Two years ago today, I quit my job. Walked out. Never looked back.
After 5 years in the Navy, I landed what most would call a "real job." Steady paycheck. Benefits. Security.
And I was absolutely miserable.
Every morning I'd drag myself to a building where I'd waste 8 hours of my life collecting money for work that meant NOTHING to me. Clock in. Pretend to care. Clock out. Repeat until death.
Is that what my once adventurous life had become? A mindless routine in exchange for financial security?
The Decision That Changed Everything
So I quit.
No real plan. No safety net. Just the absolute certainty that I couldn't spend another day in that soul-crushing environment.
Truth is, I didn't even last that long in my "real job" – just a year and a half. But every second of that year and a half felt like an eternity. I had gone from military service – with all its challenges and meaning – to shuffling papers and sitting in pointless meetings.
I had no purpose. I was just a body filling a seat, collecting a paycheck.
And the thought of doing that for another 30+ years made me physically ill.
The Brutal Reality of Entrepreneurship
These past 2 years? Pure chaos.
Coaching CrossFit and personal training clients at 5am just to pay bills. Building my businesses nights and weekends. Failing. Restarting. Failing again. Getting marginally better.
There were moments I questioned everything. Times when the secure paycheck I'd walked away from seemed like the smartest option in the world. Nights spent worrying about how I'd make rent the next month.
Here's what they don't tell you about entrepreneurship: it's messy and brutal and terrifying. You'll work HARDER than you ever did at your "real job." You'll question your sanity almost daily.
But you'll be alive. Actually alive.
The Hidden Cost of Security
When I was in that corporate job, I was technically "secure." I had health insurance. A retirement plan. Paid time off.
And I was dying inside.
My creativity was suffocating. My energy was depleted. My sense of purpose had vanished. I was trading the best hours of my day – the best years of my life – for what? A number in a bank account that would supposedly make me happy later?
That's the hidden cost of "security" that nobody talks about. It's not free. You pay for it with your life force, your passion, your time.
And time is the one thing you can never get back.
Finding Meaning Beyond the Paycheck
Here's the truth: money is made up. It only has the value we collectively agree it does. If society collapsed tomorrow, no one would give a damn about your 401k or your company's health insurance plan.
Your purpose isn't to rot while collecting a check.
Your purpose is to live with meaning.
Every product, service, or piece of content you interact with daily was created by another human being who decided to build something. The chair you're sitting in. The device you're reading this on. The coffee in your cup.
Real people created all of it. And you can do the same with your interests and skills.
The Entrepreneurial Rollercoaster
The past two years have been a master class in resilience. I've learned more practical skills than I ever would have sitting in that cubicle:
- How to truly listen to what people need
- How to create solutions to real problems
- How to manage cash flow when things get tight
- How to pick myself up after spectacular failures
- How to trust my instincts even when everyone thinks I'm crazy
I've built a business consulting practice helping others find their way through this same journey. I've maintained my coffee company despite all the challenges. I've coached clients to their fitness goals while simultaneously pursuing my own entrepreneurial ones.
Has it been smooth sailing? Not even close.
Would I change my decision? Not for a second.
Your Turn to Choose
We're conditioned to believe that security should be our primary goal. That giving up our precious time for a guaranteed paycheck is the "responsible" choice.
But what if the most responsible thing you could do is to use your limited time on this planet pursuing work that actually matters to you?
What if building something meaningful – even with all the risks involved – is actually the sanest choice you could make?
I'm not saying everyone should quit their job tomorrow. That's not realistic or necessary for everyone.
What I am saying is that you should critically examine the story you've been told about what makes a "good career" and what constitutes "success."
Because I can tell you from experience: no amount of money is worth dreading five days of every week. No benefits package can compensate for the slow death of your passion and creativity.
Is entrepreneurship easy? Hell no. Is it worth it? Every second.
If you're stuck in your own cubicle prison and want to break free, I can help guide you. If you're already on this journey and need help navigating the chaos, reach out.
Take the jump. Do the thing. It is entirely up to you.
But whatever you decide, don't settle for a life of quiet desperation. You deserve better than that. We all do.