An End, A Beginning… and a possible major freakout

Today’s the day I put in two weeks’ notice. Ye olde daye jobe will soon be defunct, and I will be working for the worst boss of all: meownself.

People at work keep asking me if I’m sure. As if trading stability for risk is ever something you can be sure of.

Image shows a cat on a boat, staring at a bird on the dock. Caption says, "Risk vs. Reward. Choose wisely."
Of course I’m not sure. I’m not sure my books will sell. I’m not sure the merchandise I’ve got planned will move (although I have a feeling you guys are going to love the stuff based on geology puns!). I’m not sure the economy won’t tank and flush me just as things begin to take off. Can’t be sure of anything.

Except.

I’m sure I can’t play it safe anymore.

I’m sure I want to step off that mountain, even though there’s no way of knowing if I’ll fall or fly.

I’m sure there’s a lot I want to do that I haven’t got time for now: so many books to write, and fun things to design, and adventures to go on.

I’m sure I’ve got the world’s best cheering section (that would be you, my darlings!).

And I’m sure the time is now. Because if not now, it’ll be never.

So I’m all in.

Image shows a squirrel sprawled on a deck with a thick scattering of seeds in front of it. Caption says, "Awl In"
Two weeks, and the badge gets discarded forever. I kiss the sweet union-bargained benefits goodbye. I say sayonara to the steady paycheck. And probably panic a bit before I get my footing. Shit’s a little scary, y’know. But I’m ready to take the plunge, because even if I fall, I can manage to land somewhere soft enough. And who knows – maybe this is the day that I fly.

Wish me luck.

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An End, A Beginning… and a possible major freakout
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29 thoughts on “An End, A Beginning… and a possible major freakout

  1. 5

    Oh, Dana, I’m so happy for you! The clues have been leaking out for a long while that you need to leave the cubicle farm. You are terrific, you’re a fine writer, and you nonfiction writing is so good that I’m looking forward to you tempting me out of my “fiction drought”.

    I know you must have a million plans, and a lot of writing to do, but if you decide to visit Giant Caldera Land, drop me a line.

    This is just great. This is a really good thing.

  2. 6

    Oh please, please, publish your Mount Saint Helens series as a book! I have recommended the various posts all along, but would LOVE having it as a single book/e-book that I could point, say, my husband to. He would love it.

  3. 9

    What, Dana? You got rocks in your head? Oh, wait…

    Best of luck in your new endeavors. Not that you’ll need luck, of course, with your mad skillz. Like OmegaMom, I wanna see that book on Mount St Helens.

  4. 10

    Hey there Dana, well for me this year marks both 25 years of happy marriage and soon 25 years of self employment. It’s been a roller coaster ride (the self employment gig!) but at no stage have I ever contemplated going back to being a wage slave. It’s too soul destroying if you’re an original thinker.
    Best of luck navigating the rest of your life.

  5. 12

    It was almost 9 years ago to the day that I hung out my own shingle. Since then, I’ve never been happier. I actually had to talk myself into not taking every project thrown my way, because I got a bit overwhelmed the first year. I made a lot of money, but didn’t have much of a social life. I’ve calmed down a bit.

    Once you find that income/expense–work/life balance point, you’ll do fine.

  6. 13

    Congratulations! Ditching day jobs was the best decision I ever made. If I can help or be of support in any way at all, please let me know. (I am home all day, after all.)

  7. 15

    Congratulations and best of luck! The motto, “I’m in” seems to have worked out pretty well for the Seahawks, so here’s wishing you equal success.

  8. 19

    Dana, this is courageous beyond anything I’ve ever been able to do. You’re fantastic. I just hope it doesn’t involve moving out of the area! Or leaving FTB, unless you’ll be available elsewhere.

    Pelican cat, from this view, looks exactly like one of our babies!

  9. 20

    Dana, the worst that can happen is it doesn’t work and you have to get another job. that is not the end of the world. I am proud of you for going for it.

  10. 21

    I’ll be in line right behind these good persons and true to buy your books Dana! You’d written that you were sure you couldn’t play it safe anymore. Here’s another one: You can be sure you’ll never know if you don’t try. And I salute you for making the effort. BTW–that’s what really matters here. Not winning or losing, but making the effort.

    “Do you have any idea what the odds are against winning the lottery?”
    “I’m sure they’re zero if I don’t buy a goddamned ticket!”

    Someone a helluva lot smarter than me once said that it’s a short time between womb and tomb and therefore we ought to take full measure of this thingy here called life. Again, I salute you for doing just that!!11Eleventy!

  11. 22

    Go, you! Scary? Oh yeah. Courageous? Yep. Exciting? Yes yes. With all your skills you should do fine, and feel fine doing it. I’m excited for you and wishing you all the best for years to come.

  12. 28

    congrats. I left a job a bit over a year ago that I hated, the worst combination of a job that did nothing and a boss that was put into place thanks to cronyism. My current job isn’t perfect but it is *better*. Change is good. I

    “It is good to fly!” – Sola, “John Carter” movie.

  13. 29

    Good luck! You’re very brave. I hope things work out great for you. I’ll be waiting in line to buy books on volcanoes. And I love the idea of geology-punned products!

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