Greetings Escapees!
We would like to hear your story of escape. Your escape may be completed, in progress, or contemplated. In 2 – 3 paragraphs please describe what you did before, what you are doing now, and why you are doing it.
Feel free to include plugs about your business, URL, tweeter links, etc. This is shameless self promotion time.
All postings may be used on this site, in future audio/video podcasts, ebooks, or print books. If we use your story beyond the web site, we will check with you first in case you are now a multi-millionaire and no longer want the attention.
If you are doing something that wouldn’t go over well with a G rated audience, we probably won’t use your input, so you may want to save yourself some typing if you fall into this category.
Assuming we pick your story in our featured monthly selection, we will need your shirt size and a mailing address. Hats and other styles of shirt are available if you have a more refined sense of fashion. Or you can just buy one if you need something to motivate you in the mirror.
I’ve been a management consultant for 7 years. I was captivated by the whole atmosphere and (perhaps false) sense of awe that comes from working with some of the biggest dogs in the business world. I liked the variety and the chance to get a glimpse into many different businesses all over the world. Also, having been hired out of my MBA program, I was one of the few guys in my class who made it into an “elite” consultant trainee program…wow, what an ego boost.
About 2 years ago, while doing some research about online marketing strategies for a client, I stumbled into the usual suspects – the “IM Guru” crowd. I was immediately turned off by the hype and seemingly bait-and-switch tactics that they seemed to employ.
In short, they seemed to me to be a bunch of internet savvy used car and vacuum cleaner salesmen.
Eventually I stumbled onto some other online characters who weren’t as repulsive to me as the initial group of folks I met…and then I started to really listen about what they had to say.
I bought some e-books (research material for my project!) and started subscribing to some podcasts…and before I knew what had happened. I realized that I was slowly starting to resent my consulting work – the demanding customers, the even more demanding partners and PM’s, the feeling that I was earning my company a hell of a lot more money than I was seeing and most importantly, that when we finished a customer project and moved on to the greener pastures – that I was ‘t really sure that the customer was better off for our work.
As one IM guru puts it, I was becoming “unemployable”. This came at a strange time, because my career had started to blossom and just last year I was promoted to one step away from partner…every professional consultant’s dream.
This internal dissonance between sticking to the goals of a “past life” and moving towards my new goals had me confused and depressed for many months.
In October of 2008, I gave my 3 months notice and, in doing so, shocked and let a lot of colleagues, friends and bosses. But it was the right thing to do. If your head and heart aren’t in it, you shouldn’t be doing it.
I’ve been a “freelancer” since January of 2009. I was able to acquire a “typical” consulting project for most of 2009 from a previous customer in order to help me generate the finances I need to really plunge into an online business(es) with both feet.
So, currently, I’m doing the same work as before, collecting the complete fee that the customer pays, rather than giving that up to a company and working my butt off to build my first online niche product. My first monitized website goes “live” by the end of February and I’ve got at least 2 other projects to get started after this one is put on autopilot.
I feel really lucky to have a strong and steady source of income while I grow my online businesses, especially in this economy and fully expect to untether myself from management consulting by the end of this year so that I can concentrate on a growing online “empire”
It’s an incredibly freeing feeling, though not without some residual fear. I do have a family to support, but the main thing is I know that one way or another I will make it work for me.
…that’s it. I’m looking forward to hearing about other escapees too!
The Road Less Traveled
For over seven years, I worked in Tuscaloosa, Alabama organizing trade shows for a manufacturing company. While it was a great job when I first started. However, I didn’t think I would stay in Tuscaloosa for so long, but life had gotten in the way. While I learned an incredible wealth of knowledge about sales, marketing and trade shows, the workload had changed drastically, and I was miserable.
When I got married in 2004, we knew that Alabama was not the place that would sustain our family, and we moved to Raleigh, North Carolina. Everyone though we were crazy. After all, I had a full time job with benefits, including health insurance. I remember the day I brought in my resignation. On one hand, I was thrilled at the prospect of stepping out there on our own, and yet there was so much fear to step away from what was familiar.
My husband and I started our own writing business, Cutter’s Word, http://www.cuttersword.com as well as our personal blog, http://www.loverollson.wordpress.com. We have thrived in our work and in our community, and we know that we made the best decision.
Having flexibility during the day has been invaluable, and we work hard to accomplish the goals of our clients with a personal and creative touch. We are living our passion by working with other businesses and organizations in their marketing needs, helping others find their voice, telling stories that affect our community, inspiring others, and we can’t ask for anything more.
For more information or if you have additional questions, please feel free to email me at megan.cutter@gmail.com.
Warm regards,
Megan
I am an escapee – 6 years ago I worked as an ad exec in London commuting two hours every day and wondering why on earth I did it just to pay for my miniscule rental flat. It’s not that I didn’t like my job, I just didn’t want to climb the greasy career ladder and spend my days dealing with backstabbing politics. (And there’s a lot of that in the creative industries!!)
So I switched to Glasgow and started my own business as a virtual assistant. The uplift in property prices enabled me to start my own business and be my own boss. I got the challenge I needed without all the politics. I get to wear jeans to the office everyday, and my office is literally right next door to my house – so no commute. The flexibility that being a VA afforded me means I can literally work from anywhere, all I need is an internet connection. I can honestly say it’s the best job I’ve ever had. For clients, it means they get the dedicated support they need to run their business – without having to hire staff.
For people interested in becoming a VA: http://www.societyofvirtualassistants.co.uk
For clients wanting to use a VA: http://www.virtuallysorted.com
Thanks,
Caroline
Virtually Sorted
The Hexagon Building
674 Pollokshaws Road
Glasgow G41 2QE
Tel: 0141 423 8255
Member of: http://www.societyofvirtualassistants.co.uk
I escaped almost by default!!! I was on the road to entrepreneurship when I was laid off!!! This was a blessing in disguise! In Dec 2006 I realized my dream and I registered for a coaching school in NYC. On Jan 4, 2007 I was laid off and given a package. Basically goodbye and here’s your money! When I got home that night I received the letter of confirmation for my coaching school. Serendipity! I haven’t looked back or joined the 9-5 world again!
Now I’m a certified (hooray!) small business coach. I love to work with up-and coming entrepreneurs, holistic practitioners, and helping professional create and/or expand their business vision and technology. My phone rings off the hook for consultations! Working with my clients is my daily joy.
Call me for a free (yes I said free with me and my expertise) 30 minute complimentary consultation to see if we should begin a coaching relationship!
Have a great week!!
Crystal
Coaching With Crystal
coachingwithcrystal@yahoo.com
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/coachingwithcrystal
http://www.facebook.com/crystal-williamson
I used to work in London City (U.K) in the media and finance sectors as a computer programmer, mostly contracting. I did this for several years but eventually decided to quit the rat race and do my own thing instead. I just wasn’t happy working for someone else.
Since that time, I have never looked back and now have complete freedom to work on the projects that I’m most passionate about. My income now far exceeds anything I used to earn in employment.
My most recent project has been the release of a new science fiction series on the Amazon Kindle (The Morgan Project), now already a best seller!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/books/277490
My advice to anyone wanting to quit the rat race and work for themselves is this…just go for it! Don’t give up, YOU CAN DO THIS!
Dan Nelson
http://www.morganproject.co.uk/about-the-author