How I Quit My Marketing Manager Job to Pursue My Dream

Do you have a dream that sits and lingers in the back of your head, but you have no idea how to execute it?

Something big or small that seems too dauntingly scary and unrealistic, that you push it out of your mind and try to go about your day?

Well, that was me.

It was one year ago, before I took a huge leap of faith and quit my full-time marketing manager position in New York City to embark on something…unbelievable.

I always believed that I was determined for something bigger than clocking in and out of someone else’s company and helping them make money.

But I was too scared to actually bite the bullet, leave the familiar, and pursue my dream.

I was a typical millennial: restless, bored, and constantly changing jobs.

No matter how many new careers I tried out (from public relations, event planning, to hospitality), nothing really stirred my passions or made me want to jump out of bed every morning.

However, I knew I had to keep going until I developed the skills that I knew I could transfer over from employee to entrepreneur.

Here’s exactly how I did it.

What I did to pursue my dream:

Study your boss and then become better than them.

I don’t say this in a cocky way, but when you see someone doing well (personally or professionally), I believe you should study them and their craft.

My boss at my last full-time position was a fairly young CEO who was constantly re-inventing his company to be even better.

Since I was working in such a small company, I received the opportunity for advancement and showing my eagerness fairly quickly.

Eventually, my role turned from freelancer to marketing manager because of the fact that I studied and learned from his successes and mistakes.

Roll up your sleeves and get resourceful.

When I first launched my website, I had a web series that was focused on cooking with others in my apartment while we talked about certain topics.

I lived in a tiny apartment in Harlem and didn’t necessarily have access to a studio, fancy cooking materials, or even a camera crew.

So I got resourceful and scrappy and turned my little kitchen into my personal filming cave.

I did everything to pursue my dream for the web series: I cooked, thought of questions for the guests, filmed, and edited.

It was exhausting – but WORTH every minute.

Not only because I knew I had done ALL the work, but that I had also acquired the skills to successfully handle these things.

NEVER give up – no matter what anyone says.

Friends and family thought I was crazy for quitting my job and going after the unknown.

But I truly believed in myself and my vision.

I pushed through the sleepless nights, the uncertainty and insecurity, and continued to stay true to mysel

The quest to pursue my dream isn’t easy.

Doing the unthinkable is hard, stressful, and doesn’t come with any guarantee.

But I’d rather to have failed following my dreams, than not have tried at all.