I won't lie. My day job wasn't the worst thing on earth, but I knew it wasn't for me.
When I first started going to college, I thought I had it all planned out. My plan was to go to college for something business related, make money (yes, I know how bad that sounds), but also not let money rule my life.
However, that all backfired.
I found a great job right after I graduated from undergraduate school. Well, at least, I thought it was great at the time. The job I had was the job that I was aiming for when I first started attending college, so I was happy with that.
But, after I worked that job for a few years and had my hustle growing on the side, it was hard to not realize what I was missing. I had no passion whatsoever for the work that I was doing.
Like I said, my day job wasn't horrible. But, there are many things I don't miss about my old day job:
The work.
I hated the work more than anything else about my day job. The items below don't even compare to the work that I did, but they did give me additional reasons for why I should leave.
I used to work as a financial analyst. I won't say my specific title because there aren't many people with my same position in the St. Louis area and I don't want to call anyone out right here on my blog.
My work was boring, hectic, and stressful all at the same time. I dreaded each day I went into work and I would count down every single second until my workday was over.
My normal day involved me analyzing merger/acquisition papers, partnership and business law, agreements, stocks, portfolios, and so on all day long. I would then have to crank out 50 to 75 page reports at least once a day. There were countless days where I produced 5 or more 50 page reports each day…
I also knew that I didn't see myself there forever. I didn't like the stress of wasting my employer's time when I knew that they could have been out there searching for a replacement.
I left for the benefit of both me and them.
The inflexible workdays.
I know that mostly everyone has to work a set schedule, but working from around 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at a job I did not like was just not for me.
I was only able to enjoy my life on the weekends, and I knew that was something that I could not do for the rest of my life.
This next part applies to both this section and the section before: What I love about what I do now is that I have a flexible schedule. I can schedule my day for when I work best. Even though I couldn't wake up to save my life in the mornings for my old day job, I actually have no problem at all now setting my alarm for 6:30 a.m. and working right at the moment with my online freelancing.
How quiet it was.
In my field, I worked with mostly men who were 50 and older, and I also worked independently for the most part as well. I didn't talk to anyone for the three plus years that I had my analyst job.
This means that I worked 10 hour plus days, 5 days a week, for 3 years where I barely talked. I would come home and would ramble to Wes and my friends about the most random things on earth just because I had no work social life. It became a joke to everyone, but not talking was just not for me.
Anyway, this is Michelle! I have multiple blogs because I LOVE to talk!
The drive to work.
My drive definitely wasn't horrible. It was usually somewhere around 15 minutes to work and 30 minutes (there was always a little bit of traffic on the way home) back home.
However, if there was an accident, I would often spend 3 to 4 hours just trying to get to work, or 3 to 4 hours just trying to get home. It was ridiculous and it happened way too often. This probably happened one time each week where I would get stuck in a ridiculous amount of traffic where I just had one mile left until I arrived to my office.
The limited vacation time.
The amount of vacation time that I received at my day job wasn't bad at all, but it included any sick days, personal leaves, and I had to work like crazy before and after a vacation to make up for the fact that I even went on vacation.
I would plan every single last vacation day and sick day so that I would have enough to last me the year. That was not fun, especially when a funeral, the “anniversary” of my dad's death came along, or something else along those lines happened. All of that had to be budgeted in, and it was usually not enough.
I don't really have full “vacations” now as a self-employed person, but I have flexible workdays and I can bring my work with me to a vacation destination. That was really important to me. Yes, I work 24/7 now, but being location independent is much better for me.
What is your dream job? Do you enjoy your current job? Why or why not?
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I absolutely love what I do! I’m like you, I worked hard to build a career and achieved the goal. However, not being able to plan my day around my needs, make what I deserved to make, or do things I wanted to do all bothered me at some point. Eventually, January 1st of this year, I was finally able to quit my job. I love my new career as an internet entrepreneur! There are so many advantages!
Congrats on quitting your job! Yes, being an internet entrepreneur is pretty awesome 🙂
My job is pretty close to my dream job… it’s pretty ridiculous. My partner and I both work from home, so we get a lot of extra time together, it’s pretty cool.
I used to really dislike the commute to work when I was working. I also found that a LOT of the working week is really unproductive… often being made to look busy for the sake of looking busy. YAWN!
Glad that you are doing something that makes you happy! 🙂
I left behind my dream job two years ago so that my husband could pursue his career across the country. My old job had it all – excitement, responsibility, challenge. We had fairly flexible hours (love) and I got paid very decently. My job now is “ok”. Nothing to leap out of bed for, but we must leap out of bed because now we have a long commute and inflexible hours 🙁
May I ask what your dream job was? Do you plan on going after something like that again?
I worked at NASA’s mission control. We’d have to move back to Houston and we really didn’t like the area for raising kids. So, I miss the job, not the area, and the kids are my priority now anyway!
Sounds like you made a good decision then 🙂
Vacation time is the big draw back to the job I work now. I love the people I work with, and my work is actually pretty flexible about me taking time off unpaid. However, I would just love to be able to not have to worry about that and be able to just go without asking any questions.
Yes, vacation time is big for me. I am glad that I can do what works best for me now.
I love my job in education because every day is difference. That’s not to say it’s not hard; some days are so draining, both emotionally and physically speaking. I’d love to be my own boss and be self employed and hopefully one day I will be, but I’m not sure what I would do, yet. I’d love to be able to take holidays when I want, not to be dictated by the school terms, but for now, I’ll have to live with that 🙂
Hope you reach that point one day 🙂 Glad you love your job in education as well.
My dream job is one I can do from home, preferably something that’s related to health & fitness, investing and writing. In fantasy land I’d love to be a novelist, though that would involve actually finishing a novel and allowing someone to read it. I’m on maternity leave for a few more months and am not looking forward to going back to a 9-5 office job with a daily 3 hour commute because it’ll mean missing out on precious time with my son. Hopefully I can get something going before the end of maternity leave so I won’t have to go back to the office, at least not full time.
I hope you figure something out so that you don’t have to go back to the office full-time 🙂 I think a novel would be fun!
My job is similar to yours, Michelle, and I’m working to change it up. The job itself isn’t especially painful or difficult, but the time investment, the driving, the inflexibility… it adds up after 11 years there!
What are you doing to change it up? 🙂
That’s a fair question. 🙂 I’ve taken on some part-time consulting work and I’m doing some WordPress website construction for a friend of mine who is a marketing consultant. If everything works out I hope to exit the full-time arena early next year, after our mortgage is paid off.
Wow that’s awesome. Early next year is soon 🙂 Good luck!
I do not miss my old job either and the biggest thing is “getting ready for work.” It takes me a while to shower and get ready and then get to work and in that time now, I can just put on a pair of yoga pants and get super productive in my desk that is 5 feet from my bed. I love having my own schedule, but I love working in yoga pants more than anything else.
Yes, those are all great positives! It’s nice being able to save so much time and being able to just get straight to work.
I am REALLY envious of the fact that you got to work independently at your last job! Seriously sounds like an ideal job to me, minus the fact that you had to crank out huge reports day after day. For me the commute and not being able to work from home is definitely a negative. Additionally I really like the idea of having equity in something that could turn into a multi-million dollar business (i.e. startups). I will eventually pursue a startup and I’m vetting ideas right now to see which to pursue, most likely with my friend who is a programmer (having a programmer/architect would be HUGE, well worth giving up 50% equity). Anyway owning a startup that grows quickly that I could sell or turn public would be my dream job, and I’d say I’m pursuing it, but in a very smart, calculated way.
Haha working independently was not fun at all, not sure why you’re envious!
Good luck with your startup, I’m sure you will think of something great 🙂
Wow – that traffic must’ve been SO frustrating!! Even once a week to have to spend that amount of time in the car. I’ve been home now for nearly 11 years, and I’m always amazed when I have to go out during rush hour at the amount of cars on the road.
Yes, I’m still amazed when I have to go drive somewhere and I hit traffic, it stinks!
With all that said, I don’t blame you for leaving your day job. I don’t even know how you had the energy to work on your blog after you got home after that! Sounds like all around it was the right decision for you!
Thank you Tonya!
I really don’t mind my current job. I’m looking for another position because I want to earn more money, but the work itself is not bad. I work in a lab doing chemistry, the pay is decent, I get a lot of free time to blog (I mean work, cough cough) and I live 10 minutes away. I still have to show up everyday 9-5 (actually as long as I work 8 hours, I can show up anytime).
My goal is to not have to work, but I can’t really say it’s because of my current job. I’m just lazy and much rather work from home and wake up whenever I want.
That’s good that the work you do isn’t bad. Chemistry sounds like fun!
Ok, so I have a post running next week on things I don’t miss about being in an office. Looks like I get to back that up two months now. 😉 Seriously though, good post. I can relate to a couple of these things…mainly the inflexible work days and limited vacation schedule. I didn’t necessarily hate what I was doing, but the stress level was just too crazy for what I was being paid.
Hahaha thanks John for making fun of me! 🙂
Not a problem, lol. It’s running on Monday actually. I think I better link back to you so people don’t think I’m copying you. 🙂
Haha you are just a big copier John! Don’t lie 😛
Yep, I’ve been caught! I guess it’s time to change my ways. 😉
Oh Michelle, I can relate to all of this! I don’t miss dealing with people or trying to squeeze a real life into my vacation days. Being self-employed isn’t perfect either, but it’s an improvement.
Yes, being self-employed definitely isn’t perfect, and it’s not for everyone. For me, I love it though 🙂
The biggest benefit to me is the flexibility. Hands down, this is the best part. I hated having to be in an office from 8-5 every day, even if I got my work done or not.
Now, I choose when I work. Sure I still work – 7 to 5, but if I’m not feeling it in the morning, I can do other things and pick up later in the day. I’ve found that a few times, I run out to play 9 holes of golf or go to the gym and I get inspired or think of a different way to approach a post or problem. I then run home, excited to get to work.
Lastly, being home is great in terms of housework. Now when something happens and a repair man is needed, I am home all day. No more taking a half day at work or going in late/staying late, etc. This benefits both my wife and me.
Yes, flexibility is a huge positive!
It sounds like you made the right choice for you! I’m contemplating finding different employment for now, but it probably still won’t be something that I want to do forever. Ultimately, I’d like to find something I’m passionate about rather than something that pays the bills.
What do you think your passionate about?
I’ve never worked in a traditional job setting, but I almost envy the structure of it sometimes. Knowing when you have free time or vacation time. I guess the grass is always greener 🙂
Yeah, that is one positive – you can actually leave work and not have to work anymore.
That sounds so fabulous! I really like my job for the most part, but I do wish it had a bit more flexibility. I would love a work from home option just one or two days a week since it would really help me get things done around the house (like a load of laundry or putting the dishes away). But other than that, the benefits are too good, the pay is great, and I have a pretty decent work social life 🙂
Sounds like your day job has a lot of positives! 🙂
I can really relate to this post. I also had a job I loved, until I left. I then realised I didn’t love it as much as I thought!
I’ve made it one of my favourite posts of the week – http://skintdad.co.uk/2014/07/top-five-posts-around-web-03/
– Ricky
Thanks Ricky!
Being self-employed has some drawbacks but I’ll take it any day over having to commute to work! I don’t regret making the switch. Being able to work from wherever is a huge plus and the income potential is much higher. I enjoy what I do as work and now that I am also doing some freelance writing, I find that my days and evenings are all the more interesting!
Yes, I would never go back! 🙂
Life in the real world is not always as great as it seems when you are trying to get through school. I’ll probably never quit what I do but I also will not go back to 10 hours a day every week day. So many people have no clue that it is possible to live outside the box. I’m glad you are enjoying your life more now.
Thank you Kim!
That’s great you did something about your so-so career satisfaction. Far too many people (could just be 1 for that matter) just stick with a job because it’s a steady paycheck.
I imagine I would love being self-employed. For one, I work best early in the AM and late in the PM. Afternoons are useless for me.
Thank you Will!
15 minutes commute to work is great but 3-4 hours is horrible. And the fact that was even a possibility must have made you a bit apprehensive in the morning. I commute via train to/from work and it usually takes 35-45 minutes one way, but if theres an accident or a train breakdown it can take over an hour. Definitely not a good end to the day, and I envy the location independence you have with your online income
Yes, the 3-4 hours happened way too often and it was stressful because I knew it was very hard for my bosses to believe (they all lived in a different direction from me and never experienced that).
I actually really enjoy my job (software engineering)… but that’s part of the reason I want to become Financially Independent. I know what it’s like to work a job I _don’t_ like and I’m not keen to be forced into that situation if my current fun employment opportunity ceased.
It’s also very true that much of the reason I like my current job so much is my coworkers. If one or two of them decided to move on, it wouldn’t be near as nice a place to work. Thus me wanted to be prepared if that ever was to happen.
That commute would really bother me! I’ve got a 10 minute bike ride which is usually pretty nice, as long as it isn’t pouring down rain or snowing!
A 10 minute bike ride sounds wonderful! Glad you enjoy your job 🙂
I have been living my dream job, working as a photographer, for the last 20 years. Alas, technology and changes in the market place have made that impossible to do now. So, I’m going back to my MBA roots and looking for a job as a Financial Analyst now. It is not something that I want to do, but somehow I must eat! Anyone have any other suggestions?
I’m sorry Brad. I hope it works out well for you! 🙂
Awesome! I disliked the meetings, the stress, the commute, the crappy cubicles, and pretty much everything about my old job. I’m really glad I’m where I am now. Life is good. Sounds like you made the right move. 🙂
Thanks Joe! Sounds like you made the right move too 🙂
Hi Michelle,
With this post of yours, I think you’re speaking the minds of many. Many are still stacked in there with little or no option.
I happen to love my current job so I have a hard time fathoming not wanting to go to it everyday. I understand how lucky I am and how I am the exception to the rule in most situations. However, I would like my income to come from more various sources and not just my day job. I work in the non-profit sector and you never know as far as funding goes. My position is secure for at least two more years and then I’ll be done with my bachelors so I’ll have more opportunities.
I’m so happy that you love your job Athena. Sounds like you are in a great spot!
I recently quit my job that I have been at for two years for another job, which just so happens to be temporary. I think they’ll probably either extend the term or make it permanent, but if not it might give me a good chance to make it on my own for awhile while I look for something else. I like my job , but there are aspects about it I don’t love. Vacation time (more more more!) is always needed.
Yes, I’m all about vacation time! 🙂
Oh Michelle, you almost made me tear up reading this post! How did you perfectly (almost) describe my current job??? I thought I was the only one who had a boring, stressful, and hectic job all at once. NO ONE understands this! Thank you so much for putting into words what I couldn’t. Btw, I basically do what you did (ish, with some difference, but I can’t get into them).
My job isn’t quite as bad as yours, because I do have a lot of human interaction (which really does help!) but I really hope to get to a point where you are one day. The one thing I’m scared about is I make a -lot- of money at my job right now, and my family is worried my job earning potential with the job I have now is better than anything I could do freelancing. So… that weighs on my mind a lot! But thank you for this post. It shows me freelancing is (maybe hopefully) possible 🙂
Thank you Melissa for understanding where I am coming form! So many people do not understand that a job could be boring, stressful and hectic all at once.
Yes, the money thing was hard for me to leave as well. I had a really high salary potential at that job, but it just wasn’t worth it for me.
So many happy people here! I must be the only person here who *doesn’t* like their job! But then again my job sucks for all the reasons you mention above and a whole lot more. Seriously.
So the question is really why I’m still there. And the simple answer is “the money”. I don’t plan to be around long – maybe till spring next year at the latest – but right now I’m sticking with it, swallowing my pride, giving up my social life and banking the money to create a nestegg that I hope will launch me into the next phase of my life next year.
So yes – I hate my job. But I’m sticking with it short term and with an ultimate plan. In other words it’s a means to an end right now.
Nothing wrong with being in it for the money, as long as you are making a conscious choice that you’re trading your short term happiness for a long term goal.
My one bit of advice is to be careful of getting pigeon-holed as being an expert in doing this job you don’t like. Sometimes it can be painful to make a switch to something different, and easy to fall back into doing more of what you don’t like just because it’s easier / better paying.
I actually really like the company I work for, but my work is tedious and I only get to enjoy my weekends. I wish weekends were longer or I wish I still had a summer/winter break like we did back in my college days! Oh, and don’t get me started on my commute!
See I would have loved not having to talk all day hehe. I loved my coworkers who I shared an office with but not the overarching politics.