how quitting my 9-5 lit a fire under my arse

and how it can for you

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The 9-5 life kept me very comfortable.

And I know I’ve been hammering home about it to the point where you’re sick of reading about the topic. But here’s the thing. I have aspirations and dreams I didn’t pursue because I had a paycheck from my job which gave me permission to be lazy. At the end of every month, I knew a lump-sum payment would land in my bank account.

The 9-5 made me really unhappy—but it was comfortable.

However, I couldn’t fathom waking up for the next 40 years of my life to something I was unable to give 100% of my effort to—it made me sick.

So, I quit.

I entered the corporate world in 2022, and I’ve left it for the rest of my life in December 2024. I quit because the pain of remaining in the same situation seemed far greater than the pain of stepping into the unknown.

Discomfort is a catalyst—it pushes you to figure out what really matters to you.

A steady income isn’t a bad thing. If you enjoy your job and wake up with excitement, I am not writing for you. I’m writing to the people who want to break free from the 9-5. I am writing to the people who want to build something for themselves. I am writing to the people who brush aside their dreams because there’s “always tomorrow”.

But there isn’t “always tomorrow”. The only time you have is this moment.

In the post, I’ll argue why you need to jump in the deep end.

I was inspired to write this based on what

Nick Neve

said, I’ll let him tell you:

throw yourself in the deep end of the pool even if you can’t swim

When you’re at a pool, you see some people swimming in the shallow water.

But you know you’ll be safe in the shallow end before you even dip your toe in the water. You can stand in the shallow end. You can swim in the shallow end. But you’ll never know whether you can really swim.

Sometimes in life, you’ve just got to throw yourself in the deep end.

In the deep end, there’s no time for any distractions. You’ve got to take action to survive. Your life depends on your ability to be calm and remain on the surface of the water. You’ll drown if you give a half-arsed attempt to swim.

It’s not an extreme example—because humans are adaptable.

Humans learn very quickly.

If you’ve been in the shallow water long enough, chances are, you’ll survive in the deep end. You’ll stay afloat. You’ll manage to swim yourself to safety. And once you exit the pool, you’ll never be the same again.

The people in the shallow water will look at you like you’re some sort of maniac.

You had the courage to throw yourself in the deep end, even when you didn’t feel ready. Even when you weren’t sure whether you’d survive. Now, you know you never need to go back to the shallow end of the pool.

The analogy is true for all areas of your life.

When I relied on the 9-5 as my source of income, I became complacent. I spent my entire life in the shallow water because I knew my chances of survival there were above 101%. As soon as I decided to jump in the deep end, I learned to swim much faster. I learned to fight. I learned how to stay afloat.

quit the 9-5 to ignite your drive

The 9-5 is the biggest comfort zone trap.

If you’re driven but lazy, you tell yourself “I’ll start tomorrow”, or “there’s no rush”.

With the 9-5, the flame up your arse is warm and it keeps you a little toasted. It’s actually quite comforting. But once you drop the 9-5, it’s as if someone’s started a bomfire directly under your arse. Now, the heat’s going to burn you alive if you don’t get up, make a plan, and start moving.

And everyone’s different—this is only my experience.

I had a side project while working my 9-5. But I was too lazy about it. I didn’t work on it consistently. I was easy on myself because I could easily fall back on the income from my job.

Everything was flipped on its head once I quit my job.

I knew I had no choice but to double-down on my projects.

I got up and began to move with intent.

I’m unemployed now, but I’m more focused, productive and motivated than I’ve ever felt in my life. And for the first time in a very long time, I wake up in the morning and am happy to sit at my desk and work.

living life on your terms beats the comfort of a paycheck

Being in control of your own schedule is so rewarding.

Autonomy is the number one thing I seek in life—I’m never going to give somebody else to dictate what I do again. How long have I been at it? 10 days. So you may be reading this and telling yourself I know nothing.

What I do know is I’ve never felt better. I’m working on things I decide to work on—not on tasks someone else tells me to do. I’m learning things which I know are going to be so useful 12 months from now. I’m growing everyday. And I am in complete control of the two things I try and guard preciously—my time and energy.

A monthly paycheck steals you of your time—and it saps your energy.

A monthly paycheck keeps you comfortable.

Nothing replaces the feeling of being on your own boat and actually being the captain steering it where you want it to go. Quitting the 9-5 is the best decision I’ve ever made—it’s lit the fire which is telling me to keep on moving.

When you have a project you’re passionate about, quitting your job and dedicating all your time to it is the best waay to make progress on what matters.

You no longer have anywhere to hide.

Excuses crumble.

embrace discomfort—and make your one life count

Comfort is nice—but it’s never going to lead to greatness.

And maybe I’m on my own on this one. I know most people would advise the opposite. “Wait until your side project is generating income and matches the income from your current job before quitting”.

I disagree.

Sometimes, you need to crank up the flame to get moving.

At least for me, it’s the best solution to work hard and go after what I want.

Throw all your eggs in one basket.

Turn up the flame and see how it jolts you to get moving.

You have one life.

So it’s time to make it count.

Talk soon,

Stefano

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