Should I Quit My Job to Start a Business? You're Asking the Wrong Question
Everyone asks me this question.
It's the #1 thing that keeps corporate professionals stuck in planning mode for months—sometimes years.
"Should I quit my job first, or should I build my business on the side?"
And here's what I always tell them: That's the wrong question.
I know that might surprise you. You came here looking for a clear answer—quit or don't quit. A checklist. A formula. Permission.
But if I just gave you a yes-or-no answer, I'd be doing you a disservice. Because the real issue isn't whether you quit first or build on the side.
The real issue is that you're asking a tactical question when you need a strategic answer.
Let me explain.
I've Done Both (And One Was WAY Harder Than the Other)
I'm going to be straight with you: I've been on both sides of this question.
After losing everything in a real estate partnership collapse, 30 years of income and savings, gone, I built my first coaching business with zero capital. No savings. No safety net. Just massive pressure and grit.
And you know what? It worked. I built a six-figure business from absolute ashes.
But it was hard. Stressful. Reactive. I was making decisions from survival mode, not inspiration. Every day felt like I was building the plane while nose diving.
Then later, I launched my group coaching program while I was already coaching full-time. I had income. I had clarity on my vision. I had built the blueprint before I started executing.
And it was completely different. I was building from flow, not force. From abundance, not scarcity. From a clear vision of where I was going, not just scrambling to survive.
The difference wasn't the timeline. It wasn't whether I had a job or not.
The difference was clarity and commitment to a vision before I started.
And that's what most people skip. They jump straight to "Should I quit?" without ever asking the question that actually matters.
The Question You SHOULD Be Asking
Here it is:
"What do I want? Who is my future self that matches that want, and what does that person require me to do NOW?"
Not "What's safe?"
Not "What's the right move?"
Not "What will other people think?"
Those questions come from your current identity, the version of you that's stuck, scared, and seeking permission.
Your future self doesn't need permission. Your future self has already made the decision. Your future self is already running the business, living the life, operating from inspiration instead of obligation.
So the real question is: What does that person need you to do today?
When you ask that question, "Should I quit my job?" becomes irrelevant. Because the answer isn't about quitting or not quitting—it's about alignment with your vision.
Step 1: Get Crystal Clear on What You Actually Want
This is where most people go wrong.
They try to figure out the execution path before they've clarified the destination.
They ask questions like:
"Do I need a website first?"
"Should I get an LLC?"
"How do I get my first client?"
But those are tactics. And tactics without vision just keep you spinning.
Before you decide anything about quitting or building on the side, you need to answer these questions:
What does your life look like 12 months from now?
What are you doing every day?
How do you feel?
What does your work look like?
Who have you become?
Most people skip this step. They jump straight into "how do I start a business?" without ever defining what kind of life that business is supposed to support.
And then they wonder why they recreate the same burnout they were trying to escape.
Here's what I know from building my business from the ashes and helping hundreds of people do the same: Your future vision comes first. Always.
Not the tactics. Not the timeline. Not the "right" strategy.
Vision first. Blueprint second. Execution third.
Step 2: Understand the Difference Between Conscious and Reactive Decisions
Now here's where this gets real.
There are two ways to make the decision about quitting your job: consciously or reactively.
And the path you choose matters way less than why you're choosing it.
Reactive decisions are based on:
Fear: "What if I fail? What if I can't get my job back?"
Current circumstances: "I don't have money saved, so I have to keep working"
Other people's opinions: "Everyone thinks I'm crazy for wanting to leave"
Desperation: "I hate my job so much I HAVE to quit NOW or I'll lose my mind"
Reactive decisions keep you stuck. Even if you quit your job "successfully," you'll be building from survival mode. And survival mode doesn't create sustainable businesses—it creates burnout.
Conscious decisions are based on:
Future vision: "Who am I becoming, and what does that person require?"
Strategic alignment: "What timeline serves my vision best?"
Internal conviction: "I'm committed to this identity shift, regardless of external circumstances"
Intentional choice: "I'm choosing this path because it aligns with my desires, not because I'm reacting to pressure"
When you make a conscious decision, the timeline becomes yours. It's not about what's "right" or "safe" or what other people are doing.
It's about what serves your vision.
For some people, that's 6 months. For others, it's 3 years. There's no "correct" answer—only your answer.
Step 3: Build the Blueprint, Then Execute
Once you're clear on your future self and you've made a conscious choice about your timeline, the next step is simple:
Buil The blueprint.
This is the reverse-engineered path from where you are now to where you want to be.
The blueprint answers:
What needs to happen first, second, third?
What are you building toward?
What does success look like at each milestone?
What systems need to be in place?
What does your business model look like?
When you have the blueprint, the execution becomes straightforward. You're not guessing. You're not winging it. You're following the plan you built from your future vision.
And here's the magic: When you have clarity on your vision and a blueprint to get there, the question "Should I quit my job?" answers itself.
Because you'll know exactly what your future self requires. And you'll make the decision that serves that vision, whether that's quitting immediately, building on the side for 6 months, or taking 2 years to transition safely.
It's your choice. Conscious. Intentional. Aligned.
What Would Make This Decision Irreversible?
Here's one more question I want you to sit with:
"What would need to be true for this decision to be irreversible?"
Not in a scary way. In an empowering way.
What would make going back to your current life impossible? What would make the identity shift so complete that your old self is no longer an option?
This is what creates real commitment. Not pressure. Not desperation. Commitment to becoming the person you've decided to be.
Because here's the truth: The people who succeed in this transition aren't the ones who had the perfect plan or the most money saved or the "right" timing.
They're the ones who decided—irreversibly—that they were becoming someone different. And then they built the bridge to get there.
So, Should You Quit Your Job or Build on the Side?
The answer is: It depends on your vision, your timeline, and your commitment.
But here's what I know for sure:
If you're asking this question from fear, scarcity, or external pressure…… Get clear first. Build the blueprint. Make the decision consciously.
If you're asking this question because you've already clarified your vision and you're ready to commit, then the answer will be obvious. Your future self will tell you what's required.
Either way, the path forward isn't about quitting or not quitting.
It's about clarity, blueprint, commitment, and execution.
In that order.
Ready to Build Your Blueprint?
If you want the framework I use to help people get crystal clear on their vision, build their blueprint, and make this decision consciously, I've got you.
It's called the 6 Figure Blueprint, and it walks you through the exact process I used to launch to 6 figures in 6 months and now use professionals to transition into INSPIRED businesses that support the life of their dreams.
Here's how to get it:
Reply "READY" in the comments below, or DM me the word READY, and I'll send you the Blueprint.
Then, if it aligns we'll hop on a clarity call and map out your specific timeline based on your future vision, not some generic formula, but your actual path.
You don't need permission to want more. You don't need to wait until its perfect.
You just need clarity, a blueprint, and commitment.
Let's build it together.
Love, Light, and Prosperity,
Prosperous Jenn
Soulful Prosperity Coach
