The Escape Hatch

Guest post by Todd Kreisman:

I’m out.

For seven long years, I was merely a twig in the cuckoo’s nest of corporate America.  I would pry my tired eyes open every morning at the crack of dawn (all right, well it was dawn somewhere) and drag my weary body to the office.  I would slink quietly into my cubicle with my Hazelnut Roast coffee and begin responding to emails and voice mails, the content of which I could truly care less about.  I would make nice with the other inmates, and would even perform for them at holiday parties.

I would love to be able to say that I got out because my dreams were tugging at me too forcefully to ignore.  That I couldn’t go one more day without sharing my writing, my acting, my comedy, with the world.  But the truth is that the job got bad.  I mean really bad.  Once I realized that I would prefer slowly starving to death and living inside a cracker barrel to continuing to show my face in that place of galling condescension and unthinkable idiocy, the choice was clear.

So I quit.  I have a bit of savings, but even still, I know that I’ll need to find an alternate source of income soon, or that barrel will be calling my name…

Regardless, I have no regrets.  Whether this move works out or not, it was something that needed to be done.  If the worst case scenario is realized (safely assuming that the worst case scenario doesn’t involve me being tortured or mutilated in a Turkish prison), then I’ll go back and get another 9 to 5.  For a while at least.  But at least I’ll know.  I’ll have my questions answered.  I’ll be able to look myself in the mirror and say, hey self!  You went out there and gave it your all.  I’m proud o’ ya.

Nowadays, I’m going to bed and getting up on my own schedule (still setting an alarm, so I don’t sleep the days away).  I’m going to the gym or playing tennis, writing for a few hours, sending out submissions, networking, eating better – the whole bit.  It’s on my terms, and it’s glorious.  At least if and until the money runs out, I’m living the life.

As someone who is actually doing it, I urge each of you to ditch the job that makes you miserable and seek your own inner happiness.  Even if you’ve been told differently for all of your life, there’s no reason you can’t be your own boss, run your own life, make your own rules.

This from the guy without health benefits.

You can follow Todd and read more about his progress on his blog: www.discardthelard.blogspot.com.  You can also check out his novel ‘The Wellspring’ at www.thewellspringbook.com.