How To Leave Your Day Job And Launch Your Dream Job
Right now, you might be seriously considering leaving your day job. If so, you’re not alone. Your day job was probably a good thing. It’s just no longer the best thing. It reflects the person you were, not the person you are and the one you’re becoming.
A little while ago I left my day job to launch my dream job. In significant ways, both directly and indirectly, John Maxwell helped equip me for my move. Here’s the quick backstory:
In my day job, I often spoke to the organization. Because of my visible role, I needed to communicate my day job departure to all 1000 members at once. You can imagine the fear I felt.
Forget slipping out the back door. I needed to announce my escape from a stage—literally. The week of my announcement many thoughts went through my head. When I thought about disappointing people I felt panic. But when I thought about pleasing God I felt peace.
The day of the announcement went better than expected. My wife Kelly stood by my side in support. To our surprise, at the conclusion of the news the entire organization cheered and gave us a standing ovation.
(Funny huh? The only standing ovation I ever received in my life came the moment I announced I was leaving.) Joking aside, their genuine appreciation strengthened my confidence in a very emotional moment.
Months before I remember chatting with one of my mentors John Maxwell. I asked him how you know it’s the right time to leave your day job.
From our conversation I drew the following conclusions:
The Right Time to Leave—A good type of restlessness:
1. When you’ve fulfilled your calling.
2. When you’re being pulled toward improvement.
3. When you’re embracing a new assignment.
4. When you’ve reached your potential.
5. When you’ve learned as much as you can from the people around you.
The Wrong Time to Leave—A bad type of restlessness:
1. When you’re bored.
2. When you’re running from improvement.
3. When you’re escaping your current assignment.
4. When you haven’t paid the price.
5. When you think you’re better than the people around you.
John concluded his thoughts by saying something that ripped right through me. He said, “Remember, don’t move anywhere else until you’ve done the best where you are.”
Because I knew I did my best at my day job, I knew my departure was inevitable.
Joining the John Maxwell Team back in 2011 helped me launch my dream job successfully. Not only did I enter a community of like-minded leaders from over 90 countries, but I also felt incredibly resourced and do to this day.
Don’t misunderstand. I believe success takes hard work. And trust me, I put in my time— on a daily basis. What I mean is that the John Maxwell Team over-delivered on its promise. The curriculum, tools, and training blew me away.
As someone who earned a Doctorate in Transformational Leadership from an accredited institution, I can honestly say that the JMT exceeded the value of my degree many times over. Not only has my income significantly increased, but more importantly John Maxwell helped me expand my influence and impact on a global level.
Today in my dream job I write, coach, and speak full-time. I help prepare others who want to leave their day job and launch their own dream job. And for those individuals and organizations already doing their dream job, I help them reach their next level. Life is too short to do anything other than your dream.
About the Author
Kary Oberbrunner is a Featured Writer for the John Maxwell Team Blog. He left his day job to pursue his dream job—Igniting Souls. Through his writing, speaking, and coaching, he helps individuals and organizations clarify who they are, why they are here, and where they should invest their time and energy. The author of several books, Kary also serves as a founding partner on the John Maxwell Team .
He can be contacted at : http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/karyoberbrunner/