If you’ve got any entrepreneurial bug in you at all then this coming year might be the year you get fired (again). It’s going to be rough and it’s going to sting, a lot if we’re honest with ourselves, but it might just be the best thing that could happen to you this coming year.
Sure, most of us are not looking to get fired and most people don’t put it on their list of “To Do’s” but some of you are acting in such a way or have the attitude that literally screams “Fire Me Now!” I’m here to tell you that that’s ok, especially if this is the year you realize that you are, truly, a serial entrepreneur; that you realize you’re much more than a 9-5er.
It’s not that you can’t “do” the corporate lifestyle or survive in the corporate setting – it’s that you can’t and most likely won’t ever thrive in that environment. You could do incredible work and make some of the businesses that you work for tons and tons of money and bring them loads of success; but you, as a person and creative professional will never see those things for yourself.
Why? You’ve sacrificed a part of who you are. You’ve compromised some of your own dreams and goals for someone else’s. And you’ve been doing it for a long, long time.
But it’s definitely not sustainable because we simply aren’t made to be split in two (or more) pieces as we spend our time here and there and everywhere.
Just walk through this list of things that could (should) get you fired this year – are you (have you been) doing these things as of late?
- Waking up dreading the coming workday.
- Going to sleep feeling unfulfilled.
- Spending your hours at work thinking about starting your own business.
- Spending your hours at work working on your own little side business.
- Moonlight, daylighting, and everything in between.
- Find yourself having more fun in your creative side project than the one that pays the bills.
- Feeling a bit guilty that your employer doesn’t know that you hate your current job but love the idea of the job you wish you had infinitely more.
- Blogging, coding, writing, doodling, during your lunch hours (and beyond).
- Find yourself passionately sharing your ideas with coworkers about anything else but work.
- Complaining to your spouse or partner or significant other often that you were “created for something better.”
- Find yourself willing (and talking about) taking a smaller salary just so that you can do what you feel you were made to do.
- Apathy and boredom seem to be relatively close companions of late, not by choice but by circumstance. You’d really like to ditch them soon too.
If any of these fit you then you might be looking to get fired this year. Either you will do it yourself or your employer will do it for you. This is the year folks. There’s no time to waste.
You see, some of the greatest entrepreneurs and creatives got fired from their jobs. Repeatedly. Some even got fired from the companies that they started. These people ended up changing the world.
A few things to remember as you get ready for the proverbial axe:
- You’re a (budding) entrepreneur. This is what happens. There’s nothing wrong with it.
- You have already learned to take risks. Daylighting and moonlighting are inherently risky business!
- You see something that perhaps no one else does. This doesn’t mean that you’re crazy, it means that you have an opportunity no one else has.
- Do not be afraid of failure. Getting fired does not mean you failed. It means you lost a job. That’s it.
- Stay poised, stay humble, and stay thankful. Your persistence in getting fired with grace is everything.
- Take ownership, learn what went wrong, and grow from there.
- Except the risk and know that it’s a good thing. Cliche as it is it’s true: Nothing worth doing was ever easy. Theodore Roosevelt once said: “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led diffcult lives and led them well.”
- Become a leader through it. You are one because you went first. You are one because you didn’t stay, even if it wasn’t your decision (but it probably was).
Can’t wait to hear the stories that come out of this coming year! Please make sure to return and tell me that “Getting fired was the best thing that could have ever happened to me!”
I’ll be waiting.
Ah, great article! I wish I would have gotten fired from my job so I could have gotten employment insurance for a few months. Unfortunately I was doing a great job where I was and there was before, just unhappy about the whole place and the work itself. So I left.
Good luck to all the new freelancers and business owners in 2012! It’s not an easy adventure but it’s one worth living, that’s for sure!
it is definitely worth it for those that need to head that direction!
I’ve gotten fired twelve times so far. The best day on any job has always been the day I got fired. But then I always run out of money, and need to find another stupid job anyway. So I don’t see the point of getting fired anymore.
“So I don’t see the point of getting fired anymore.”
A person is on one of two sides of that statement:
1. You have the belief that you cant make it anywhere else, so you will spend the rest of your life doing that job.
2. You are now your own boss, and you just don’t have the heart to fire yourself.
I prefer the later.
Use that creative quill of yours to bring the money in.
(I find that your command of the English language to be quite remarkable considering the fact it is not your native tongue.)
You do how know this not is my native tongue? You are on me spying?
“on me spying”… epic.
Those are the exact words floating in my mind a while ago! FYI – I just quit my day job today with a big smile.
To be honest, I’m excited and worried at the same time but I knew, I know I did the right thing and I wont look back!
I wanna pursue my virtual assistant business and I’m taking risk this 2012. I wanted to start 2012 doing things that I really love.
Thanks for this post John!
Got me….Every bullet on the list. I’ll be “fired” (by way of Leaving my current Job) in January.
Phil! Do it. Let us know when your webiste is up!
congrats! let us know when that happens!
John,
I should compliment you on this post. You touched on a point that is surely missed by the countless writers and commentators who offer advice and insight on this topic. Most who are unhappy with their current will relate to the list you’ve compiled.
Creatives and entrepreneurs understand that great work is most important and that a stagnating work environment can do significant damage. A guest post on my blog site “Fresh Garbage” (www.kevinbryce.com) explores another aspect of job unhappiness: Ageism in the Hiring Process.
Thanks again for another superb post John!
sure thing kevin! appreciate it!
Sure, getting fired could be great in some circumstances. But is there a better way to approach this? How about being honest with your boss and letting him/her know that you think you could do a lot better work if you had something more challenging (or more up your alley)?
Or offering ideas for new projects/initiatives that are good for the company AND something you’re interested in?
You never know, you might gain some great skills and experience that you can use later when you do fulfill your dreams of being an entrepreneur.
I also think there’s a lot of value to being part of a team effort. Take a look around–what motivates people? What demotivates them? Are there things you can learn about team dynamics that you can later apply when you have people working for you?
If all else fails, why not be honest with your employer that this job is a bad fit for you, and quit?
Just some thoughts! Thanks.
i agree that you could reinvigorate your interest in your current job, that’s for sure.
and… i’m definitely not suggesting dishonesty… i think they should definitely engage and see if a better setup could happen. i’m just describing what’s already occurring in these situations!
I know you would never encourage dishonesty, John, you’re a standup dude.
But I figured out what was bothering me about this post. “Getting fired” is all about letting someone else determine what happens in YOUR career.
It’s your life, your future… why would you wait around or let someone else tell you what you’re going to do with it?
So either quit, or see if you can salvage the situation. Don’t wait around for some boss who may not care about your career to decide for you.
Just my thoughts! I appreciate you getting me thinking about this.
great clarification. yes, YOU own your career path…
but, i think we both can admit that “quitting” is easier said than done. it’s tough….!
Agreed! Very tough.
Thanks for this inspirational post. I was just thinking again about being unemployed. It has given me a chance to find creative ways to pay the bills. Lessons that I will have for the rest of my life. I now know it isn’t the end of the world to have a non-conventional job description.
While I still have down-time I am finally going to work towards building my first mobile app. It is quite an adventure for the new year, but I finally feel confidant that I have the skill to put something together.
awesome! please let me know how that goes…..!
whoa, dude… you’ve been reading my mind! and, this… it gives me confidence, courage, and a sense of knowing that i’m not alone. thank you.
dan,
one of the biggest lies that i buy into is that i’m alone.
Not that much great article, sorry, but bloggers should never involve in creating this type of content, simply because you never know what people are going to do after they read the post.
You need to be yourself but still… you need to keep the distance, I just see that this post is created in a hurry and to bring dreams to light, but you sometimes need to see the real world at the same Be realistic and keep dreaming the same time, don’t be involved in only one side.
james,
appreciate this perspective!
Why get fired when you can simply quit? Grab the bull (or your boss) by the horns (or elsewhere) and take that first step down the road to a glorious new you! Go on and be the King of your own road by taking responsibility for your life goals! Don’t start down that path by letting someone ‘throw you in the gutter’ simply because of your own inhibition. Blazing your own trail demands you take active steps, not passive steps. Believe in yourself and your dreams and take no prisoners (especially yourself)!
that’s one thing i suggested.
I really like this post, and the idea of letting yourself get fired. There is something so scary about the phrase “getting fired”…but there is also something so liberating about realizing that leaving your job is an option…who would have “thunk” it?
Thanks for sharing
sure thing osayi!
I’m looking forward to 2012 because I really think I will “get fired” this year. Might still be at the same company, but I’m gunning for something “more”.
Not waiting around to be picked anymore.
fired into the same company..?
“Getting fired does not mean you failed. It means you lost a job.”
Word…that’s so encouraging to hear.
AMEN
and….. amen!
When I worked in Silicon Valley, it was actually a badge of honor to be let go from the start up you were working at that was having funding problems (I was at two internet startups) because you were part of the whole boom and bust, part of the whole feeling of ‘let’s try something new, and if it does not work at least we tried’ atmosphere. People in Silicon Valley expect to get fired if they join a startup since so many don’t make it. So I learned from that experience that you have to try something new, and there’s no shame if it does not work. Now, I’m associated with a great Silicon Valley start up called LinkedIn as a trainer and coach. That company is certainly working, and I’m glad to be training people how to use it to succeed. Visit me at http://www.linkedsuccess.com.
dan, thanks for this! will be checking it out…!
John, my wife asked if I wrote this post and sent it to you. Every single word you typed she said comes from my mouth all the time. So I thank you for this because 2012 will launch our Businesses and we will be moving into this scary unknown world of working for yourself.
awesome!!!!!!! keep me informed bro…..!
John! I can’t believe you wrote this! If my boss reads this I will get fired immediately! Hahaha.
This is a wonderful slap in the face to all of us that need a nudge in the right direction. Thank you.
Good Days.
… to come, right?