Something Needs to Change
Choosing to leave comfort for toil (and a brighter future).
I’m turning 40 this year.
A lot of people have midlife crises.
Maybe I would want to buy a midlife crisis car, but this author has some requisite criteria to buy a midlife crisis car that I don’t meet yet. That’s ok, I’m not really a car guy.
Professional Life
I graduated college in 2005 and began working in television in Los Angeles, CA. I started out in a gear rental warehouse, began also working in the field, and then exclusively worked in the field. I worked as a tape operator (remember tapes), utility, camera operator, and eventually Engineer-in-Charge.
Working in freelance television was fun and exciting! I would work 5-10 days a month at a different location with a different challenge almost every working day. I would earn enough to fund my next world adventure to either South America, Europe, Asia, or Iowa. (Just kidding, I’ve not been to Iowa.)
After about 4 years as a freelancer in LA, I got married. I realized I was not earning enough to raise a family and decided to seek something more stable.
I landed a corporate job as a Video Producer (I was actually a preditor) and relocated to Chicago, IL with my amazing bride.
I was suddenly making steady money, we had good health insurance, and even a 401(k). I began slowly climbing the corporate ladder; I received raises about every year and I received a promotion here and there.
It was comfortable. Not quite golden handcuffs, maybe bronzed handcuffs.
Fast forward 14 years and I’m still working for the same company. My wife and I now have 2 kids and are in a beautiful home that this job made possible.
I enjoy my job, it has been good to me. I’m very thankful for the providential path God has woven for me. However, I continue to trade my time for money and when I or the employer decide to end the relationship (perhaps abruptly), that will be it.
Handcuffs Eventually Chafe
Back to the midlife crisis.
I’m not sure if I actually have a midlife crisis, but I have had a sense of restlessness and uneasiness for the past year or so.
I realized that my kids are getting older and I only have them at home for 6 and 9 more years (and they may partially “disengage” sooner than that). I also realized that I had my identity wrapped up in my job. I felt eternally attached to my job and wondered what would happen if I ever was not doing it.
In 2021, I proposed to demote myself from department Director to a specifically-skilled individual contributor role. I was tired of the corporate middle-manager rigmarole and I wanted to move into a role that would allow me to work remotely from North Carolina (near extended family). I continued to perform my new job duties from my home office with excellence and was traveling about 4 times a year.
In early 2023, about 40% of my responsibility was taken from me by a power grab from another department. I had never failed in those responsibilities and had constantly raised the bar in those productions - but still, I was “quiet fired.” (I still get some schadenfreude by seeing the new “owner” of those responsibilities continue to flounder.)
Some might think that losing 40% of their job responsibility (with no corresponding cut in pay) sounds awesome, but I took it as an affront to my abilities, expertise, and identity.
That was the hair that broke the camel’s back. I realized that I no longer wanted my financial future, my family’s quality of life, and my identity controlled by corporate managers. I was ready to break free from not just my current bronzed handcuffs, but any handcuffs that I might attain through corporate America.
I started a rough escape plan.
The Escape Plan(-ish)
Before you start any new project or venture, make sure you define:
What you’re trying to accomplish
When do you want to accomplish it
How you will accomplish it
I took a Friday morning in February 2023 and went to the local Biscuitville for a big, long breakfast. I brought a notebook and pen and set my phone to do not disturb.
I had way too many carbs and way too much coffee, but I did a lot of reflection and came up with the first 2 steps above.
Our names are blurred out, but the numbers to the right are the ages of my wife and I and of our children.
Starting from the bottom, my first goal (for February 2025) was to be earning $120k/year (pretax) and only be working “school hours.”
This seemed attainable and seemed like it would allow me to live the lifestyle and spend the time with my family that I wanted.
The next goal (for February 2028) is to be earning $200k/year (pretax) and maintain my same “school hours” schedule.
The final goal (for February 2033) is to be earning $300k/year (pretax) and maintain my same “school hours” schedule.
You’ll see some important ancillary goals at 10 years to make sure that my kids will not have to go into debt for university (if they attend).
These goals and milestones would mean a secure financial future (and quality of life) for my family.
Just Do It!
OK. Now I have a plan of what I want and when, but the hard part remains - how.