A friend of mine makes $500,000 a year at his job.
He's been telling me he's going to quit since I met him years ago. At one point, he told me, "No point, I'll be gone by the end of the year." Three years have passed since then.
"The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary"
- Nassim Taleb
The subject came up again in a recent chat with my friend.
"Yes, I'm going to quit this year."
I have no hope left at this point. It's not going to happen. It's just a dream. The stupid thing is that his well-paying job has helped him save a lot of money. He can't quit, even though he has a lot of money.
I understand, though. My dream job has been to be a super affiliate digital marketer for years. Everybody at work has heard me say "one more year" since 2014. It's taken me most of my time to finish it.
Let's look into why this happens. You or someone you know has probably also been hit in the face by the "one-more-year plague."
I live an international lifestyle as a global business nomad. Do you want to know how you can achieve that too? CLICK HERE to get instant access to my FREE Digital Pioneer business course!
Don't Be This Sorry Guy
Imagine a middle-aged man who is a little overweight and has been at the same job for too long. He is having an existential crisis and is staring at his work.
"One more year" was something he told himself many times. As a result, he slowly but surely became unhappy, so he spent more to make himself feel better. He's numb and lost.
Getting paid every week is harder to stop than you think. It's hard to leave the security of knowing that the same amount of money will arrive in your bank account every month and cover all of your bills.
Yes, you can save money. That being said, funds can die quickly. Nobody is fooled by a savings account because they know that. When you make more money at work, your living starts to change. All of a sudden, you're not as good with money.
"Parking for $20? "Okay, why not?"
"One more $4 subscription?" "Sure, I can pay for it."
The trouble is that a salary makes you dependent on it over time. As time goes on, your costs rise, making it harder to quit your job and get away from the one more year nightmare. It's harder than it looks to get rid of pleasures from your life. It tells your brain, "Be careful, we're going to fall behind on our bills." "You pay for it with your freedom, creativity, drive, and desire to grow," writes Shivendra Misra.
The job is pretty easy to keep up with without much work. Nothing beats being on your own with your Gmail account and having to make all of your own money.
The doom of Delayed Career Dreams
A wise mentor once helped me understand why delayed career dreams are bad for us.
They [employer] give you just enough money to make it hard to leave. Then you buy a house, get a car, have kids. Then it’s too much risk to leave the job. Next thing you know, you blink, and you’re 60.
We're all getting older. Yesterday was the day when you had the most energy in your work. After all these years, I wish I had quit my job a long time ago. I had the money to quit three years ago, but I stayed in my office chair out of fear and had to do what the "General" told me to do.
What does it mean to have one more year? In a year, will our lives be better? In a year, will we have something we don't have now that will let us quit our jobs? I don't believe that.
It's easier to put off your job goals than to go after them.
A lot of people online make fun of my choice. People call me a "digital nomad" or a "online guru." Since they're not willing to take the plunge themselves, it's easier for them to be critical from afar and say that getting money online is a scam than to follow their dream. It's not a scam to quit your job. It's a scam to stay at a job you hate.
Dreams that are put off are the worst kind of failure. Enjoy the moment.
The Harsh Truth: You Could Be Dead in a Year
Close calls and near misses happen all of the time, and we never know when our time on this earth is up. Global pandemics, violent crime, natural disasters, terminal illnesses, and treacherous wars all pose threats that can cut our lives short.
Tomorrow is NOT guaranteed, today is the day where you have the chance to check goals and ambitions off of your list.
As if cancer wasn't on the rise, many of us go about our jobs as if we were going to live forever. Wake-up calls help you understand what "one more year" really means.
Use Courage and Wisdom, Not Labor, to Make Money
This last quote from Nassim Taleb beautifully explains the answer. Stopping the "one more year" lie from ruining your career and finally living your dream job takes guts.
Tell yourself, "I can always get another job." This will help you deal with your fear. Employers won't turn you down just because you took a chance. If anything, they will respect how brave you were to quit your job and then be brave enough to go back to work.
There was a boss who told me, "Don't worry, if it doesn't work out, I'll always hire you." If this helps you sleep at night, you can ask leaders you've worked with for this loose promise.
Years of work that just checks off a box doesn't make you happy. If you can pull it off, the fun is in taking a chance on yourself. You can try again and again until you get it right.
It all Boils Down to This
Every 9-to-5 worker should quit and feel the fear at least once. Everyone should have a side job, work as a freelancer or worker, or start their own business. Each of these jobs isn't right for everyone, but you'll never know unless you try. And the courage you got from making the choice will boost your confidence.
Don't keep telling that "one more year" lie. There are lots of jobs on LinkedIn. Today, say "yes" to your job goals. There's nothing to lose.
Do you want to know how I became an Internet millionaire in just a few years? CLICK HERE to get instant access to my FREE Digital Pioneer business course!