Interesting thread. This time last year I had a job that paid hugely above the national average. The problem was I absolutely hated it with a passion. I was good at it, it's just it was soul crushing work coupled with management that changed every six months.
Every six months, when the new managers came in, they reinvented the wheel all over again. Very competent people were passed up for promotion and instead the company hired morons from outside that had no background in our very specialised market and they wanted to leave their mark, so changed everything again. And again. And again.
I realised that approaching forty years of age, if I didn't make a move now then I never would.
I had a very expensive high performance car and I sold it knowing that I can live off the money from that for two years. I am still gutted to this day that I got rid of it but I know that it was sacrificed for a worthy cause. I put as much into the mortgage as I could, only leaving about 100k GBP left to pay off and the rest went into savings for me to live off.
A few years ago, I was knocked off my motorbike by a drunk driver with over three times the legal limit of alcohol in his system. He died in the crash.
After I came out of hospital and spent an agonizing period convalescing, I realised that I didn't want to lie on my death bed in forty-some years time and regret the fact that I didn't go off and follow my heart; my dream job.
You see, as a child, I had a dream that I wanted to become an actor but my father flatly refused me the opportunity to do so, saying "You are going to go to University and get a real job." So I did. I went to University and studied law and bitterly regretted the decision that was made for me but determined to make the best of it.
So in August last year, I sold my Aston Martin and handed in my resignation at work. I don't have a back up plan 'if it all fails' because it won't fail. I am too positive and dedicated to my passion that I just know it will work. I truly believe I was put on this earth to be an actor and everything I do on a daily basis is designed to make me a better person, to make contacts and solve problems.
It was the hardest decision I have ever made but I couldn't have done it without the love and support of my girlfriend who's been with me through thick and thin for fifteen years. She knows I can do this and the important thing is that there are numerous directors, producers and casting directors out there who also know I can do this. I shot my first lead in a feature film late last year and it was released for digital download last week. I'm off to Italy in May to shoot another feature film and my acting coach, a very well respected man in Los Angeles has invited me out to LA to work with him in June.
Eventually i will move out to LA and work as an actor there.
The biggest and best piece of advice I can give you is this: Always, ALWAYS believe in yourself and never doubt the decision you made to give up your job and pursue your dream. You have a right to be happy.
Also, the reason I don't have a 'Plan B' is that is a negative thought. I'm all about positivity. I don't need a plan B. I believe that a backup plan is only for those that are thinking about failure.
Be positive in all things. Try to avoid being dragged into arguments that aren't yours (like on forums for instance
) and cull those negative people from your life; they will only drag you down.
As long as you have the support of the people that you love and that love you and the positivity to know you can succeed, there is nothing to stop you.
Good luck, I sincerely mean it. It will be a life changing decision for you.
(well, except for the hospital part)
