By Danielle J. Davis

Updated January 14, 2022

5 minute read

Yesterday, I completed my first month as a FREE woman – FREE to travel anywhere, FREE to walk my dog for lunch, FREE to visit a swanky coffee shop, just FREE to BE. Freedom for me was leaving a 9-5 and working 100% remote for an amazing company while working on my business, The Financial Freedom Educator. If you are looking for a change in your career, then you are not alone. A new Gallup analysis finds that 74% of the world’s working population is actively job-searching or watching for opportunities. I was no exception. As a woman of color who was driven by the successes of her career and what others deemed to be important, change was not a want; it was a need for me – as strong as the need to breathe. I am not going to lie, after 10 years of being in higher education, I would have never imagined leaving the field, but it was time. It was time to choose me, it was time to put my mental health first, it was time to realize my value and my worth, and it was time to reclaim my time. After the extreme depression and anxiety, and after feeling sorry for myself, I decided something had to and needed to change. 

Unfortunately, many of my colleagues in education feel the same way but see no way out of their situations – they feel stuck in the grind of life and work paycheck to paycheck for little-to-nothing. It’s not easy, but I am here to tell you and show you: IT IS POSSIBLE!

I created a game plan to get my freedom papers and you can, too!

1) Don’t talk about it anymore, be about it!

It’s just that simple. Make a decision. Talking to your close friends and family about your situation at work and how it affects the rest of your life is great and all but after a while, you’ll get tired of talking about it. Enough is enough! You have to decide what you want your next move to be; is it another job in your field of expertise, is it a career switch or is it full–time entrepreneurship? If you want a change, you have to make up your mind first, and the rest will follow. If it isn’t just you being affected by this decision, talk to your partner or whoever it is you need to consult. Then pick your D-Date. This is the date you decide to choose you. I chose my date and was able to achieve freedom an entire month earlier!

2) Create an FU fund!

You read it right! The feeling of saying FU to something is – well, it’s satisfying – especially when it’s the job you hate, the relationship you feel stuck in, the unfulfilled dreams you still have. If you want a change, you will most likely need money to start.

Create a savings account that is separate from your checking account so you are not tempted to spend it when you see it grow. To be safe, I suggest at least 3 months of expenses saved in this fund. It’s better to use the just-in-case stash than to use your retirement or credit cards to pay your bills. If you never need it, you will have a nice chunk of change for retirement, down-payment on a house, or a great vacation to *cough cough* Greece!

3) Make a plan!

Benjamin Franklin said “if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail'' and it rings true. While I know you want or even need to change your circumstances – like yesterday – you still need an exit plan. Not that it is impossible to thrive if you leave with no plan, but it’s less stressful and a smaller headache if you have one. It should include an idea of how long you’re going to stay and what you should do while you’re currently working to make yourself more marketable for the next move in your career (e.g., more training, creating a website for your business, hiring a coach, working on your resume, etc.). Your plan should also include ways to focus on creating a positive outlook like picking up a new hobby, finding a counselor, creating a workout routine, or being more intentional in connecting with friends and family. I booked speaking engagements for my business. I began to crochet again. I read more books and ensured I met up with friends or family at least once a month. I also bought a Peloton to work on my physical health :) 

4)  Find a support system!

With such a major shift in your life, you really do need a support system. You will need people who will lift you up after you hear “no” for the 100th time or someone to make you laugh when you don’t make it to the 3rd round of interviews  – again – or even someone who lets you know you aren’t crazy for quitting your job to pursue your own dreams full-time. I understand that not everyone has family or friends to support them, so find your tribe on social media. There are many amazing groups on Facebook and people on Instagram who are willing to support you, so don’t be afraid to share your story. Also, be warned that not everyone will understand your issues at work. You’re a millennial and the boomer generation – like your parents or grandparents – may not understand why you are leaving a good job with benefits and good pay. You have to remember that no one lives in your shoes. You’re the one going to a job that affects you mentally, physically, and emotionally. I am grateful for my tribe of amazing family and friends and for the groups on Facebook who have and continue to keep me sane during the hard times. The journey is much easier when you have people to keep you company. 

These 4 steps have allowed me to find my voice and to gain the freedom I didn’t even realize that I had needed. After a month of freedom, it is everything I’ve dreamed of and more. This change has been like exhaling after being underwater for what felt like hours. The air just feels different here on this side of freedom. While everything still isn’t unicorns and rainbows, these steps are what I needed at that moment in my life. You, too, can achieve freedom!

Please don’t give up on yourself and your needs. You are worthy of it all. 

Your Supporter in the Fight!

Jeremiah 29:11