The "safe" career or the chance to follow your dreams. Which would you choose?
This is the question many of us will have to face at some point in our careers. Do we take the leap to pursue our dreams and potentially fail (with the potential of being majorly successful) OR do we follow the "safe" path and breathe easy knowing we're guaranteed some security. This is a question our dear friend and We Heart It power user Elise, otherwise known as @WTFab, was faced with.
Elise gave us the inside scoop on how she decided she would leave her dream job with one of the top companies in the WORLD to do something a little more risky, and start on her own. Keep reading to find out more!
Please introduce yourself to our users!
Hi! I'm Elise and I write the travel and style blog What The Fab. You can also find me on Insta @wtfab. I launched my website almost seven years ago in June of 2012, and it's been quite the ride! Over the years I've been able to turn my passion project into a side hustle, and most recently into my full time job. When I'm not working (which let's face it, even when I'm playing I'm usually shooting/working), you can usually find me trying new restaurants in San Francisco, or traveling and exploring a new destination.
In this blog post you discuss leaving your dream job at Google to focus on your own brand. This is so inspiring and must have taken SO MUCH COURAGE. What lead you to this point?
Thank you so much! Lots of blood, sweat and tears (literally). I worked on my blog, What The Fab every night after coming home from my day job and during my free hours on the weekends for six and a half years before I felt comfortable with the income it was bringing in in order to finally take the leap and leave my job at Google. The quotes on Instagram are true: The day dream is free, the hustle is sold separately. ;)
Have you had any regrets since leaving Google?
Zero. :)
What are some challenges you’ve faced since turning your side-hustle into your full time job? How have you overcome them?
Having total freedom and complete control over my own schedule and projects is incredibly exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. I spent a lot of my first month working for myself figuring out a new routine through trial and error. Am I more productive if I work out in the morning, afternoon, or evening? Do I work better at my home office or a co-working space? Should I take meetings in the afternoon or first thing in the morning? I've made it a practice to journal every day, and through journaling I've been able to find patterns and recognize what works best for me and my new routine.
What is some advice you have for our readers who may be in a similar position - about to make a big (and somewhat risky) life decision. What was the process like in deciding on making such a big decision?
Big decisions like this are very personal, and while it's great to seek advice from people whose opinions you respect, you ultimately have to make the best decision for yourself. Some people told me I absolutely needed to take the plunge and blog full time, while others told me to never, ever leave Google. At the end of 2018 I realized I would always have this yearning to be an entrepreneur, and if I didn't try it now I would regret it for the rest of my life. It was a combination of listening to my heart and also being as pragmatic as possible (i.e. waiting until my blog generated a comfortable income, creating a new budget for myself/my husband to live by while I launched my business and said goodbye to my cushy Google salary, and saving a nest egg over the years while working full time and blogging).
Your story truly is one of success - what are some qualities, traits and/or habits you practice that you believe have contributed to your success and could contribute to others’?
I've learned there's no substitute for just working your ass off. I wrote a really detailed blog post here all about how I managed to work full time and run my blog, which was the number one thing I was asked about while I was at Google. It covers everything from taking care of myself mentally and physically so I can maximize my performance, as well as efficiency tips and tools.
To keep up with Elise and for more amazing fashion, travel and lifestyle content make sure you follow her on We Heart It and check out her website www.w-t-fab.com
