Mid-life crisis happening early - Quit 200k+ year job yesterday to follow a dream...

[mr4wdTRD]

In before:

spoon pics
asking for proof
pics of cars/house/kids/wife etc...
tl:dr
op is a *******
mod post, therefore 1 star
misc is not your personal blog

The following is 100% true. And imo, is an example of why you should NEVER settle, and follow always your dreams...

Ok, Now that i've got that out of the way, Im going to use this thread to log my journey. If you don't want to read a wall of text, don't continue. But for those of you who enjoy hearing about a massive lifestyle/career shift... read on.

Let me preface this by saying this is in no way shape or form an attention whore post. It is simply a log of my journey from the bottom, to the top, and back to humble beginnings for myself and my family.

Yesterday at 10am, I quit my job. I was the Executive Director of International sales for a Fortune 500 SaaS company, and making far more money than I knew what to do with. I had been there nearly 6 years.... I went to school for Computer Science, and International Business Management, so I hold 2 bachelors degrees. However, after my first Bachelors I had shifted gears and decided to get into the Fire Service. I went through the Fire Academy in Michigan and completed it in the top of my class. Including FFI, FFII, HAZMAT I, HAZMAT II, MFR, and continued to get my EMT-B certs.

I went on to pursue a career in the fire department in michigan. My GF at the time (now wife) had moved back to her home town about 100 miles away to pursue her new accounting career. After about 6 months of training, and probationary period at the house i was stationed at, I recieved a call to come to a company in my wifes home town to code for a large bank. Which I took.

Fast Forward 10 months later, and I received another job offer in phoenix that was too good not to take. Taking my experience from the job at the bank, and the new job in phoenix, I decided to start an entrepreneurial venture. I won't go into too many details other than to say what I had discovered and began marketing was the start of how video is displayed quickly and efficiently over the interweb and deliverable across ANY device. Within the first 12 months of this venture, I accepted a buyout of my company. I continued with the new company (the one I just quit) for 6 years in the sales department and as a consultant.

After enduring nearly 6 years of corporate politics, I had had enough. I handed in my resignation with the intent to pursue my original dream to become a career firefighter. My wife and I discussed the move and she is 100% behind me, no matter my decision. We're prepared financially for the next 36 months, in the event Im out of work that long. However, I refuse to allow it to take that long to achieve my goals.

As of right now, Im a stay at home dad spending time with my daughter, watching her learn and grow. Something a lot of working parents are not as fortunate to experience, so i'm taking full advantage of the situation.

Im currently in the process of talking with a few members of the Phoenix Fire Department that I know personally, and der=termining next steps. If anyone on the misc has any advice/comments etc, i'd love to hear them.

Questions/comments/etc. Will rep sporadically throughout this journey.

[Dave P]

spoon pics, need proof and pics of cars/house/kids/wife, tldr, op is a *******, 1 star


this is not your blog.



good for you, takes balls

[DualRectifier]

In on this. I am currently planning to do the same thing soon. Quit job at large law firm and go solo in a completely different practice area. Been working on my marketing plan and business plan since last July.

[yelojackt]

disregard:



acquire:

[Swizzard]

didn't know being a misc mod paid so well..damn 200K

[xtn5021]

gonna need a spoon pic and a rep from you op. (srs)

[MaskedMuchacho]

Good job OP, but how is chasing your dreams being in a mid life crisis?

[eXistenceLies]

Prime example of people telling others to find a job you love no matter the pay. Never work for just the paycheck.

[killerobotninja]

Of course. You could make insane amounts of money, but you could be doing something you hate. Always do something you love and you'll never work another day in your life.

I switched from making 60k in the IT field which I absolutely hated, to around 50k in the graphic design field. I might make less money, but I'm doing what I love. No regrets.

Good for you.

[7thbrah]

Good luck brah , Im sure everything will fall right into place. Happiness > Money

[cheezile]

cool to see someone follow their dreams, props. makes me sad when i see friends who have dreams to do great things fade away.

[Dan62]

GL brah

[NYCLegend21]

Bro at the end of the day you have to do what makes you happy. Money comes and money goes ain't like you can take it with you.

[Deltrap]

Good luck!

[VTheKing]

this happened

seriously though - how old are you now? Do you feel you've got enough in the tank to be a firefighter for years to come?

[vash1789]

When will it be mine turn...to earn 200K+ a year

[LargeWill]

will you have to enroll in a full time firefighting school?

I was going to try to become a volunteer after I graduated high school and went to college, but would have had to take a full year full-time class. Might pursue after I graduate.

Good for you brother, living the dream

[ScudBro]

good to hear OP



Was your highpaying job fulfilling? I mean at first I suppose it's nice to make loads of money, but did it become normal for you after a while?
What does your wife think of this? What did she say when you started working at the company instead of becoming a firefighter?
Do you think joining the fire dpt is just temporary or are you in it for the long run?


Got a lot of q's lol

[AFiers]

Innnnn on this, motivate us all, be our source of guidance OP

GL

[Ravalis]

don't sell off your nice things

[packerfanfrommd]

Pics or negs *******



Good job though man, whats the point of money if you aren't happy? Where'd you go to school?

[Cakky1]

In.

[BeefJurky]

Good luck OP, srs.

[South Side Stev]

Just remember OP... put the wet stuff on the hot stuff.

[Merauder]

Good
I'm tired of corporate politics after 2 years
Now I don't really have a goal carreer wise.

[KingdomKong]

Good job OP.... cherish the time with your daughter, it will soon 'feel like yesterday'. Time flies way too fast

[ragingcrayon]

good stuff

wish i could do that

wish my industry wasnt under attack and I could get paid decently

[TallJJ]

good luck brah stay safe

[dave.mc]

All my regrets in life involve not following my dreams/ambitions and just going with the flow, i've now taken the plunge and am working on building my own business. Best of luck OP, hope it works out for you!

[OneStepCloser]

Having your wife support your decision will make the transition so much easier. Gjdm.

I'm sure you will find other means of supporting your monetary lifestyle too.