this step. You’re used to earning a set paycheck each month, so I get it. Shine a light on your fears and create an actionable plan to work towards, and you’ll feel relieved.

2. Build Your Hype Squad:

Quitting your job can be scary. If you share your doubts with the wrong person they may give you fear-informed advice that sparks even more intense fears and holds you back.

Instead, start surrounding yourself with people who embody the success you’re working towards. These may not be the people closest to you, and that’s okay!

3. Save Money:

How much money should you save before quitting your job? I recommend at least 1-2 months’ worth of money for safety. But what’s most important is to start some aspects of your business on the side while you’re still at your job. This will require a period of hustling and maybe working longer hours. 

I don’t recommend you hustle like this for long – in fact, my goal is to help my students work fewer hours. But building your business skills and confidence while you’re still earning from your current job can set you up for success.

4. Follow Worthy Mentors:

Identify an entrepreneurial mentor that has been or is where you’re trying to go. The path of entrepreneurship isn’t as clear as climbing the ladder at a company – so there’s not always going to be a roadmap for success laid out for you. Hearing the stories of other people that have found success through starting their own businesses gives you guidance.

Start to view this mentor as a beacon in your life. Read their books and listen to their stories. But also give yourself permission to do things a little bit differently. Growing your own business intuition will serve you well.

5. Make an Exit Plan:

Give yourself a set timeline of when you’re going to quit your job. Define how much you need to earn in your side hustle before that date. 

If you’re starting a service-based business, focus on your client acquisition process. Once you know how to bring on clients, you can feel confident leaving your job because you’ll be able to scale your work once you have the time.

It’s time to stop dreaming about becoming your own boss and create a clear, actionable plan to do it. Take the time to shine a light on what you’re afraid of. Creating a solid plan is the best way to address your fears and give you the confidence to quit.

How to Master Your Mindset

Getting ready to quit your job to start your business is such an exciting phase. It’s also super scary! I’ve been in your exact shoes and want you to know you can do this.

You, my friend, are a dynamic and resourceful person. Debunk your fears by researching and creating your plan of action. And don’t skip the mindset work. 

Believing you’re capable of fulfilling your potential is the first step to reaching it. But deconstructing deep-seated beliefs and fears takes intentional work. If you need guidance on how to start, sign up for my course, Master Your Mindset.

Master Your Mindset gives you the applicable tools to change your thought patterns and become the best version of yourself. Uncover emotions that are holding you back without you knowing. Build the confidence to quit your job and succeed beyond your wildest dreams.

Taking the leap into entrepreneurship is one of the scariest things you’ll do – but it’s absolutely the most rewarding. If you need a little support along the way, Master Your Mindset is waiting for you.

Want to Watch Instead?

Watch my Youtube video on how to find the courage to quit your job and become your own boss. Subscribe here for more videos on mastering your entrepreneur mindset, creating your morning routine, and starting your own business!

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About Sarah

I’m an entrepreneur on a mission to help other people become entrepreneurs.
My blog is a place where I provide business building advice and explore how we can create more meaningful work.

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