Starting your own blog can lead to many positives in life, including possibly blogging as a career.
That’s exactly what happened to me. Almost two years ago, I left my high paying and secure job so that I could blog full-time.
However, let’s rewind a little bit. Before I started full-time blogging and running my online business, I worked as a financial analyst at a small investment/valuation firm.
It wasn’t the greatest job on earth, but it was stable, the income was good, the bonuses were great, and there were benefits. Plus, my employer told me from the very beginning that it would be a “lifer” job, so I knew as long as I kept on improving that I would have a job for a very long time and that one day I would be running the company.
However, that just wasn’t for me.
My job was very stressful yet still extremely boring at the same time (further described below).
Now, most of the above probably makes it sound like I had a great career and that I’m just a complainer. Due to this, I am often asked why I left my “good” job to become a full-time blogger and online business owner.
Some even tell me I’m crazy for blogging as a career.
Others say I’ve made a big mistake.
However, I don’t care what anyone says. I’m happier than ever as a full-time blogger and online business owner and I could never imagine a life different from the one I’m currently living. If starting your own blog, earning a living, and blogging as a career makes you happy, then you should go for it as well!
Below are some of the many reasons for why I’m happy that I left my secure job for blogging as a career.
My income potential has no limit.
One major reason for why I’m happy that I left my secure job for full-time blogging is that my income potential has no limit. I can work as hard or as little as I want – it all depends on me. I also love what I do, so being able to earn a living from it is a no-brainer.
It’s also no secret that I make a good living as a full-time online business owner. My income is now over double what I was earning in 2013 when I left my day job and I project that it will continue to grow well into the future.
I enjoy being my own boss.
Being my own boss is another reason for why I’m happy that I left my secure job for blogging as a career.
I’ve been my own boss full-time for around two years now and I never see myself going back. I enjoy blogging as a career and being in control of everything that has to do with my business.
I enjoy deciding what I will do each day, creating my own schedule, determining my business goals, handling everything behind the scenes, and more.
Related articles:
- How To Become Financially Stable and Keep The Job You Love
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- Living Life To The Fullest Is Something Everyone Should Start Doing
- My Monthly Online Income Reports
I love what I do.
Like I said above, my old job was not absolutely horrible.
However, it was stressful dealing with mergers and acquisitions, valuing companies, analyzing contracts and agreements, and more 24/7. It was not fun and there was not a single task I enjoyed at my day job.
Now, I love each and every service I provide, and here’s yet another reason for why I’m happy that I left my secure job for blogging as a career. There’s not a single thing I do not enjoy (except for maybe taxes and dealing with health insurance…).
Running an online business may not be for everyone and it may not be understood by everyone, but it’s something I enjoy.
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Location independence allows me to work from wherever.
My online business allows me to work from the comfort of my home and it also allows me to be location independent. It’s great to be able to work from wherever.
I can travel wherever I want and right now we are even debating getting an RV. This wouldn’t be nearly as possible without my online business and it’s another great reason for why I enjoy full-time blogging.
I have a better social life.
Many often tell me that I must be bored out of mind since I work from home and I must have no one to talk to. That is far from the truth though!
At my old day job, I was one of the only females in the industry and everyone was at least 20-30 years older than me. That doesn’t make much room for friendships right there so I often spent most of my time in my office without speaking a word all day long, unless I was speaking to a client.
Nowadays, I talk to people all day long and it’s another plus that full-time blogging has over my old day job. I have Wes working alongside me each and every day, I see and talk to people when I do activities outdoors each day, I talk to my friends and blogging buddies every day, and more.
My flexible schedule is amazing.
I know that it’s just life, but working from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with just a few weeks of vacation each year was just not for me.
What I love about what I do now is that I have a flexible schedule and I can schedule my day for when I work best.
I can wake up early in the morning and work a little, enjoy the daylight hours by doing something outside, and work again later at night. Or, I can switch it up and do whatever. Whatever I decide to do each day, it’s nice to be able to have a flexible schedule and have more options.
I look forward to working each and every single day as a full-time blogger. It’s almost an addiction now.
Do you love what you do? Why or why not? Would you ever leave a stable job so that you could do what you love? Is starting your own blog and then blogging as a career something you are aiming for?
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I would leave a steady job to do what I loved IF I knew what I loved could pay the bills. Luckily, I get the best of both worlds with being able to work part time and still do my online side jobs. I would have to think those people who think you’re nuts don’t read your blog and see how much money you make!
Yeah, I don’t think those people read my blog.
Thanks Thomas!
You are spot on with this post, Michelle. I love working from home and being my own boss, but the real perk is that the “career sky” is the limit! My old workplace was very controlled in regards to how far up you could move. My position was very dependable but you knew right away that you could only make so much in so many years. Ugh.
I know money’s not everything but being challenged is what gets me up in the morning. Blogging is the perfect job to always be intellectually challenged and strive to do your best work. I love it! And you obviously do too cause, girl, you are killing it on the web!! 😉
Thanks Allison!
Love the title of this post. It’s funny because I’m having the reverse experience. I’ve never had a high paying or stable job, but my blog has opened up a lot of opportunities to have one and I keep turning them down. Sometimes I think I’m crazy for saying no, but like you said, I love how there’s limitless opportunity and flexibility when you’re the boss of the biz.
Thanks Stefanie!
These posts are so inspiring. I’m in the midst of trying to figure out how to make this transition, and posts like these are always so encouraging!
Thanks Kristin!
These are all the reasons I’d love to blog for a living. I’d add another one – more work life balance. You touch on it above, but with kids in the picture, it’s important to me to be able to be there for important things at school. I don’t want to miss a track meet.I don’t want to not be able to be class mom or whatever the girls want from me. Working for someone else means I will, eventually, have to make a decision between work and home life.
Yes, work life balance is another great positive! It can be hard to stop working, but with a flexible schedule it makes self-employment nicer.
One day I’d love to solely rely on blogging (freelance, from home) for income. The work-life balance is the best part I think!
Yes, I agree!
I definitely don’t love my full-time job BUT I love my boss, who is the owner of the company. He’s great and pays me far more than what my work is worth. He’s been flexible when I’ve had to take time off.
I like blogging as a side thing, but I don’t know if I could grow my brand enough to make real money. And I don’t want my blog to become the a source of stress, constantly worrying if income dips down or I’m not getting enough hits, etc.
Sounds like you are in a good place 🙂
Hey,
Wow Michelle, those are absolutely fantastic numbers. I’m sure hubby is very happy in your decision to work on your online businesses. Although it can be long hours at times, the free time and flexibility that online income offers is amazing. ((Never would have figured Bluehost is that lucrative)) In college I did much the same as you are now, building websites for various niche topics and monetizing them was absolutely a blast to do. Hitting $100/day in Adsense was my goal back then and it happened ever so briefly right as I was almost done with school (6-7 years ago). This post is great motivation to dig back into making profitable sites and focus on building multiple true income sources.
I look forward to reading lots more of your posts,
-Rich
Thank you Rich!
Flexibility and location independence are huge for me. Makes all the other not-so-great things about doing work for yourself TOTALLY worth figuring out how to deal with 🙂
Michelle, your story motivates me so much and my dream is to be like you one day. Right now I am in college and it consumes so much of my life that its so hard to dedicate my time to my blog. Oh, and the sweet 8AM-5PM schedule makes it worse. I most definitely would leave my job to be a full time blogger if I had the choice. Its actually my dream to do so!
-Sheila
I couldn’t agree more with this article. Being my own boss, setting my own hours and being there for my family are all blessings to me as a WAHM. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’m so glad to know I’m not the only one feeling this way! ?
Yes, I love it!
Congrats! This is awesome! I’m in a similar situation. Blogging is so enticing and I love doing what I do online, but I’m also holding down a very nice corporate job. I’m not quite ready to make that leap yet so I’ll continue to try to balance both. Always refreshing seeing those that do make the jump and live the life they want. Love it!
Thanks Jeff!
I am considering taking the pep of faith as I write this comment. I am also in a high paying, secure and stable job. I am not happy in my work and I am disengaged. My significant other is against me leaving my career and so is my family. However, I have always love writing and it is the one thing I am never bored or tired of. I look forward to writing in my journal every night. I recently started a blog and then stumbled upon your blog. All the steps you’ve mentioned in getting started, I’ve taken. Glad to know i’m on the right path. There is fear in having faith in what I cannot see but I know that I will be wildly successful. This post has inspired me even more.
If it helps at all, I’m 20000% happy that I made this decision 🙂
Congratulations on the initiative, thank you for sharing your experiences with your blog, I myself have this expectation of being able to live with a work at home, anyway is to run behind your dreams, Congratulations, hug