I guess you could say I’ve been a product of “preparation meets opportunity”. At 19 I joined the Army. When I got out of the service at 22 I took big risks in the way of buying a coffee shop, worked as a Licensed Massage Therapist and bought my first house (as a divorced single mom). It wasn’t long after I bought my coffee shop that I knew I couldn’t do that forever and expect a retirement income or health benefits, so I sold my shop and onto my 11+ year Federal career I went.
And. Here. I. Am.
37 and unhappy.
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The money is good. The benefits better. Nevertheless, I’m not happy. My work life is the epitome of a hamster wheel. Every day I wake up exhausted; dreading the perpetual fact that I have to do work that goes against every personal value and principles I have. While my kids are enjoying school breaks away from me I’m stuck in front of a computer looking for bad guys (it’s what I do), and when the sun is shining, I’m stuck in a dark office eyeballing the clock. Day in. Day out.
Every pointless meeting is painfully atrocious (thank Goodness I’m a remote employee on the phone because my eyes roll so far back they might get stuck), management works harder-not smarter, sadly, there is no room for innovation and working with people who lack integrity has pinched my last nerve. Bureaucracy was never for me.
It was in 2016 that I finally reached my boiling point. The “point of no return”, as some would call it. It’s the year I made a steadfast promise to myself that I would live this short life HAPPY and doing what I LOVE (blogging for income).
If that meant quitting my high paying Federal career, I was determined to do it.
I’m sure you’ve heard that “money doesn’t buy happiness”; it’s true, to a point. Money does buy freedom, though. The freedom that has allowed our family to create great memories (camping, motorhoming, vacationing, etc.), but at the end of the day I loathe being trapped to my desk job as a way to provide these memories to my babies, and, what good is money for a vacation if you have limited vacation time to take? Getting 3 weeks of paid vacation isn’t cutting it.
I knew there had to be another way. I knew there had to be a way to create an income source while STILL BEING HAPPY and doing WHAT I LOVE! Others have found ways!
What I really want to do is waitress in a laid back “ma & pa” type breakfast joint; I’ve told my husband this countless times. When I was a teenager I worked in a small pastry shop north of Seattle and it was my favorite job. There is something so exhilarating about mingling with regulars, hearing about other’s kids and grand babies, and flashing a smile that gets reciprocated every 3 minutes. As silly as it sounds it just seems like something that would make me happy! Problem is, waitressing doesn’t pay the mortgage, and won’t bring in the income I need to support my kids or help them through college. And, I’m not giving up weekends with my family; that’s a sacrifice I’m not willing to make at this point in my life while my kids are still young.
Aside from waitressing I love to write, I love to share stories and I love to travel. Knowing this about myself, I knew there had to be a way to create my own entrepreneurial success that supported my family while doing things I love. I knew there had to be something that gave me the freedom to wake up every day excited for “work”. That’s exactly how Serena on the Go was born. It was a relentless internal drive to quit my miserable, high paying job to do what I love and what makes me HAPPY!
Like traveling and blogging….EVERYONE deserves to be happy.
Am I going to be taking a huge risk? Hell yes! It’s a crazy risk, some would say insane. It’s leaving complete job security, benefits, and a respectable retirement pension for a better life.
Taking a risk to have daily happiness seems perfectly worth it to me.
This blog is in its infancy so I (unfortunately) cannot quit anytime soon in the foreseeable future; but mark my word that I will quit as soon as my income is replaceable. Stay tuned, friends!
Life is short. Are you HAPPY? What makes you HAPPY?
Choose Happy,
-Serena
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I am so excited for you! Congratulations and best of luck on your new adventure. You’re going to kill it!
Julie, it’s bloggers like you that inspire me! I can’t wait to go through every page you’ve posted 🙂
-Serena
Good for you girl! We can do anything we want. Take extra time out of the day to build the thing you love. Make it a priority and a way if life.
YES!! Thanks Matthew!
-Serena
Seems worth it to me too! You go girl! So inspiring!
Thanks Dee! I LOVE your enthusiasm!!
-Serena
I can totally relate to the dark office complaint. I’m an interpreter at a major international institution and as much as I love my interpreting job, the dark booths are killing me. I’m also an endometriosis spoonie (someone with chronic illness – and I blog about it), and guess what!? Sitting in the dark all day isn’t healhty.
Wish you all the luck in the world in your new journey!
Thank you, Emma! Dark offices have no room in this world 🙂
-Serena
Such a courageous choice to make. I did the same thing almost two years ago, when I left my well paid banking job for whatever it was I was going to do next (I had no clue). But like you, I was not happy in my job and life’s just too short. At the moment, I’m working as a freelance (copy)writer, the money is not the same at all, but I haven’t regretted my choice for one second! Good luck on your adventure!
Gah, Neelie, I love hearing this! See, it is possible! I’m heading your way to check out your blog!
-Serena
I dislike my day job quite a bit, but I’m not as adventurous and risk-taking as you are. I wish I was though…
Hi Robin! I LOVE your blog, I can’t wait to spend more time on it! I’m definitely a risk taker 😉
-Serena
Good luck with your venture.
Thank you Chloe!
-Serena
I’m so excited for you! My goal is to make enough of an income from my blog to cover our household expenses and be able to travel a lot! Sadly, my blog is also in its infancy, so it will take some time. Good luck to you!
Thank you! I’m excited for you as well! I’m only 1 week in…..are you newer?
-Serena
Hi Serena, thanks for sharing this!! I’m about to graduate from college and I am terrified to go into a job I hate.. you remind me a lot of me actually. I was at an internship I hated but I ended up quitting it even though it would’ve paid well—now with no full time offers. You are so right: Money can’t buy happiness. Thanks for being so relatable.
Thank you Lindsay! Congrats on almost being done with college! Never forget to think outside the box; some of the best careers are ones most college grads don’t think of 🙂
-Serena
THIS. This is what I want. I want to quit my high stress job in advertising, where I have people talking to me like I’m an idiot (clients and coworkers alike), despite my years of experience and knowledge. I’d like to make money on my blog and be able to sell my art. My shorter term goal is to get an Etsy shop up and running in the next 18 months. Long term, leave advertising and do what I LOVE. Here’s to reaching goals!
YES CARRIE!!!! Do it!!!!
-Serena
Congratulations! What an exciting endeavor!
Thanks Amy!
-Serena
I wish you the best of luck. I do not work for the government but I do have great benefits at my job and have also told my husband I want a more mindless job. Hopefully we will both see our dream of quitting the jobs that we dread.
Thank you Brandy!
-Serena
Love love love!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you 🙂
-Serena
Good for you! You should do what makes you happy!
Thank you!
-Serena
Do what you love. Life is extremely short. When you die, it is not going to matter how much money you made. Be happy, make enough to support yourself but if it means cutting back on spending habits or living in a smaller home it is worth it if you are full of peace and joy.
Thank you Lisa! It really is true; life is so short. Thanks for your support!
-Serena
I feel like we have similar ideas of what makes us happy. I know for me personally, I just want to do bike messenger deliveries and write. Hoping one day I can make that type of move because I am tired sitting at an office all day!
Yes! Do it! I’m cheering for you!
-Serena
I’m here cheering you on! You’re offering a great resource. And I’m sure you’re going to be hugely successful and will meet your goal of quitting your job far sooner than you imagine. 🙂
Thank you! I love having cheerleaders 🙂
-Serena
This is awesome! Congrats! I quit my job as a nanny and went full-time as a blogger. I was beyond terrified, but it has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. 🙂
Hey Alexis! I was just checking out your blog this week! You and your sister are both rockstars!
So glad you stopped by!
-Serena
I just started out this month! I love to travel and I adore travel blogs. I can’t wait to follow your adventure!
So happy you stopped in!
Thanks Mallory!
-Serena
Congrats on such a brave decision! I’m glad you found happiness and freedom to do what you truly love. I, too, hope someday soon not to be tied to my employer. This was a breath of fresh air. Looking forward to following you on this journey.
Thank you Grace! It’s a risk for sure!
-Serena
I love this post so, so much! I went through three years of desperately clinging to a job that wasn’t working for me on so many levels, and finally built up enough courage to leave (not enough savings lol) but I haven’t looked back since! My intention is to make a full time income with my blog, too! I’ve been at it since January and things are slowly looking up! We can do this! 💕 Congrats on following your heart!
Hi Djinji! Thank you so much for your words of encouragement! That was so brave of you to leave your job!
-Serena
Love this post. We’ve all stayed at jobs mainly for the benefits. Glad to hear you have an exit plan for something you love doing. I recently found an affirmation sheet I wrote 15 years ago. On it, I visualized leaving the corporate world and writing stories about interesting people and places. I rediscovered that sheet cleaning out a desk after a layoff. So I’m jumping off the high dive too! Thanks for the inspiration and good luck to us both.
Hi Linda,
I have NO doubt you’ll be blog success! You have incredible content and are a great writer!
Thank you so much!
-Serena
Hey! I just stumbled onto you, and I’m dying to know how this is working out. How close are you to running away from that monotony?? That is 100% my goal. I edited one of my husband’s school essays (& ended up rewriting it) and became so inspired to work differently and happily. I hope you’re close, because it is inspiring. Your blog looks great!
Hi Ashley,
Thank you!
Funny you should ask; today I received huge-life changing news that may force me into this goal faster!
Stay tuned!
Serena
Hi! How close are you to achieving this goal? That is entirely my plan, and I love to hear about others who have succeeded in running away from the 9-5 grind. Your blog looks great!
Hi Ashley,
Funny you should ask; today I received huge-life changing news that may force me into this goal faster!
Stay tuned!
Serena
SAME STINKIN BOAT EXCEPT TRYING TO BE REMOTE 🙂 I WONDER SOMETIMES IF EVERY FEDERAL EMPLOYEE FEELS THIS WAY!