I am honestly considering a huge risk

[ibanez468]

Quote:But I hate the corporate world and I am seriously thinking about resigning and taking a year off to concentrate on songwriting. How ridiculous is that? Somebody slap me......Hey mcanty,I hear ya' loud and clear buddy! I hate it too. I've been off for a year now, and I can truly say without a doubt, that I haven't missed one bit of it (except the paycheck, of course). In the past, whenever I've been unemployed, I was always stressed out, and didn't like being at home, because I knew I was there for the wrong reason. But this time around, for some reason, it was just different. I've been able to get alot of things done (mostly, tryin' to figure out how to survive), and actually enjoy being in my new house, and not having to deal with the day-to-day BS! But that time may be coming to an end, as I just spent this past Friday & Saturday testing for a position to get back into the engineering/design game, and another position for a gas utility company. I don't think what you want to do is ridiculous at all. How you do it, requires some careful planning and thought, I would think. If I were you, I wouldn't quit my job just yet, but I would be making plans & executing steps to work my way towards the day that I could walk away. And I would be focusing on that, while working my job to aquire all of the necessary things that I would need to transition into the music world (i.e., buying music gear, software, computers, etc...). Setting myself up now while I'm working so I don't have to tamper with my other funds to get all of this stuff later. It will get costly, and you could end up spending tens of thousands of dollars trying to acquire everything you'll need. Might as well do it now, while you're working. If you can swing that kind of situation, where you could take a year off, knowing for certain (and of course, nothin's for certain) that you could come back at some point in time, you might be able to manage. I'd definitely get all the equipment first though. You'd need to hold on to your savings as much as possible. Actually, a guy your age really shouldn't be considering messing around with his savings. You'd really be defeating the purpose of what savings is all about (and I'm sure you already know that). But sometimes, we have to follow our hearts. As others have suggested, I'd take a good long look at myself, and what I have to offer the world of music, and find out if the music world likes/accepts what I have to offer, before I did anything too drastic. Could be a costly mistake. On the other hand, could turn out to be the best decision you've ever made. A crystal ball would be pretty useful right about now, eh? You a gamblin' man? In any event, you probably need to work at trying to answer some of these questions, and find out if this is the path you want to take, while you're working. Yeah, it's extra effort, and extra work on your part, but at least you can remain safe to some degree, as opposed to throwin' everything away. One huge advantage you do have, is that you have no responsibility towards anyone other than yourself. That works in your favor immensely! But you'll have to weigh all of the pros/cons. Work your way into this slowly & surely, and look at all of this from the standpoint of working towards a goal, always keeping the big picture in the forefront of your mind, but also having a backup plan as well, in case things don't pan out the way you had hoped. I know, it's always easier said than done. Even the best laid plans can come crashing down sometimes. But, this is the only advice I can offer, FWIW. It's a tough decision. I hope everything turns out well for you. Best of luck in your endevours.ibanez468

[bmete]

Hi Mcanty!Here's my 2 cents!The 9-5 and bs that goes with it is always difficult. But , it is easier to take when you have a well thought out business plan of escape.Just up and quiting, and deciding to write full time is the equivalent of a 2 day romance and a Vegas wedding. ( Odds of success are against it ). I would strongly suggest meeting with a qualified financial planner, your CPA and attorney. Set a realistic goal to " Retire" say 5 years hence. Let them crunch the numbers to see how much $$$ you need to survive assuming $0 income from writing ( worst case scenario ). (Remember: never touch the principle) IE Leave your retirement money out of the picture),Many great suggestions on this thread, I'd prioritize them and plan your escape from the 9-5.I would also analyze your TAXI submissions to forwards to deals ratio. That is probably the best barometer of your timetable to income indicator.Hope this helps!Bob