Out of office for good: A new beginning and the risk of total failure

It was not a case of ‘I can’t take it anymore’ so much as a quiet whisper to get out, buzzing in my ears.

Today is the first day of a new chapter. I left my full-time, office-based marketing role to work remotely for half  ​the hours and of course, half the money while I try to build something for myself. 

It was definitely not an easy decision. It is a good company – fantastic people, successful, energetic, growing and full of opportunity.

For a travel lover like myself, it was one of the best jobs I could’ve hoped for. They sent me on multiple cruises where I got to see the Norwegian Fjords as well as a little slice of China, Japan and Korea. I also got to take a motorhome trip to the South Island of New Zealand.

For a long time, getting a job that paid me to promote travel was something I only dreamed of. After years of working and saving just enough to get me to my next destination, and then working hard at climbing up the career ladder to get here, it probably doesn’t make sense to leave – at least from the outside looking in. Even as I write this, it’s hard to argue on paper.

But not everything can be explained with sound logic. It was not a case of ‘I can’t take it anymore’ so much as a quiet whisper to get out, buzzing in my ears. And I truly believe that if you go too long without listening to that voice, you turn into someone else. Someone with a little less fire and a little less twinkle in their eyes.

Something was nagging at me inside

I started to feel like I was going through the motions each day, and spending the better part of my days and 40-50 hours a week building someone else’s dream. 

And although, it was definitely bearable and even enjoyable – I knew that my own goals had shifted and were bubbling under the surface, begging to come out. 

A routine of working, saving, then traveling no longer cuts it for me anymore. I know that I have more to offer and I have the drive to do it.

I crave a fuller picture that connects all aspects of my life. I want to wake up full of purpose and excited to begin the day. I want to build something meaningful and be the master of my own domain. If my family or friends need me, I want the choice of being there. I want to choose my own hours. If the sun is out, I want to go and enjoy it. I want my daily life to go beyond sitting in an office chair, staring at a computer screen.

I’ve always wanted to work for myself and I knew that one day, when the time was right, I would. 

And only I can make that happen. My logical head - try as it may – can no longer be allowed to convince my heart to do the safe and sensible thing and cling to a secure job that ticks a lot of boxes.

So what’s next?

A dream to work for myself and offer something to the world that no one else has. At the risk of publicly subjecting myself to absolute and total failure, I’m going to invite you along to be part of this transition from employee to entrepreneur.

I don’t expect it to be tidy or easy. Chances are it will be devastating, embarrassing and supremely difficult. Maybe I’ll look back and regret this decision.

All I know is that for now, I have a hunger for the fabulously unknown, and possibility of the future. It might not look great on paper but it feels great inside.

Author - Meghan Advent 

Meg is one of the co-creators of Travelher and lives and breathes travel. She recently left her full time office role to put more energy into her own projects and has big plans for travel in 2017.