Kill Your Day Job

Mark Manson on quitting a corporate career to build a location-independent life: why being terrified can help, and a practical plan for escaping.

His story

At 24 he started at a prestigious Boston bank. Two hours into his first day, sitting in a grey cubicle learning pointless procedures, he was already wondering how soon he could quit. Six weeks later he did, nervously telling his manager he'd be doing "some sort of dating-advice website". Colleagues avoided him; part of him agreed he'd thrown his future away.

It took about 18 months to earn a full-time income. He went broke several times, was supported by his then-girlfriend, moved back in with his mum, and worked 10–16-hour days while most projects failed. He still calls it one of the best decisions of his life. His income now comes from websites, a book and, earlier, freelancing.

Why you should terrify yourself

Ask honestly: do you love what you do? If it's not an instant "yes", consider changing it. In a hundred years nobody will remember your quarterly bonus.
Fear of failure was his main motivation: the dread of going back to a job he hated, of wasted years, of proving the doubters right. It kept him working at night.
Many people plan endlessly and never act. Around 90% of your plans will fail anyway, because there are too many unknowns. The only way to find them is to try.
He believes that building the business "on the side" would have let him give up too easily. Jumping in fully meant total commitment: he sold his possessions, dropped hobbies and lost touch with friends until it worked. (Choose the level of risk that suits your situation.)

Planning your escape

1. Sell what you don't need and sort your finances

Debt is the enemy. Sell what's costing you money (expensive car, surplus furniture); if needed, rent out your house rather than be trapped by it. See Minimalism.

2. Find an income source

Options he's seen people use to live abroad:

Volunteer organisations (NGOs, the Peace Corps).
Teaching English, especially in Asia and Latin America.
Location-independent work: freelancing, consulting, design, writing, online marketing, trading.
An online business, perhaps based in a low-cost hub like Chiang Mai, Bali or Medellín.
Remote work for your current employer, if you're a programmer or designer.
An overseas transfer with a multinational.
Odd jobs in hostels, bars and restaurants as you travel.
Cruise ships or airlines.
Starting your career abroad: many fast-growing economies hire Western graduates into senior roles, and salaries go much further there.

Mix and match. Some people leave with savings, start a blog, freelance and pick up work along the way.

3. Work out your "escape velocity"

Pick a destination and calculate the monthly income you'll need there. $1,000 a month can go a long way in some countries and barely last a week in others. Factor in debts back home and healthcare.

4. Pull the trigger

Work toward that number with everything you have. Swallow your pride if needed: he slept on a friend's sofa and moved back home before he could afford a ticket to Argentina, where he lived on about half what he'd have needed in the US. Plan as well as you can, then commit fully.