I knew it was time for a change when I started fantasizing about car accidents.
To be clear, I wasn’t suicidal. I didn’t want a serious accident or anything. I only wanted a little fender-bender, some mild whiplash.
Just enough to give me an excuse to not go to work.
This had happened before.
Four years earlier, while driving to my corporate communications job, I had the same fantasy. A fantasy where I got into a car crash on my way to work.
Four years ago, that kind of wishful thinking led me to quit my six-figure job and embark on a year-long backpacking trip around the world with my husband. That year away changed me profoundly. It rearranged my core. After the trip, I was a different person, with different values and a different idea of what life should be.
And yet here I was, back at that same corporate job.
Back to driving the same route on the same highway to the same office building to do essentially the same thing that I had been doing before our trip.
Day, after day, after day.
It’d been a year since the boredom set in. And the car accident fantasies had started again.
I was deeply unhappy. I knew what I didn't want, but I had no idea what I did want. I flailed around, desperately looking for a passion, a hobby, a distraction: anything to create some semblance of newness to the monotony that was slowly suffocating me.
I tried interest after interest, hobby after hobby, until I found myself one evening half-heartedly learning hip-hop dance moves from YouTube videos in my living room.
That’s when I realized: This isn’t working.
I know I'm not the only one who has felt like that-- like you're trapped in a job, a life, a system of values that just doesn't fit anymore.
Let me be clear- it was a good job. It was a good company, with a nice team and a boss that appreciated me. I had a beautiful office, a fantastic salary and I was good at what I did. It was fine.
But damn it, I wanted more than fine.
I wanted something I cared about, something that excited me. I wanted to spend my work days doing something I valued, with people who inspired me.
I know what it sounds like: I'm an idealist, I'm spoiled, I'm a millennial. But here's the thing- I knew it was possible.
Why? Because I saw other people doing it.
I saw my friends start their own consulting practices and businesses. I saw them make their own hours and take on projects that excited them. And yes, I saw them work their assess off and struggle to make a steady income. But you know what?
They weren't fantasizing about getting into a car accident so they wouldn't have to go to work.
So I decided to go for it. To take the leap, quit my 6-figure job yet again and try to create something meaningful.
Hence the name of this whole project: Favor the Bold.
Fortune favors the bold.
The bold decisions. The bold life changes. The boldness to be able to say: “I want this,” and then go get it. The boldness to be paralyzed with fear of something and then do it anyway.
This project is for those who don't want to live small. Who have looked at the status quo and said, "You know what? I'll pass." Who take risks, knowing that uncertainty is where possibility is born.
What about you? Are you favoring the bold? Do you want to?
Then follow me.
No, I don’t mean quit your job. At least, not right this second.
I mean follow me on this journey.
Follow this blog, where I’ll jam on business, communication and life. I love telling people what to do, so expect actionable tips and step-by-step guides on topics like writing, managing clients, setting goals, finding balance and getting shit done. This first post was pretty personal, but in general, I'll keep the car-accident-fantasy storytelling to a minimum.
So here I go. Favoring the bold, starting something new and embarking on another crazy adventure.
And I'd love for you to come along for the ride.
