You’ve probably heard of these mythical creatures before: People who give up six-figure salaries, complete stability, and amazing benefits to follow their passion and do what they really love. They sound crazy and must totally regret that decision, right?
Turns out, there are many people who don’t. Below are the stories of nine people who quit their high-paying jobs and have never looked back (at least not often):
- John Nemo needed more creativity in his life after he realized he was spending more time on his side gigs than his full-time gig. (Biz Journals)
- Joshua Fields Millburn reminds us that it’s OK to have mixed feeling about turning down a stable career, but typically your gut is right. (The Minimalists)
- One corporate worker found greater fulfillment living in a stress-free desert eco-village. (The Plaid Zebra)
- Jodi Ettenberg was happy with her decision to leave her corporate lawyer life, but she does caution people to think about the overwhelming amount of planning it takes to choose a life of travel or instability. (Redbook)
- Kim Orlesky’s six-month travel excursion proves that you don’t necessarily need to abandon the 9-to-5 workforce forever; you can take a temporary break to gain new perspective. (Success)
- Yvonne Carter illustrates how you don’t need to leave your job and travel the world, but taking a lower paying job in an industry you actually like can make all the difference. (LearnVest)
- Jenna Kujawski used her time away from an office position to figure out what she did and didn’t like about the traditional workforce. (Hey Eleanor)
- Ali Mese doesn’t regret his decision to leave a prestigious consulting gig to found his own startup. What he does wish he knew was the intense social pressure that would come with his choice. (Medium)
- The Muse’s very own Jena Viviano found that quitting is all about redefining what success means to you. (The Daily Muse)