When do you know when to quit your day job?

[liztronica]

Hello All,
I'm pretty new at posting here, but I would like to know how one knows when to quit their day job and teach full time?
I know this question has probably been posed before. I've been very successful in running a yoga class at my job during lunch hour once a week. So many people say, "you need to launch this elsewhere?" "come to my work", etc. the fact that I work 9-5 doesn't help the matter at all. A friend of mine said you may be out of work for a couple weeks but I know you could get a lot of clients. I have lots of friends who work in office settings so what am I doing??!!
I know it's fear......

[ishtahar]

OK well, I have been working full time and teaching for two years now. I have bills to pay and financial responsibilities so I had to be sure of the money coming in. I started off teaching two evening classes a week. Then I had a private client on a Monday night, and recently it has grown into a third evening class. So I now teach Monday Tuesday and Wednesday night as well as working 9-5 Monday to Friday. I recently made the decision to quit work, and I leave on Thursday!

Now I made this decision (a) because my health was starting to suffer (b) because something political happened at work that I didn't agree with and (c) these two things combined made me realise the time had come.

So my advice? Try starting up and evening class and see if you can maybe get a private client or two before you think about quitting work. You'll just know when the time is right.

Don't get me wrong I'm still scared and I'm open to the fact I'll have to do some temp work some months, but there will just be a time when the need to leave will overpower the fear and that is when the time is right.

Don't push it, don't leave before the right time and don't try and speed things into happening that aren't ready to happen if that makes sense?

I wish you all the best and lots and lots of clients

[Christine]

The story is a familiar one. I also struggle with the idea of breaking ties with the "day job" and following the dream of teaching full time. The problem for me is that the day job pays really well. I am the family breadwinner, I hold the health and disability insurance, I have the 401k with matching, profit sharing, the works.

Plus... I don't really hate my job. I'm well respected, get lots of recognition for it... since I've been at it 20 years, I do it rather well and mostly in my sleep. But since my physical presence is required there, my opportunities for teaching yoga are diminished.

I teach classes most week-nights after working a ten hour day. Then I fit in a private client on my day off. I spend one day a week caring for an aging parent, and try the rest of the time to "make nice" to my far too patient husband for holding the home front together in my absence. He encourages me to keep up with my own practice, and to teach whenever and wherever I can. He also doesn't mind when I nip off to Kripalu, or Omega for a week of training. Which considering the money and the time, we could go off to Jamaica together.

I must admit, sometimes I just get tired and wish I could go home at night and watch Dancing with the Stars like everyone else I know. (I've never seen it but it's ALL they talk about at work) But I love to teach so much that I feel compelled to do so whenever I am afforded the opportunity.

How do you break away from the Golden Handcuffs? At 40 years old, it is my dream to be able to retire early with enough money to teach yoga into my nineties. Teaching full-time has been moved to the realm of "Fantasy Retirement Job." Doing it now seems on par with winning the lottery.

[Kiwiyogini]

Hi Christine
You are a talented person. If you can work your 'day job' for 20 years! and teach yoga and have a relationship.... I'm impressed.

A big hug to you and your effort to live your life. I can relate to your position. I only want to say...

If you think its a fantasy retirement job (teaching yoga full-time) then it will be...

You give so much... you will receive... its how it is...

You inspire me to keep going with my projects!

[Christine]

It is only by the good fortune of having such a good husband that I am able to do what I do. He is truly the most patient and sweet person in the world; and he picks up far more than his share of the household burden so that I can do my thing.

Occaisionally he does refer to me as the "White Tornado" and says that being with me is like living in the tail of a comet. When that happens I know it's time to hang out at home more!

I'll try to take your advice and not project my dreams so far into the distant future!

[layla17]

Great thoughts everyone. I've been struggling with this problem of late too. It's hard to completely change my lifestyle upside down and quit my day job. The financial security that it brings makes things much easier.