Was quitting my job to journey full time a mistake?

Hi, it’s Aakanksha 👋

Four years in the past, I used to be sitting throughout from my supervisor, placing in my papers, prepared to go away my company job and go all in on journey content material creation.

And that’s when she stated it.

“Are you sure about this? A job at a brand like LinkedIn is something most people dream of, and you’re leaving it for an industry that’s so risky and uncertain. This could be a huge mistake- who knows whether it’ll work out?”

I keep in mind sitting there and simply… crumbling just a little inside. Even although I already had a rising following. Even although I used to be already incomes cash from content material. Even although I had considered this determination for months, that one dialog made me query EVERYTHING. Maybe she’s proper. Maybe I’m not minimize out for this. Maybe I’m being naive. It most likely received’t work out.

WELLL….

So at the moment I need to discuss concerning the one lesson that I take into consideration greater than virtually the rest. Because I’ve seen this play out over and over in my very own life, and within the lives of so many creators I do know.

Not everybody deserves to offer you recommendation. 👀

Here’s what I’ve realised over time.

We are inclined to take recommendation from folks we predict have a number of expertise. Our dad and mom, our managers, our older family, individuals who’ve “been around.” And we predict, okay, they know issues. They’ve lived on this planet for longer than me. I have to take heed to folks with expertise.

But we virtually by no means cease to ask: have they got the RIGHT expertise?

My supervisor had years of company expertise. She was good at what she did. But she had zero expertise being a journey content material creator. She had zero expertise constructing one thing on-line. She had zero expertise with the creator financial system.

So her recommendation about MY path was primarily based fully on the unknown. And the unknown is at all times scary. That’s simply how people are wired. If I instructed you to maneuver tomorrow, to a metropolis you’d by no means visited, or heard of – your first emotion most likely wouldn’t be pleasure. It could be uncertainty & worry. Not as a result of town is dangerous, however as a result of you possibly can’t image your life there but.

That’s precisely what was taking place. She wasn’t giving me dangerous recommendation on objective. She genuinely needed the most effective for me. But she was giving me recommendation a couple of world she didn’t perceive, dressed up as concern 😅

Around that very same time, I spoke to a different feminine journey creator within the content material house. Someone who was already doing what I needed to do, for 3 years!

And WOW. That dialog was utterly totally different. She was shocked that I used to be even considering this determination, to her the trail was so clear.

She instructed me the great AND the dangerous. What months could possibly be sluggish. What issues to be careful for. What to bear in mind as you develop. 😂 But she by no means as soon as stated it was not possible. She by no means stated it was harmful. She by no means stated I shouldn’t do it.

In truth, she instructed me, “This will 100% work out.” She was cheering me on, not as a result of we had been greatest mates, however as a result of she understood the business and had the expertise to see what was doable.

And that’s the distinction. When you discuss to somebody who has already walked the trail you need to stroll, they offer you actuality. Everyone else provides you their fears.

This is one thing I now take into consideration very consciously at any time when I’m in search of recommendation.

If it’s about cash, I am going to somebody who has constructed the type of monetary life I would like. Not simply somebody who has saved diligently in a company job for 30 years.

If it’s about rising a creator enterprise, I am going to somebody who has executed it. Not somebody who thinks they know the way social media works as a result of they’ve Instagram.

If it’s about relationships and life, generally that IS my dad and mom. Sometimes it’s a peer who I belief. It is dependent upon what the query truly is.

And as you begin to construct a public presence, this will get much more necessary. Because instantly it’s not simply your family and friends with opinions. It’s a whole on-line neighborhood. Everyone has one thing to say. Everyone has ideas.

You have to have the ability to filter it, or it should drown you.

If you’ve lately had a dream or an concept or one thing you actually need to begin, and the folks round you’re telling you it’s too dangerous, it doesn’t make sense, or that you need to most likely simply follow what’s protected…

If sure, hear fastidiously. Even the onerous components.

If no, obtain it with love and kindness, after which go discover somebody who has 🥹

That single filter has been one of the crucial necessary issues in my life. It’s what let me depart that job. It’s what let me preserve happening the onerous days. And it’s what bought me to 2.5 million followers and the most effective month of my profession.

Your dream deserves higher than another person’s worry 🧡

This week, I flew again to India to spend time with my dad and mom and ate SO a lot yummy meals 🥹 My mother made me the yummiest chana chaat, which alone made the journey price it hehe.

Also, my dad and mom are at the moment obsessive about finishing their 10,000 steps day-after-day, so naturally, it changed into just a little household competitors 😂
Between all of the meals, walks, and time collectively, it was such a easy, healthful week!!!

Tell me, has somebody ever given you recommendation that just about stopped you from doing one thing you’re now actually glad you probably did?

Hit reply. I need to know 👇🏽

That’s it for this week’s Unpacked…see you subsequent Wednesday with one thing new to unpack 👋🏽

Lots of affection & sunshine,

Aakanksha 😌