Why I’m Keeping my 9-5 job

“If work was fun, it’d be called play.”

But what if work was fun?

What if it was so fun it didn’t feel like work?

It’s the dream of so many people out there.

Yet their lives look like this:

• Go to your job.

• Clock out at 5.

• Go hang out with family and friends.

• Do it all over again.

• Every week.

• Every year.

• For 50 years.

• Retire.

• And that’s that.

Sure, some people are fine with this life. And that’s great for them.

But I’m not okay with it.

If you’re reading this, maybe you’re not either.

So how do you get out of that life?

How to Escape the Rat Race

Start building.

Pick something to build. And just start.

If you enjoy your current 9-5 job, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Use it to build your reputation, skillset, and network.

But if you’re like me, the 9-5 is a means to an end.

I’ve had a 9-5 for about 5 years now, but I’ve always known it wasn’t for me.

I’m still doing it for now while I’m building on the side because it’s easy money in my pocket and I enjoy working with my colleagues.

Let’s keep it real though.

If I woke up with a million dollars in my bank account tomorrow, would I still show up for work?

No. I don’t love it that much.

But hey, maybe you do, and that’s totally fine.

In a way, I’m jealous of you. You’ve found your thing and you’re getting paid to do it.

I know that my 9-5 is definitely not my thing, but it’s fine for now.

I’ll keep it until I start seeing significant cash flow from what I’m building on the side.

If you’re like me and you’re someone who has started a side hustle while still working your 9-5 job, you have my respect. You understand that the biggest risk of all it not taking a risk at it.

And if you’re thinking about it, but haven’t started yet,

1. what are you waiting for?

2. accept that it’s not gonna be easy.

You’ll have to wake up early or go to bed late while maintaining output in your day job.

Some people say they want to start something but they don’t actually want it bad enough.

The only way to see if you have what it takes is by taking action. By trying.

While you get started, keeping your 9-5 is a nice safety blanket.

Sure, you can get laid off tomorrow. A 9-5 isn’t necessarily as stable as we think.

But while you have a job, those paychecks keep rolling into your bank account every other week.

This can be a blessing or a curse, depending on how you look at it.

Some people say “f*ck it” and quit so they can focus fully on making money from their side hustle. They go all in and don’t look back. If they kept their job, they wouldn’t be fully committed to the thing they want to be doing.

Personally, I think that path is really ballsy and I respect it, but it’s also a bit irresponsible unless you know you’re a beast and you’re willing to “eat sh*t” for a while.

Ultimately, you know if this is you or not.

You know if you’re willing to risk a steady paycheck to figure it out on your own.

I’m here to tell you that that doesn’t have to be you.

You don’t have to quit your job to start something else.

Keeping your 9-5 will allow you to fuel your side hustle by keeping the lights on at your apartment.

The monthly rent check is a non-issue. And you don’t have to eat spoonfuls of ramen and air to survive.

Some people thrive in that sort of bare bones environment where you’re essentially choosing to live in poverty in the pursuit of your dreams.

Sure, it can work out in the end, but it can also send you down a pretty brutal path when maybe keeping your job could’ve still allowed you to pursue your dreams.

Each path is honorable in their own right. It’s up to you.

If you want it bad enough, you’ll figure it out either way.

What matters most is starting. I can’t stress that enough.

The only path you don’t want to take is the “wantrepreneur” who says, “I’m gonna do ______” but never actually takes action. That person will be saying that until they’re 6 feet under.

Take the leap of faith.

Trust yourself.

Take action.

When Work Becomes Play

Whatever your thing is and however you decide to get there, you’ll realize that once you become fully obsessed with it, working is no longer work.

Work becomes play.

You wake up early. Stay up late. Forget to eat. Lose track of time.

You’re locked in.

Writing. Recording. Editing. Practicing. Reading. Learning. Building.

Once the alarm clock goes off, a jolt of energy surges through your body.

It’s you against you.

Time to get after it.

For me, I’ve struggled to wake up early to work on a side project until I found writing/social media.

Ever since, I’ve had no problem waking up at 5am.

It gives me a solid 4 hours in before my 9-5 starts.

It’s just fun to me. I look forward to the next morning each night. I can’t wait to wake up and put what’s in my head onto paper.

There are some days when I’m more tired than others for sure, but I'm in there. Everyday. In the lab.

Building. Cheffing up the next article. Posting on Twitter or Instagram. Planning content.

It’s the love of the game.

I don’t know what my life would like if I had quit my 9-5 job to pursue this, and I don’t wanna know.

I’m fine for now.

If anything, starting this stuff has made me even better at my 9-5 because I’m able to apply what I’m learning on through writing and building to my day job. And vice versa. There are actually a surprising amount of parallels.

I won’t keep my 9-5 forever. Knowing that I’m able to build effectively in my off-hours is something I wish I would’ve known sooner.

It took me a while to figure out what works best for me, which is the early bird special for now. It may change in the future. I’m still just figuring it out.

And that’s the main thing I want you to take with you today.

No one truly has it all figured out.

We’re all just kids that grew up.

If you want to start something, then start.

If you think your 9-5 is holding you back, then quit. But know what you’re in for before you do.

If you choose to keep your 9-5 and build on the side, use it to your advantage.

It’s going to be difficult either way.

And that’s the beauty of it.

Fall in love with the game.