Today I want to share something with you all that I have been meaning to post for a long time, but I kept missing the chance. Honestly, in my recent job I didnt have enough time and mental space to write this down. But this is a very important story about my work life.
I am a working professional, and in my view, every 9 to 6 employee feels satisfied in their routine. The main reason is the fixed salary, at the start of every month, you know exactly how much you are going to get, so there is no fear about running household expenses.
Since 2021, one of my close friend has been convincing me to leave my job and start a company with him. Every time we met, he would try hard to persuade me. Even our mutual friend, who lives in Dubai, would always join the discussion whenever he visited. But I never agreed, because I was too comfortable in my secure job. I had a peaceful work environment, manageable workload, and overall I was settled. Yes, the salary was not great, but the word comfort zone truly fit my situation. I was too afraid to step out of it, just like many people who think leaving the shell will only bring trouble.
Then came 14th November 2024. That Dubai friend was in town again, and the three of us met. This time, things were different. I had just received my appraisal, the highest in the company at 15%. Still, I was not happy because I was expecting 25%. That disappointment was on my mind during our meetup.
Again the same topic came up: “How long will you stay in this job? Don’t you want to move forward?” This time, instead of refusing, I said: “Ok, maybe not as a partner, but what if I leave my current job and join you instead?” My friend immediately agreed. He said, “Fine, just resign and come work with me.”
This important meetup happened at a famous restaurant, Stove Club. It became one of the most memorable days of my life because thats when I finally stepped out of my shell and decided to resign. My friend even offered: “If job security worries you, I can give you six months salary in advance.” His words gave me confidence, and I told him to talk to his partners and get me onboard.
By the way, the BBQ platter we ordered that night was absolutely delicious! It made our discussion even more special. Stove Club is famous for that platter, and people come from far away just to try it.
Back to work life: At that time, I was already working as a CS Manager. My friend suggested that along with CS, I should also handle telesales, build my own customers, and earn more. He said, “I just want you to realize that earning is not as difficult as you think.” Since I was already upset about the appraisal, his words hit me hard and in a good way.
The truth is, they only wanted the best for me and wanted to see me grow. And they were right. Often, we know the reality but still run away from it because we are too comfortable in our shells. We lock ourselves in so tightly that stepping out feels impossible. But the fact is, with honesty and hard work, success always comes. Maybe not instantly, but it definitely comes.
And yes, I benefited a lot from this decision. My mind opened up, my thinking changed, and soon after that meetup, I resigned from my job and joined my friend’s company. I will share more details about that journey in another post.
All above pictures are taken by me through my cell phone Infinix Hot40i.