What To Do When You’ve Had Enough Of The Corporate World

Corporate leaders, this one is for you. Think back to when you started your corporate career path. Maybe it was 20 years ago. Maybe it was 10 years ago.

Take a brief pause to look at your time investment, your progression and to revel in your accomplishments. Then ask yourself a bold and honest question:

Is it everything I’d hoped for?

If the answer is anything less than “mostly yes”, perhaps it’s a good time to ditch your current job and consider other interesting career options that you may not have allowed yourself to entertain.

(Related: Bespoke Outplacement Services).

The world of work as we’ve known it for the past 50 years is crumbling and simultaneously morphing into something we’re yet to fully understand.

In doing so, it’s presenting us with new problems – and new opportunities.

Yet, most of us are so busy doing what we always have that we don’t often pause to seriously consider these opportunities.

So, what are your other alternative options?

1. Join A Startup.

Working for a startup is oh-so-chic and trendy these days.

I would highly recommend that you remain extremely level-headed about the “cool” factor of your potential startup job. If you allow this to become one of the main motivators, you won’t last long.

I’ve been in the startup game for 15 years now – and during this time have met countless startup teams in Australia, have travelled to the Silicon Valley and worked out of swanky startup hubs in New York City.

Here’s what I’ve learned.

Yes, some elements of the startup life can be sexy.

But it all depends on the team that you join, its culture and the stage of growth that the business is in.

If you join a venture capital-backed startup in that’s just raised a Series B round of funding, you can probably expect to be pampered with all the usual bells and whistles – impressive office space (or a 100% location-independent work arrangement), subsidies and freebies, (maybe) an unlimited annual leave policy, etc.

However, those startups are quite established, which means working at one might not feel too different to what you experience with your current employer.

(Related: 14 Best Side Hustle Ideas).

This means if you want a more raw, real, let’s-rally-together-and-let’s-make-things-happen-no-matter-what kind of startup experience, you’ll have to find a younger startup with less money.

This means less “cool factor” and less perks.

In both cases, keep in mind that, because the CEO is under huge pressure to grow the business fast, the workload can be brutal. Don’t join a startup if you’ve just had a baby, have a medical condition that requires regular treatment or have relatives who need your care.

(By the way, to give yourself the best possible chance of getting a job with a hot startup, ensure that your resume is on point. Consider using our premium resume writing service or our executive resume writing service.

2. Go Freelance.

Yep, you read that right.

There’s a popular belief that most freelance workers are film producers who tend to subsist on rice and beans. While that was probably true at some point, we’re now seeing the emergence of freelance CFOs, COOs, CHROs and CTOs.

This is driven – to a large extent – by growth in the number of startups (many of which offer work-from-home arrangements.

(Related: The Best Stand-Up Desk For Your Home Office).

These startups often reach a plateau and realise that they require specialised outside expertise in order to maintain their growth trajectory.

Hiring a full-time C-Level executive, however, is typically too risky / too expensive / is an overkill – which is where a “gun for hire” offers the right mix of effectiveness, cost and risk.

If you’re not at the C-Level, don’t be discouraged.

The main requirement is for you to have deep expertise and experience in a clearly defined field, so that you can comfortably and confidently add value to a growing business.

(Related: How To Claim Your Home Office Expenses).

3. Learn To Invest.

If you’re in a fortunate position where you’ve saved enough money not to have to work for a few years, why not learn to trade stocks, cryptocurrencies or forex?

I’ve known quite a few people who have made serious money by investing in the Australian stock market via stock trading apps or online stock brokers.

This is not a career for short-sighted people who want to retire overnight. But if you’re smart, logical, innately curious and can think more than 5 years ahead, this could be an interesting new path.

(Related: How To Invest In Australian Stocks).

4. Start Your Own Business.

With this last option, we’ve come full circle.

Because starting your own business would be a startup–with you in the driver’s seat. Like working for someone else’s startup, this option is not for the risk-averse.

But … if you have a personal vision, tireless motivation and are resilient enough for the roller coaster ride, it could be the ride of your life.

If losing your regular paycheck is too much to swallow, get creative. For example, go part-time with your current employer and start your business on the side.

(Related: Best POS Systems In Australia).

Key Point To Remember.

If you’ve ever fantasised about getting laid off–and yearned for what might have been–give yourself the time and the space to explore your options.

To define what living the dream means for you once and for all.

Because if you don’t do it now, there’s the chance that someday you’ll look back and have regrets.
 
– Steven