A client said something in a recent coaching session that stopped me cold:
“I don’t care about money anymore.”
Let’s call her Anna.
Anna was burned out.
She felt disconnected from the mission at her CPG (consumer packaged goods) company. Tired of the endless meetings. Tired of the pressure to deliver work that didn’t matter to her.
And she was tired of feeling stuck.
Like something had to change, even if she didn’t know what.
Anna was ready to leave.
But I was concerned.
Anna only had 4 months of runway.
And no plan.
The Problem
When you’re miserable at work, it’s easy to romanticize quitting with no plan.
You start telling yourself…
“Money doesn’t matter.”
“I just need to be happy again.”
“Something will work out.”
But money does matter.
You need it for groceries. The mortgage. Summer camp for the kids.
You need money to buy time.
To build freedom.
To avoid quitting in a panic, then taking another job you don’t even want just to pay the bills.
I love money. I love saving it, using it to grow my business, and paying brilliant people, so I can spend my time doing what I’m best at.
I used to chase money like it was the North Star. Now, it’s still high priority — it’s just not number one. It sits alongside freedom, health, happiness, relationships, and time with my kids at our neighborhood pool.
Ignoring money doesn’t make you bold.
It makes you unprepared and reckless.
The Big Small Thing
Thinking of quitting your job?
Don’t just ask: “Am I ready to leave?”
Ask: “Am I building what I’ll need once I do?”
Here’s 3 things to do before you give notice:
1. Check your numbers.
Get real about your finances. Talk to a financial advisor. Know how much time you actually have.
I had seven (7!) meetings with my financial advisor before I pulled the trigger on leaving Google.
2. Start building assets.
Start building your personal brand through a newsletter, your LinkedIn, your point of view.
Test ideas while you’re still employed — so you’re not starting from scratch on Day 1.
(Pro tip: Make sure anything you build is not in violation of any company policies.)
And if you’re staying at your current job for a while…
3. Use your time wisely.
Grow your skills, your visibility, and your relationships. You don’t need to launch something huge. But you do need to give yourself something to land on.
I’m not saying you need a six-figure business before you quit. But you should have momentum.
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How This Helps You Get What You Want
Quitting isn’t the risk.
Quitting without a plan is.
So no, you don’t have to care about making millions.
But you should care about having options.
Your future self will thank you.
