In a recent LinkedIn post, Akshat Shrivastava, founder of Wisdom Hatch, shares his valuable insights on how to effectively quit your job and transition into building your dream career or business. Akshat emphasises the importance of strategic planning and preparation to ensure a smooth and successful shift from a stable job to pursuing your passion.
The social media post overall suggests that in today’s world of passion-driven careers and entrepreneurial dreams, the idea of quitting your job to pursue what you truly love is more common than ever. But the leap from a stable paycheck to uncertainty isn’t just about courage it’s about strategy.
Here’s are some steps to make that transition thoughtfully, without risking your financial health, personal well-being, or professional relationships.
1. Build a Safety Net — Your Biggest Ally Is Time
Before you hand in your resignation, ensure you’re financially ready. The ideal buffer? At least three times your annual expenses—something we like to call iteration capital. This gives you the space to experiment, fail, learn, and adjust without the immediate pressure of making money.
Think of it not just as savings, but as buying yourself time to test ideas, refine them, and move forward with clarity.
2. Have a Day 1 Plan
Quitting your job should never be a spur-of-the-moment decision. The day you quit shouldn’t be the first time you start thinking about your next move. You need to quit with a plan, not to make one afterward.
Whether it’s a startup, freelance career, or creative pursuit, map out what your first few weeks and months will look like. Momentum matters—and starting strong on Day 1 can make all the difference.
3. Prepare Plan B (and Plan C)
We often hear the advice to “burn the boats” when chasing a dream. But life is not a battlefield, and you are not a Spartan warrior. You don’t need to go all-in without a safety line.
Have a Plan B and even Plan C in mind. If your main idea doesn’t work, what will you pivot to? What are your fallback options? They don’t have to be perfect, but you should have at least some idea of what to do next.
4. Know When to Quit Again
Quitting your job isn’t the only big decision you’ll face. At some point, you may need to quit your new venture too—and that’s okay.
There’s no glory in struggling endlessly. Set time-bound experiments. If your idea doesn’t work within that time, re-evaluate. Good judgment is about knowing when to hold on and when to move on. Life is too short to stay stuck.
5. Don’t Burn Bridges
Your current job may end, but your relationships don’t have to. Your ex-boss, ex-teammates, and mentors could be your strongest allies down the road.
If your new venture doesn’t pan out, they’re often the first people who can help you find stability again. Treat everyone with respect, exit gracefully, and maintain those connections—they’re your long-term assets.