Entrepreneur

I say do it as long as your idea doesn't suck. I'm surprised at how many people with bad ideas think they have good ideas.

My advice. Take the other job. Continue photography as a side hustle on the weekends, and quit when you have a enough business and savings to feel comfortable for 6-12 months.

5 months is going to be no where near enough. With a business like this, you are going to be far better off doing it on weekends while keeping day job. Spend your evenings during the week creating content that will build your reputation and your weekends shooting.

If you quit your job now, you are far more likely to make decisions about your work that will damage your brand because you are desperate.

My Vote: take this other job in the same industry with less hours and work on my photography until I’m 100% sure I can do this.

Build up enough savings reserve for at least a year and THEN quit and see if you can handle the stress of solopreneurship, good luck!

Photography can be really contract-based and freelance. I feel like it'd be a good call to go with maybe a part-time photography position or something not super intensive so you can work on your personal photography business on the side. This way there's a stream of income to tide you over if the business has a slow start and so you're able to build a solid foundation instead of needing to be profitable asap.

I'd try it until you run out of savings.

Everyone should. We have a fully automated system for all ads, #salesforce and #sageintact with tax free income until 2035 per #act60 Taxsavingsfeelsgood.com

If you have to ask, nope

Do it, it will be a good experience

You just go do it.

The people who read books first never do anything. You’ve got the sales skill and know what it takes to hunt business.

I was a top new label enterprise rep selling data to hedge funds and banks back in 2008-2015, became an SVP running a large business unit, then CRO then CEO in tech at a smaller company. I should have just gone out younger.

Now I have a revenue augmentation company for b2b tech, having a blast, hanging with fam and I own the company, debt free. Scales fast. If you actually know how to build, it’s a travesty seeing people as employees.

Keep the job. Grow your business on the side and maybe figure out a way to market yourself and an course online to supplement your income. I'm assuming it will take more brainstorming and writing of a few other ideas that will make this feeling of entrepreneurship more realistic. How in demand is your new passion? How many clients would you need a month to replace your income? All this should be written down and mapped out before you even think of quitting. Good luck 🤞

I think part time and getting things started sound great.

personally, I want to do photo/video work professionally, and have been doing so, its tough. competitive and right now is kind of an economic downturn. doesnt mean it isnt possible. we should both try, however, I have two jobs, one in video that is contract work, and I work anywhere from 0-4 days a week, and then I also have an amazon job thats flexible. I can pick up anywhere from 12 to 30 hours a week. so I have two part time semi flexible jobs to allow me to build on the side..

food for thought. however I live in my parents basement, so I do have a safety net

You’re going to need more than five months of expenses saved if you want to go out on your own. How much will you need to spend on advertising, equipment, healthcare, etc.? You need to do more planning.

If a corporate job has ever caused you enough stress to have panic attacks then you do not want to be an entrepreneur. Looking up from the “trough of despair” you will miss those days of corporate stress.

Give it a try my friend!! I see my self in your situation. Honestly I do not like corporate work style so I decided to quite my job at the end of March this year. I have been discipline everyday since the time I quit my job. 100% focus on my business idea and make it to real life. Ah I had backup plan and enough saving for a year. It made me feel confident to build what I want. Last month my business got first deal and then took off. If you feeling like not sure it works better you choose work for a living and own business at the same time, this time kind of tough as economic falling down. Wish you all the best of luck!

I would go for it. If it’s what you really want and you really think you can make it work and have thought it through then go for it. You will never be fulfilled with the new job. Even if you “succeed” with the new job you won’t be where you want to be. If you fail with this new business venture, you can at least say that you gave it your best shot and odds are you will be able to get a job in your old industry.

Statistically 50% of businesses fail in their first 2 years, Having a fixed income while you do it on the side can be very useful.

Having said that, trying to focus on anything while doing another is very challenging.

Similar position as you, corporate sales, miserable. Im currently building a small business, signed a few accounts so far and feel as happy as ever. Way different feeling going out and getting your own vs selling someone else’s stuff.

I see one of these posts like once a day. My cents: dont quit untill u see proof of concept. Then you can throw some marbles in. If you can find the energy and passion for whatever your doin outside of work hours then I bet you will succeed

Ask yourself this: are you running from something or to something?

In this order: Get therapy to explore your anxiety issues. Take the other job for now Start/continue building your portfolio until you know you feel safe leaving (btw, you’ll likely never feel safe) and then JUMP

It’s never going to happen unless you make the jump. There will never be a ‘right time’ or enough money - you goal is to gain momentum and confidence and then… jump.

“I don’t want a nation of thinkers, I want a nation of workers.” — John D. Rockefeller, early education school system pioneer. The system is designed for more benefits to Entrepreneurs. You have enough cushion and if you still feel unsure, speak to your local SBA and chamber of commerce. They have grants, counseling, mentoring and training programs and can help you with formulating business plan and getting EIN

I would encourage you to pursue a job with shorter hours while simultaneously indulging in your passion for photography. This way, you can experience less stress and more happiness.

No

For me staring a side business was a lot of stress and anxiety. I can't imagine what's it's like starting a business without a main job or saving. Too much risk for me.

After this experience I started valuing my 9-5 better. But still trying out new ideas

Listen your inner voice. If not today, build a path to became who you wanna be.

No. I have done that. Struggle is real. What if ur photography hustles takes 10months instead of 5. Then what? Better to grind and suck it up for guaranteed pay until your hustle becomes a business. You want to get to a point where your customers come through referrals or you have built a list of clients until then grind my brother because startups require your time, energy and more importantly money. Besides if you need time off then use your sick days thats what they are for anyways.

Starting a business will excite you and give you hope again. But you have to choose one with high demand and I'm sorry but photography is too generic and over saturated.

You may have other expertise that could be leveraged to start a coaching or consulting business where you utilize your photography skills to enhance it. What is your current profession?

As my buddy told me when I took the leap: Dayjobs are dime a dozen. Give yourself a chance. Try it for a few months and see what happens.

I will say, photography is great but the market is oversaturated. I'd suggest doing something where you're rare. I do in-home tech support for seniors, and am pretty much the only one in my midsize city who does it. The calls never stop.

No, you should become an entrepreneur and then quit your job, make a plan, follow through, one foot in front of the other.

I don’t promote the way your going about it, I stayed at a job I hated for 17 years to build my life raft, then I floated off, waving goodbye, never needing another employer again, it will be 5 years in March.

Do it on the side. After work hours, weekends or sometimes during work hours.

Once you have a good flow of income with photography then you reduce your hours.
So, I suggest to do both in parallel. If you are getting a lot of clients and projects with photography then still do it 3days of regular work and 4 days for photography.

Success!

Life is short. Take the risk. Go all in. Discipline yourself and work 120% of your time. If you truly enjoy what you are doing, there will be no burnout and you will thrive. A healthy dies is essential and daily exercise is crucial. On a WORST case scenario, you go apply for a job similar to what you had and you end up right where you started. The growth and journey will be worth it regardless the outcome. Again, life is short. Don't forget to eat right, you're going to need it.

I totally relate to feeling like I couldn't be successful in business with a full time job. I'm just not one of those "grind 25 hours/8 days a week" people. Once I left my job business picked up tenfold. That being said I had been saving and investing hardcore for 5 years and could have supported myself on zero income for several years if necessary. 5 months wouldn't be nearly enough for me to feel comfortable making the switch. Don't let your passion become a stressor when money runs low. Having a bigger runway gives you more time to figure it out