I’ve been in the corporate world for almost nine years now. Working in cybersecurity for the majority of that time, I had a pretty great career. I have worked with executives, interview industry experts, and got to be a part of two companies becoming unicorns. I have traveled across the globe annually for work (I went to Spain—twice!) and have received amazing benefits (hello box tickets to see Dave Chapelle).
Plus the money? The money was good.
I went from scraping by, living paycheck to paycheck to making $120K per year (plus an 11% bonus). I had a stable income, a wonderful job, and great coworkers time and time again.
All-in-all, it has been an incredible ride. So why would I leave?
The simple answer: I wanted a change.
The Corporate Conundrum
Stability is fantastic—most people thrive on it. There’s the financial side of things: knowing exactly when money is going to hit your bank account, how much will be in there, and what you’re going to spend it on (groceries, bills, that purse you’ve been saving up for, etc.). There’s also beauty in the corporate routine—you wake up, get ready, go to work, and then go home. You know exactly what every day will look like.
My days were predictable. And I loved that.
But as time went on, I realized I was spending a lot of my time chasing after other people’s dreams. Day in and day out, I spent 8 hours a day working in cybersecurity. I would get off of work and have little to no energy to do the things that I wanted to do. Any energy I did have leftover was spent on my family—being a wife and (more recently in the past six months) a mother. Both roles I love deeply from the bottom of my heart.
But for 8 hours of the day, I was chasing after the dreams of whatever company I was working for and not my own. And that begs the question: what are my dreams?
Embracing My Calling
In kindergarten, everyone is asked what they want to be when they grow up. Some kids want to be astronauts, others want to be firefighters and a special few want to be Batman or Superman.
For me? I figured I would be a music teacher like my mom. My parents encouraged my musical talents, getting me my clarinet and paying for singing lessons. I loved performing in concerts and I kicked butt at the vocal competitions. So I went to school for music education.
But when it actually came time to actually teach, I realized I sucked at it. I royally sucked at it. To the point where I needed to switch my major from music education in college to something else entirely. Yes. I was that bad.
So I switched majors, got my English degree, and graduated college.
Now, I’ve seen some authors come out the gate swinging—focusing all their efforts on getting published. And I’m happy for them. But my focus when I graduated college was one thing: money. I needed money to pay off my student loans and not be a burden on my parents.
So my creativity was pushed to the side while I went down a corporate career path that served me well for years. But there was always a part of me that wanted to go back to my dream of writing. And that dream of writing also tied in with my dream of becoming a stay-at-home mom.
Breaking Free: The Decision to Leave the Corporate World
Leaving the corporate world to pursue my dream of becoming a stay-at-home mom and writer was a decision that had been years in the making. It wasn’t a whim or a desire that came out of nowhere. It was a goal that had been cultivated after tons of careful consideration and unyielding determination.
When I said goodbye to my job in February, I knew I was embarking on a new chapter of my life. I was both excited and scared. Would I regret my decision? Would I be bored? Would I be disciplined enough to achieve my writing goals while simultaneously being a homemaker for my family?
Now, as March draws to a close, I can confidently say that I have zero doubts or regrets about my decision. I wake up in the morning energized knowing that I have plenty of time to be both a mother and a writer. The ability to nurture my family while also pursuing my creative ambitions brings me an unparalleled sense of fulfillment and contentment. The freedom to shape my days according to my own priorities and aspirations is a privilege I cherish deeply.
Instead of feeling constrained by the demands of a corporate career, I am empowered by the autonomy to pursue my goals on my own terms. This newfound balance between motherhood and writing has brought me immense joy and satisfaction, affirming that I made the right choice for myself and my family. Looking back, I am grateful for the courage to take that leap of faith and for the incredible sense of fulfillment it has brought into my life.
Conclusion
To those who also want to hop on the bandwagon of quitting corporate, I suggest you weigh your decision carefully as I did. The main thing is making sure you are stable financially to do so and have enough self-discipline to plan out your day. Once you determine that you are ready, take the leap of faith and follow your dreams.
Elizabeth Yuen 