CHANGE YOUR THINKING, CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Sorry for the long hiatus. I was bogged down at work (yes! I still have a day job) and just couldn’t find a suitable time to write. Upon reaching home, I have to do housework and take care of my daughter. And most of the time by the time I am done, I am all fours (flat!) on the bed. I know I know, it’s not a good excuse.

Truth is I am only planning to stay employed for at least a year or two so my CV looks good. It is a great way to do the final finale don’t you think? I feel that it’s a waste to give up too early after all these years burning the midnight oils for qualification certs.

As of now, while I am writing this, I am currently drafting my business plans. I just put down all my thoughts and start scribbling away.  I am also in the midst of writing the manuals and designing my new website. Yes! This blog will move to a new website soon and thank you to this one cool developer, Media Group Malaysia. They have been really helpful and they design cool, user friendly websites that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket. I highly recommend their service! You may quote my site for a good discount.

To date, I have 3 - 4 businesses in mind and right now, my plan is to do research (as much as I can!) and see if they are viable or otherwise, while still working on my day job of course!

In my case, this is a good head start. Months ago, right after I started my blog, I was down and have no idea what’s my future direction. It was bad since the department I am attached to is outsourced. And I wasn’t really sure even when I was offered a new job.

Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful for the opportunity, however deep inside me I hate to be chained to the desk and adhere to the 9 to 6pm rules. Basically I have not broken the chains yet. I have 4 teams reporting to me, a tiny but cozy corner office and good pay too. The benefits weren’t that great, but I get to travel (domestically for now) from time to time.

The new company where I am now attached, some of the staff worked for more than 15 years now. One of them joined right after she had completed her form 5 studies. When asked, what are their plans for the next 5 years, most of them can’t think of anything but to stay. Clearly, they are not making any plans or even to look forward to come up with one. They are very comfortable at where they are right now although they dreaded the work.

Company wise, I felt that there are work processes that can be further improvised. But nobody (or rather the top management peeps) wants to do something about it out of being used to the way they do or deal with things for the last 20 years.

There are also other teams who complaints of not having enough manpower to take up some jobs that they ended making poor sales. Truth is I felt that this can be avoided IF they explore the creative part of their brains.

Now, there is no right or wrong being complacent. However, I feel bad for most of them because at the back of my mind, no one is dispensable.

Most people that I know of are afraid of making changes or welcoming changes into their lives. They are worried for so many reasons.

I have YET to join a company that encourages change (for the better!), open to suggestions (and exploring it without ASSUMING the outcome regardless who suggested it!) and challenging the status quo. When I mentioned YET, it makes me wonder further why all the companies I was attached to are so complacent and they seemed to be afraid of making changes, even small ones! How ironic.

To this day, I will always respect one individual (an ex CEO of a company I used to be attached to) who never sees me as a freak (for always suggesting going against status quo!). He encourages me to think out of the box, and even hoped for more ‘Change Agents’ like yours truly (Ahem!) to be part of the company.  The word keeps playing in my head over and over again as a self-reminder of who I really am.

If you are like me, who constantly thinking doing things opposite, that could improve the way we work or deliver, never be afraid to explore that further. Always welcome changes and make that change even if you have no idea how it will turn out to be.  Life is indeed a mystery and nobody knows how we live our lives 20 years from now.

Change is inevitable, instead of avoiding it like a plague, explore it! And with proper plans made ahead before making a certain change, it will definitely amaze you if you allow it to happen. 

WHY ARE YOU STILL NOT SUCCESSFUL?

Photo credit Made In England

Have you ever felt like you’re still running at the same place and still reach nowhere? 

Well, here you go – seven common reasons on why you are still here and not where you wanted to be.

YOU THINK WAY TOO MUCH AND TOO LONG.

Too often we think without acting and then do nothing with our ideas.  I’m sure you can relate to this. 

The only way to conquer your dreams and doubts is with action.  Wondering about them will never get anything done.  Avoiding challenges will only make them snowballed.  If you wait until all conditions are perfect, you will spend the rest of your life waiting and wondering.

Great achievements are made by starting from exactly where you are right now with exactly what you have right now.  Stop wondering and start doing.  Once you have made a little progress, keep going and believe that you can make even more progress as time goes by. 

YOU ARE NOT FOCUSED.

There are just too many interruptions in your mind. Too many mind blocks.

Often, self-imposed constraints, or boundaries, force you to think and view differently about challenges, hoping to be led towards a more practical ideas and innovations.

So instead of thinking ‘outside the box’ and looking in every possible direction, work on issues that needs a resolution, start at a smaller pace where big changes can be made and work your way through it.

YOU FOCUS TOO MUCH ON FEARS AND OF FAILING.

Your problems are really your blessings if you use them to grow stronger.  Never quit just because you feel defeated. 

You have not been beaten yet and this is not a competition.  Keep working to be the best that you can be.  It doesn’t matter how slow you go so as long as you don’t give up easily on yourself. Focus your conscious mind on things that you desire, not your fears and defeats.

YOU OVER EXPECT.

Not everything will work out exactly the way you want it to be. You may hope for the best while working on it but at the same time it’s better to expect less.  Appreciate reality and don’t fight it. Even if it doesn’t work out at all, it’s still worth it. It’s an experience that calls out to improve your approach.

YOU (EASILY) GET DISTRACTED FROM YOUR GOAL.

People might tell you that your dream is impossible, perhaps it’s not. It’s not up to them to make it work but yourself. Though the challenges may be great, you can still make things happen.  The odds may not seem to be in your favor right now, but you definitely can change the odds over time. When you are driven, committed and persistent, you will get yourself there someday.

YOU WANT TO PLAY SAFE

Pain is a pesky part of being human but it’s vitally important. You need real life experiences, and nothing ever becomes real until you experience it firsthand.

So get real, experience life and let it teach you what you need to know to conquer your wildest dreams.

LEARN TO BE GRATEFUL

The key is to be thankful for every experience, be it positive or negative.  It’s taking a step back and say, “Thank you for this lessons.”

WHAT TO DO WHEN PEOPLE DISCOURAGE YOU?

You can identify these people in your lives. Right here, right now. 

And you have heard their remarks and experience their expressions one too many times before. They sap your energy making you feel useless, hopeless.

Allow me to refresh your memory.

“You will never make it…”

“You need lots of money to start a business and with your income I don’t think you can afford it…”

“You quit your job? Do you know how difficult life is without a fixed paycheck?...”

“What’s wrong with having a job? At least it pays you monthly even when you are slacking at work…”

“You must treat your bosses like Gods, they are the reason why you have a job and they are paying you salary to survive…”

“I am afraid to think that you will fail…”

“You are not cut out to be your own boss…not now or ever…”

“You know what? Your dreams suck…I don’t think anyone would buy your stuff / hire you to do the job…”

“This is how it should be, get a job and earn salary…our great grandparents have been doing this for years, so why change?...”

“What if you flop in this business? What if nobody will hire you to work again?...”

“Don’t compare yourself to your successful cousin Joe, he’s successful because his parents can afford it, and you’re not…”

“You are not clever enough, so I don’t think you can excel on this business venture…”

“Leaving your job is like digging your own grave…thing is you die slowly in it…”

These remarks, feedback, comments can continue on and on. Some have subtle message in it. Some is downright cruel.

Whatever it is, you can DO something about it.

Here are some tips on how to duck down whenever you are hit with those words. Please note that some can be pretty crude but hey! It helps to keep these pesky pests away! You will get used to it.

You will notice that there is a lot of “Walking Away” to do here, trust me it’s one of the best way to ignore these people. It’s a straightforward body language that tells these people to just leave you alone. TRY IT! It works for me.

IGNORE AND WALK AWAY

Let them talk, and talk some more. And then when they stop, ask them if they are done. If yes, walk away and don’t say a word.

YOUR PASSION IS YOURS TO KEEP

A lot of people go through the motions in life, not doing what they love. They ended up constantly looking back, asking themselves, “What if I have done that?”

Whether people support you or not, do you really want to look back in regret someday?

Follow your heart instead, and not the words of others just to live up to their expectations and make them happy but yourself.

MAKE A JOKE OUT OF IT

The next time they pass another comment, just look at them and mock them for saying it. And then walk away.

LAUGH AT THEM

Right after they made that annoying comment, laugh at them and then walk away. This action may leave them bewildered.

PROVE TO THEM

Another positive way of dealing with negative comments is to take it in and use it to fuel your spirit. Every time you feel like giving up, replay their comments over & over again and use that to push you to work harder on your dreams. Once you achieve your dream, it’s time for you to sit back and observe the look from their faces.

FEEL NOTHING

Oh yes. Let them talk, talk and talk. And then give them this look like “Duh, what do you mean?...”. Go on, act like an innocent I-Don’t-Know-A-Word-You-Are-Saying. Just don’t let them get to you. 

Don’t let their mean comments belittle you or push you down. Don’t ever allow that to happen. Use a mental visualization that every time they passed comment, squashed them or shoot them over & over again. Note that these people are zombies, they don’t die easily.

So you have a dream, go get it! Your job is not to please these people but to prove to yourself (and them) what you can do!

At times, it can be really hard to swallow all that noise around you.

But life is short.

It may be a little disheartening to have people around you discourage you, but remember that life is short.

Do you really want to spend your time feeling down over others’ words when they’re completely unwarranted, baseless, and probably not making any kind of sense?

Do you really want to pull back on your dream or doing what you want because of others, and start living a life that probably doesn’t fulfill your potential?

People who don’t support you and discourage you may not actually be bad people who intentionally want to destroy your dreams. Sometimes, they just don’t understand why you do what you want to do, so they voice out their concerns, which may make them seem dissenting and annoying.

If anything, since they don’t fully understand, I don’t see why it’s something to be upset over. Sometimes others are just insecure. So when people don’t support what you’re doing, probably it’s about them than it is about you.

It could be plain ignorance or even jealousy, but some people tend to attack things that are new to them. So again, don’t take their words to heart. If their criticism isn’t constructive in any way, they may be discouraging you because of their own fears and insecurities.

NOTE THAT NOBODY CAN PREDICT THE FUTURE.

People who doesn’t support you might paint a gloomy picture of what’s to come if you do proceed to do what you want to do.

You don’t know the future either and nobody does, but do you still want to listen to others instead of believing in yourself? Don’t let objections from others become your truth and limit you from creating what you want in life.

YOU CAN DO THIS WITHOUT THEM.

It’s natural to want support and encouragement from the people around you, especially your loved ones. But it is possible to do what you want to do without their blessings & support.

Just think of how many successful, inspiring people took the road less traveled.

Last but not least, have you been surrounded by naysayers before? People who pass negative comment each time you excitedly share your dreams or plans with them? And how did you deal with them?

Share your experience with me at quitjoblivelife@gmail.com

HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT CHANGE?

Lately, I have been receiving emails from readers asking me how I can actually HELP them.

Questions like, is there a gizmo or solutions that can change their fate from no job to filthy rich? How about sure fire tips that can help one to stay at home forever and don’t work for a day - ever?

Perhaps it is due to desperation that they probably thought I am this fairy godmother that can grant them a miracle solution. Hence, I am sorry to disappoint you that I am as real as you are and I have walked the path that you’re walking now.

Frankly, I don’t offer any miracle works or provide express solutions to anyone who desperately wanted change in their lives. I would have done it for myself first if it works that way right?

What I do know is that, my method has turned me to what I am today. I have allowed myself to be more open and creative. I let myself went through the self-discovery journey and equipped myself with knowledge enough to guide those who really wants to help themselves.

There is really no such thing as fly by night solutions folks.

If you really want CHANGE, then you must help ME to help YOU.

And how can you do that? 

By following my guide and respond to me on timely basis (everyone communicates online these days, how hard can it be?). I want your cooperation and not wait for me to nudge or cheer you. Only with the right attitude and mindset can set you free from whatever issues you are having now.

Each of us are unique, our life story, how we get here from there, our upbringing, etc. While a manual guide can be designed to be universal, the coaching part is different. It is unique. No two persons produce the same result almost instantly. Hence the reason why we (YOU + ME) need to work together to make it work for YOU.

Some are so determined that within a week, they already know what they wanted and how to pursue it without further guidance. Some clueless ones who have no idea where to start and expect external force to push them (while they don’t do much) will see result (or no result at all) much later despite the coaching and guide.

Don’t waste your time or money if you are not ready to help yourself to change. 

I know that some of you have this aching desire to change for a long time. I want you to feel it and allow it to take over your mind completely. Let it fire your spirit. Imagine what would your life be after the change.

So at the end of the day, it’s really up to you. How badly do you want change?

WHY IT'S BETTER TO WORK FOR YOURSELF

I knew that I must plan to quit someday when I couldn’t stand the thought of going to work for another day. 

The crazy traffic jam, unpredictable workload, feeling under appreciated, underpaid, etc.

And when that day comes, I didn’t feel that I would regret quitting, and nothing, not even the idea of promotion or a higher salary could change my mind. 

To me, when the time is right, just quit, and when you do, don’t look back.

So, why is it better working for yourself?

Here are the reasons that I have gathered along the way on why it’s better working for yourself than working for others. 

And I’d love to receive your comments on what is your favourite aspect of working for yourself.

#1. You have no one to blame but yourself. Yes, this is a good thing. Looking for other people to blame is a waste of time. You only have your own self to argue with.

#2. You measure your own progress. You control how far you want to go. Only you know what you need to improve on without having to face harsh and impartial appraisal.

#3. You don’t have to worry about getting a bad boss or back stabbing / political colleagues. That is right! You work at the comfort of your home or in a café reporting to yourself.

#4. Vacation time is unlimited. You can still work during your vacation if you need to, but at the same time you chill out too. In corporate, you’ll need to apply your leave in advance and you are assigned to limited days to take every year. And if you don’t utilize it for a certain period of time, your leave will be burnt (for no carry forward policy company). Plus, you’ll need to ensure if your planned leave doesn’t clash with important projects or your boss’s. How many corporate jobs allow you to take three weeks or more off in a row? Heck, you can even continue to be on leave without justifying why.

#5. You decide when you want to work and when you don’t want to. Period.

#6. You choose which projects to work on first. You don’t have to pursue things you aren’t interested in because you know that following your passions is a better way to succeed.

#7. Anywhere is your office. With internet access, power connection and a phone line, you are good to go. No need to beat the jam just to go to office on time.  

#8. Every day is a casual Friday. Or you can even dress in your old tee and Bermuda while you do your work - in bed.

#9. You can actually be yourself. Hence, there is no need to impress anyone in the office just to get along. Flush office politics down in the loo.

#10. Every bit of effort that you put into your business benefits you directly.  It’s your business, you make more, it is yours to keep.

#11. Schedule & Time Flexibility. No more racing through traffic jams tearing your hair out getting worked up, standing up in a long queue at the train station or setting alarm clock and waking up at ungodly hours in the morning.

#12. Getting fired or laid off will never happen. However, running out of business or clients is possible, but at least you won’t lose your job when you least expect it.  

#13. You don’t have to endure endless, pointless meetings. It is a wonder how anyone can get anything done in companies where you spend few hours a day in meetings upon meetings. Imagine what you can do with all that extra time?

#14. If you get tired of your work surroundings, you can change your scenery any time. Go to a coffee shop, book café or anywhere you want.  A change in scenery can do wonders for your creativity.

#15. You don’t have to feel guilty about doing personal things. Want to leave early to fetch your kids? Want to go shopping and run personal errands? How about working out when you never seems to have time when you are working for others? You work for yourself, so there is no guilt!

#16. With whom you want to work with is up to you. You’re in charge of hiring; you get to select the clients; you get to choose the freelancers and consultants. You can choose people who inspire and motivate you or leave out the jerks or boring people.

#17. Your income is limited only by your creativity and willingness to work.

Working for a company (or for someone else) cannot be compared to the satisfaction and fulfilment that you will experience out of being completely self-sufficient.

Knowing that you are completely and solely responsible for contributing enough value to the world and to earn your keep is one of life’s great rewards.

This is something that you have to experience yourself in order to fully understand.

So what else do you like (or look forward to) about working for yourself? Please share your comment.

If you like this post, I would appreciate it if you can share it with someone who might care or link to it from your own site. 

HOW TO GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Now, quitting your job is not always easy. For most of us, there are bills to pay and responsibilities to fulfill.

This is why most of us feel fear about quitting. What would ever happen to our finances? What should we do next?

Throughout the years we built our comfort zones. We feel safe in it even if we don’t like what we do. We felt confined, restricted but the rewards are ‘good’ enough to get us by. So why complaint right?

Ever since we were young, we have been conditioned to replicate what our forefathers do. We go to school, graduate, get a job, get married, have kids, buy house/car, keep money for rainy day and then grow old/retire.

Before the Prussian era, our ancestor works for themselves, they worked hard to ensure the generations survival. They passed on the business from generations to generations. They manage to build houses, owns acres and acres of lands. Could we even do this now? I doubt our monthly pay is barely enough to have all that.

While it is true that back then currency are controlled (barter system is practiced) but it’s definitely not easy to earn every penny. Lifestyle is straightforwardly simple, unlike now.

Today's lifestyle is very demanding, and in order to survive we must first fulfill our duty as an employee to ensure employers pays our salary. In other words, our survival sake depends on our job. Unfortunately, some does not earn much to be able to afford a comfortable lifestyle. The disparity between the rich and poor is too obvious.

So how do we step out of our comfort zone without compromising our lifestyle & commitments?

Here are some ideas that can help you get out of your comfort zone. Some are ways to make the process easier. Some are ways that you may not have thought of (or have forgotten).

Face your inner fears.

But do it in small baby steps. This is one of the best ways to overcome fears and get out of your comfort zone.

Often, what holds most of us back in our comfort zone is the fear. By taking small steps everyday allows you to stretch your comfort zone slowly making it less uncomfortable and frightening.

To move forward, take some time to identify your fear. Be honest. And then make a plan with some smaller steps that you can take to gradually lessen the discomfort.

Try something you have never tried before.

To gradually move out of your comfort zone, why not do something new? When you choose something new you may choose something that is line with your personality. So your experiences can become limited. Instead, choose something that’s out of character for you.

This will expose your to new experiences, opinions and interests that you never discover before.

Educate yourself with new skills.

Your comfort zone might be ‘protecting’ you from imaginary dangers and maybe things are not as difficult or scary as you have imagined? Why not do a bit of research? Getting some good information can dissipate quite a bit of your fear and nervousness.

Google for more info, read books and blogs or learn from those who have been there before. By doing this not only will lessen the negative feelings but also get some valuable and practical tips.

Immerse yourself with positive memories.

Think back to the previous times when you have broken out of your comfort zone. Focus on the positive memories, when you got out there, when you took that chance. How do you feel? It’s pretty liberating right? To be able to conquer your fears and emerge as a winner.

Most of the time, we automatically playback our negative experiences or negative interpretations of events in our minds every time we plan to do something new.

We forgot about the positive memories and our previous, positive achievements. Why not let the good memories flow through your mind instead and you’ll be amazed to see how things eventually become easier.

Listen to uplifting and motivational music.

Listening to uplifting and motivational songs helps you visualize your goal. Use it to guide your mind and soul. Simply select a particular song that gets you going and each time you feel fear is lurking out of nowhere or get demotivated, play the songs in your head. Feel the beat and lyrics.

Now, finally ask yourself these questions today.

1. What will your life be like in 10 years if you still stay within your comfort zone? What if you instead continually expand its boundaries and challenge the unknown fear?

2. Examine your existing life goals. Will they require you to go outside your comfort zone?

3. Can you do something different (outside your comfort zone) everyday? For example, wear a ridiculous top, say Hi to strangers, buy a drink and give it to someone you don’t know, dye your hair blue etc. Whatever you choose, it can actually help you conquer that fear to do something you have never tried before and this will help you step a little closer to your dream.

JUMPSTART YOUR MOTIVATION NOW!

How do you motivate yourself to push yourself closer to your dream or plan?

There are plenty of ways to get motivated and here are the things that I do to motivate myself.


LISTEN TO INSPIRING MUSIC

I love listening to music. YouTube is a great platform to search more motivational songs. Type 'Inspiring Music or Inspiring Songs' in the search box, chances are you'll get more choices to choose from with just one click, just like this one. You can even share it with friends & families.

WATCH MOTIVATIONAL VIDEOS

Again, I use YouTube to search for Motivational videos. Like the one I have here. You can watch more of them with just one click!

READ ARTICLES ON SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE

You can Google up articles on successful people and read it for free over the internet. Or you may visit the bookstore for autobiographies of successful people. I often read them to motivate myself, because these people were once just like me and you before they became successful.

READ MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES

There are plenty of beautiful, inspiring motivational quotes in the internet. I love them as they can be easily saved into your computer and you can change your computer screen with different quotes everyday to remind you of your dream and objectives every day. You can also print them out and pin it to your office cubicle, fridge or anywhere visible to you.

TALK TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT

One thing about this blog is that I get to mail or talk to people who have been there done that to share their stories on what inspired them to take their leap and how did they do it. Its interesting to learn from each one of them. No two persons have the same experience and tips to achieve success. But one thing for sure, most of them started with a dream/passion and they pushed themselves hard to work for it. They persevered and each time they fail, they get up again only to improvise their approach and strategy to achieve their dream.


READ INSPIRING BLOGS

Yes, though I manage a blog that aims to inspire others to quit their (mundane) job and live their life to the fullest, I do read other people's blogs too. Again, no two persons are alike when it comes to writing and delivering a message. Reading other people's blogs helps motivate me why I am doing what I am currently doing.

TRAVEL TO NEW PLACES AND MEET NEW PEOPLE

Travelling to new places and meeting new people helps you to understand how they live their lives. Its interesting to meet REAL successful people that made their fortunes from scratch. They can be a shop owner, a gallery owner, an holiday inn owner, etc. Its amazing to learn from them on how they made it despite having a rough start.

So, what about you? Why don't you share with me on how do you get yourself motivated?

THE PROS & CONS OF EMPLOYMENT VS SELF EMPLOYED

So you want to quit your job and be self-employed? Or you probably think that working for others is much better than having own business because it is more secure.

But before you decide (or assume) which path to go for, do consider making a list of pros & cons of both options. Here are some of the pros & cons (may not be applicable for some countries, but generally they are the same) for your reference.

Can you think of ANY other pros & cons? Please share with me here!

EMPLOYMENT (The Pros):

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Employer contributes to your EPF (In certain countries, this is a short form for the Employee Provident Fund. It’s an account where the employers’ contributes a certain percentage for its employees’ retirement age purposes).

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Employers apply Insurance to cover your medical & personal accidents (Some company extends this benefit to spouse & children too).

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Free/subsidized trainings for employees to upgrade their skills.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Claimable expenses (work related or medical).

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Paid annual & work trips, accommodation, etc

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Staff benefit card & packages (Some companies offer staff loyalty card for discounts & points collection each time the purchase service/products in any of their subsidiaries)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Benefits are offered, vary from designations & levels.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Salaries are paid on a fixed date, monthly basis.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Employers absorb more costs related to work (office rental, phone bills etc).

EMPLOYMENT (The Cons):

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Employees enjoy less flexibility in terms of managing personal schedule as work is a priority. Leave application is subjected for superiors’ approval.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Employees are expected to be at work on time every day which means you need to leave really early to beat those traffic jams.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Your work is closely supervised, and performances are measured during appraisals. Risk of not being appraised appropriately.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Office politics, bosses playing favorites, back stabbing & lazy colleagues.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü  Remuneration rate/package may not always be fair.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Traffic jam, long hour at work. 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Some may not have career growth opportunity, become stagnant.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Less time spent with loved ones due to hectic work schedule.

SELF EMPLOYED (The Pros):

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->With dedication and commitment, possibility to reap the rewards of your own efforts in the long run.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Unlimited Independence and freedom; enjoy more control over what you do and choose when you want to do it.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->You may opt to work full or part time.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->You set your own hours so you’ll enjoy a better work/life balance.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Improved quality of life and increased job satisfaction

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->No more traffic jams, office politics, unfair appraisals.

SELF EMPLOYED (The Cons):

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->More stress as responsibility as you are responsible for losses as well as profits & your monthly income to sustain lifestyle/commitment.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->You pay your own holidays and medical.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->No one to manage you, keep you on track or provide motivation or moral support.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Less time spent with your family as business commitments may mean you work long hours in the initial part of business (unless you go auto pilot at the later part of the business).

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Isolated from colleagues and customers. Most of the time you are on your own (unless you employ staffs to help you run the business or have the opportunity to mingle with your customers every day).

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü <!--[endif]-->Responsibility to manage your own tax filing & submission with no company pension scheme (EPF).

5 IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO BEFORE TAKING THAT LEAP

We have heard it all before.."...Take the Leap, Do the leap of faith, Go and make that leap…"

It’s a BIG decision to make.

And if it involves quitting your job and be self-employed then there are several things that you MUST do before you take that LEAP.

So, first thing first;

#1 START PLANNING

You want to retire in a year's time? Then start planning already!

When you have decided to leave employment for good, don’t ever think that you will make money instantly and then expect to retire at some island for good. Not without making proper planning.

There are also people who don’t have much money in the bank but still take the leap anyway. They have no idea what is ahead of them and their life motto is to just go with the flow. Eventually some turned out exceptionally well, and some went just barely there.

Well, there’s nothing wrong with doing this if you are single, have less commitment and have some reserves in the bank to fall back to just in case.

Either way, I believe that every successful people (who went ahead anyways) must have done some planning beforehand. I am sure a handful of them still have bills to pay too.

It is always good to make several plans so you’ll have a rough guide (and back up strategy) on making your next move. And always come up with several plans (both pre-plans & back up plans) just in case some plans doesn't work (it can happen to anyone).

#2 SETTING EXPECTATIONS

Setting expectations helps to minimize your emotion in case the leap attempt fail. It’s like a cushion net that safely catch you as you landed.

To manage your emotion, it starts with your MINDSET. Tell your inner self to not over expect and make sure you have a check list to refer to. The check list helps to ensure that you have covered all the basics.

By not over expecting, you can set realistic goal and approach it bit by bit. Even if you don’t achieve the goal, you can always improvise your approach and work from there.

#3 MANAGE YOUR BILLS

If you have recurring bills / monthly commitment, please make sure that you set up a payment standing instruction (with the authorized merchant bank) for at least between 6 months to a year, for all your monthly bills in the event that you are planning to go mobile with your new business.

Standing instructions helps keep your payment regular thus will cover you whenever you are away or too busy to run to the bank.

#4 DO A CHECK LIST

Now this is an IMPORTANT document to refer to when you are planning for your leap attempt. This is the blueprint to ensure that your attempt is successful.

Without preparing this, do not expect to get out of the leap, ALIVE! Okay kidding.

The check list helps you to narrow down the important things to lookout for to ensure you cover all important MUST DO’s before you leave employment to pursue your dream.

For a basic Check list to help you through, please send me an email at quitjoblivelife@gmail.com and I will mail it to you for free. 

You may edit accordingly to suit your situation / preference.

#5 REVIEW CHECK LIST & FOLLOW UPS

Once you have completed your check list, review it at every end of the week and follow up.

Don't forget to set a Target End Date to keep you on track. 

Make changes if necessary and put a remark on why you need to make those changes (self note). 

Make a note on your progress (as brief possible) and revisit the list every day to reinforce your focus.

By the end of your target date and doing all the above, I am confident that your leap will not be just another wasted effort.