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Quitting your job success stories?

Original Post
JeffL · · Salt Lake City · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 65

About two years ago I started my career in a specialized field, my bachelor's degree is very specialized and the job is mostly easy. The money is good, but I value my time much more. It's the 40 hours a week thing and fixed schedule that is getting to me.

Has anyone had success with quitting their job, long term? I won't likely have an in back to the industry and I don't want to burn that bridge if dirt bagging and pursuing my dreams of being outdoors loses its allure. I do have a little bit of managerial experience in the outdoor industry on my resume, and I know I can find something to be successful in. It is, however, a scary proposition to just walk away.

I know money doesn't equal happiness, so aside from having no debt and a reliable vehicle, where should I be starting?

Has anyone done this and regretted it? I'd love to be an entrepreneur or own a successful small business, but it seems like i had better have things in motion before I take the plunge. I'm 26 and want to spend my prime skiing and climbing years getting out, instead of slaving away for a dream that isn't mine. I also have parents who'd question my decision and feel that helping put me through school was a waste

Ashort · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 56
JeffL wrote:About two years ago I started my career in a specialized field, my bachelor's degree is very specialized and the job is mostly easy. The money is good, but I value my time much more. It's the 40 hours a week thing and fixed schedule that is getting to me. Has anyone had success with quitting their job, long term? I won't likely have an in back to the industry and I don't want to burn that bridge if dirt bagging and pursuing my dreams of being outdoors loses its allure. I do have a little bit of managerial experience in the outdoor industry on my resume, and I know I can find something to be successful in. It is, however, a scary proposition to just walk away. I know money doesn't equal happiness, so aside from having no debt and a reliable vehicle, where should I be starting? Has anyone done this and regretted it? I'd love to be an entrepreneur or own a successful small business, but it seems like i had better have things in motion before I take the plunge. I'm 26 and want to spend my prime skiing and climbing years getting out, instead of slaving away for a dream that isn't mine. I also have parents who'd question my decision and feel that helping put me through school was a waste
If you think you will work less than 40 hours/week owning your own business/being an entrepreneur you are mistaken.

I got out of my field for almost 2 years. It was slightly difficult to get back in the door, but if you know people in your industry it isn't too hard. Generally my industry looks down on people that take extended time off. Lame, i know.
Patrick Gillespie · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 15

I quit my job to start my own video production company in Denver- also to have more free time, flexibility, work for myself etc. I'd love to spend december in Potrero Chico, etc...

But shit takes time, money and work. It's great, but also super stressful. I had a 2 month canada trip planned for this summer and had to trim it back to around 3 weeks. Just hard to walk away from a business you've started for a huge amount of time.

If you're going to embark on some combination of bumming it and entrepreneurship, I'd plan on bumming first with a big ol' chunk of change to cushion you when you get back as well.

I'd say go for it if you're into it, but I would caution that running your own business - initially at least - is not very conducive to the climbing bum lifestyle unless you strike gold. Hopefully down the line though, the two will work out together!

on a side note, anyone should hit me up if they want professional quality video production or photography...

Duncan · · Seattle · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 220

First what is your dream? Is it specific and measurable? If the answer is yes then write it down, write down the steps you are going to take to achieve it, guess if you must. Is quitting your job one of the necessary steps to achieving your dream? If the answer is yes, then Quit and ignore all the naysayers. Tell your parents you have a plan, don't ask for another dime and go make it happen, they'll be proud. Yes, I'm a parent.

"Getting out more" isn't a dream or a goal, so if that's your motivation I would suggest this: 26, no wife, no kids, ONLY working 40hrs a week? Your problem may not be the job but one of motivation. What are you doing with the other 8hrs/day that aren't for work or sleep? If you think having your own business will give you more time to play, it won't, not for many years anyway.

I'm being a little over the top to make the point but truly' if you have a dream stop wasting time on EVERYTHING else including the job. Yes it will workout, you'll make it work, what choice will you have?

Michael C · · New Jersey · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 340

You're only 26. If your life isn't work and play (or work so you can play) I don't know what else to tell you. These should be the best years of your life. These are the years you establish yourself - in both your career and passions.

Josh Allred · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 161

Quitting your job to be a dirtbag rarely equals success. It has worked for some but not a lot. My success is defined by a lot of HARD work, raising a family, happy marriage, serving God and others all while balancing fun things like climbing. Your going to have to define success yourself not on a MP forum.

Have you thought of alternative careers? Maybe you just arent doing something you love. You could always look at at-risk guiding. 8 days on 6 days off. Plenty of time for trips in that span. Take a week off once every 4-6 months and you could 20 days off. I did it for a while and got it out of my system.

I am sure there are some stories out there but for the most part hard work is associated with success. I just cant imagine the hard work Honnold, Sharma, Caldwell etc put in to get where they are at. It just worries when you say 40 hrs a week and fixed schedule thing but its your life not mine. Hell, look at those Dorias brothers. Local SLC hardmen. Much respect for what they do: Work in Medical field, Family and US Skimo team. You cant tell me they havent had success with having a full time job. Full time jobs are just a small hurdle for climbing.

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

This reads like a "I'd rather be playing than working" post. Unless your job is extremely satisfying, most people would rather be playing.

Don't give up a good job just because you want to have fun instead. Sure, you'll get a lot of people telling you how they never made a better decision than to lead the dirtbag life, but do you really want to scrounge and scrimp all the time?

I worked for many years at a good-paying, semi-interesting, job which allowed me to keep a decent standard of living, to afford regular vacation trips and buy gear whenever I needed it. Far from a dream job, but it kept me self-supporting and not for want.

Many people dream of "I wish I didn't have to work," but most plug away at their jobs because it keeps food on the table (and gear on the rack).

I'd only quit a decent job if I had a better one lined up (or was financially secure enough that I didn't need to work).

Kent Richards · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2009 · Points: 81

[edited to give the full video portrait]

Portrait of a Dogwalker.

vimeo.com/122416858

Ashort · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 56
FrankPS wrote:I'd only quit a decent job if I had a better one lined up (or was financially secure enough that I didn't need to work).
This...

Why not live like a dirtbag, super ass cheap, save the hell outta your salary for a few years, invest, and quit with the financial security to not have to work?
Mia A · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2013 · Points: 65

I was and kind of am in a similar situation as you man.

I'm 28 and when I got my current job at 25 I decided I was just going to work for 3-4 years, pay off debt then quit my job and do the dirtbag lifestyle.

That hasn't happened. Given all of the shit I need to take care of financially, it will never really be a good idea to quit my job, unless I strike gold (fingers crossed).

But like someone already mentioned I started thinking hard about what my actual goals were. One of these goals was to spend some time in Yosemite to do big walls. It has always been something I really wanted to do.

So I've simply done my best at my job and become a valuable asset to the company. A few months ago, I said fuck it, "I'm going to ask for 6 weeks off from work." I just assumed that they would never agree to that. But, to my surprise I was able to negotiate a whole month off. So here I am, 30 days away from doing the trip I thought I would have to quit my job to do. And I will still have a job to come back to. As far as I know, nothing is stopping me from asking for another month next year to go and fulfill another dream (knock on wood).

Personally I think that our generation has the opportunity to make things like taking a month off from work more common. And the more common it becomes, the more companies will expect to have to provide it, like health insurance. Unfortunately, the issue seems to be that people are more willing to sacrifice time for money. Or flood themselves in so much debt that even if they could take a month off they wouldn't because they wouldn't have any extra money.

Can't say that one month is enough time. But hey you got to start somewhere.

Edit:
Thing is, if it was all me I had to worry about, I would definitely quit. Without thinking twice. So if thats you, then by all means man, do it.

Thomas Stryker · · Chatham, NH · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 250

In my case I found that being a weekend climber worked better. More focus, better planning, more money to travel when working. I lived close to a crag and some bouldering and buildering, so could stay fit.

Are you near climbing where you live? That might help. Climbing after work doubles your weekly take.

Edit: looked back and saw you are in Salt Lake...

Hayden · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2007 · Points: 0

I tried to quit my job and go travel. They told me I couldn't quit my job, and that I should just go travel for 6 months and then they would give me my job when I got back. They also ended up paying for my health insurance while I was gone. Its been 6 years since that happened and now I'm back at work, with a wife and kid, but we have a travel budget and are saving for more travel in the future. We'll see how it goes.

Don't let these people scare you, you can travel and make it work. A couple of things to read to help inspire you:

expeditionportal.com/drive-…
amazon.com/Vagabonding-Unco…

The first one especially is important. If you really want to live cheaply, you can, just stop trying to keep up with the Jones'.

You can do it!

Eric and Lucie · · Boulder, CO · Joined Oct 2004 · Points: 140

Lucie and I both worked several years in decent jobs while living very simply (no house, no phones, no fancy cars, no kids, etc), so we were able to save substantial amount of $.

We then quit our jobs and lived on the road for 2 years. We went back to work for 2 years, then quit again for another 2 years.

Going back to work after these extended trips was hard. We're engineers and taking extended time off is generally not accepted/understood too well... but we made it work.

I would do it all again the same way without any hesitation. Life is very short. If outdoor/athletic pursuits are your passion, you'd better find a way to get to them now. Don't wait until you get old... you're 26, you can hope for another 15-20 years of optimal physical performance (unless you have exceptional genes!), and then...

There's no substitute for what we experienced during those 4 years on the road.

cdec · · SLC, UT · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 654

I have a degree in economics from NYU, worked and lived in Manhattan for 9 years. I worked as a broker for two firms, the last Paine Webber. I walked away in 1998 at 27 years old, I was making 6 figures when I quit.

I moved to SLC to ski. I quickly found climbing and kayaking. In 2003 I started a rafting guide service in Moab. I did it on my own, no money from my previous job because I pissed it all away. I used credit cards and worked as a house painter in the off season.
Today we guide rafting, rock and ice climbing, canyoneering and SUP trips.

I quit and it has been an unmitigated success. Best part is I have a look into what my life would be like because I have friends that stayed. Mostly they tread water and visit me once a decade.

Quit and see where it takes you. SLC is filled with people who make their living in the outdoor industry. They own houses, cars and travel just like everyone else. Worst case you end up broke and skiing and climbing which is way F#$%ing better than broke and working in an office.

Results may vary and I am one lucky SOB.

JeffL · · Salt Lake City · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 65

Thanks for all the replies. I do live in slc and get out 3 to 4 times a week, also I take weekend warrior trips to Zion, the creek, red rocks, and city of rocks.

My dream lifestyle isn't quite defined yet, but right now I'm frustrated with the more money more problems side of life.

I found this a while ago
memedroid.com/gallery/1291612
Can't seem to get my phone to just show the meme.

The above definitely isn't what I want, I know that!

As far as keeping the job... The vacation time just isn't enough and unpaid leave is unlikely.

I do have a great analytical mind, I've pursued counting cards in blackjack for a few years and have been successful. The problem is it's time consuming and casinos are not an ideal environment. I'm looking into how to use these skills to play aggressively in the stock market, but that certainly isn't my dream either.

Josh Allred · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 161

I haven't found more money = more problems. Quite the opposite. Could be something in the financial choices you are making. My wife and I work full time at very moderate wages (I work a 2nd job as well) BUT we have a tiny apartment, we share 1 car that is paid off, paid our student loans off WAY early, have a 6 month emergency fund in place in case the shiz hits the fan and now saving for a small home. We live off my paycheck and put hers away in hopes to have a paid off home in around 7 or 8 years. Even with average over 50+ hours a week I still manage to take time off just about anythime I want to, climb/hike/ski 3 times a week. We are delaying the gratification of BIG trips and compromising for smaller one which are still world class (Tetons, City of Rocks, Oray, Red Rocks, Zion, Moab, and even Yosemite).

Quitting a job after finding a new one that you hope will be better is fine. I dont think anyone is arguing that. Quitting a job to become a dirtbag has a lot of risk and it doesnt work out for everyone.

Sounds like you trying to make some big changes in your like. Lots of good advise on here, good luck in what you decide.

keithconn · · LI, NY · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 35

QUIT

If your unsatisfied at 26 your going to be suicidal at 40.

I wish I quit and changed direction earlier than I did but when I did it was the best decision ever.

Good luck.

keithconn · · LI, NY · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 35

QUIT

If your unsatisfied at 26 your going to be suicidal at 40.

I wish I quit and changed direction earlier than I did but when I did it was the best decision ever.

Good luck.

mediocre · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 0

Everyone's responses are going to be a bit different just because fields/jobs are so different.
My .02- I spent my 20's as a ski/climbing bum. I found at a certain point, quantity does not always equal quality. In my 30's with a good paying job that's only going to increase, I will say I'm a little ashamed to say that financial security is pretty damn nice.
One thing to think about is that your later years in life will be a bitch without any financial cushion or healthcare. Obamacare or Nobama care, that shit is pricey.

Phil Lauffen · · Innsbruck, AT · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 3,098

“You risked your life, but what else have you ever risked? Have you risked disapproval? Have you ever risked economic security? Have you ever risked a belief? I see nothing particularly courageous about risking one's life. So you lose it, you go to your hero's heaven and everything is milk and honey 'til the end of time. Right? You get your reward and suffer no earthly consequences. That's not courage. Real courage is risking something that might force you to rethink your thoughts and suffer change and stretch consciousness. Real courage is risking one's clichés.”

Tom Robbins, Another Roadside Attraction

I quit my Engineering job 8 months ago and its the best thing I've ever done. You've got one life. You need to live it how you want so that 50 years from now you don't think "What if...". You can always always always get a job that will tie you back into the comfy consumerism lifestyle of 'Murica. There's something institutional built into the American fear of not being employed.

Most people who reply to this thread are sitting in an office. The guys and gals who are out there don't bother for the obvious reason.

Altered Ego · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 0

Phil,

It would take real courage to quit climbing, your cliché, and expand your own consciousness. How strong is your spiritual practice?

The truth is: you don't have a life, you are life. The One Life, the one consciousness that pervades the entire universe and takes temporary form to experience itself as a stone or blade of grass, as an animal, a person, a star or a galaxy.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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