My Goal to Leave Corporate America by 40 (and become a fulltime author)

I’ve never seen myself as someone who worked a desk job. By that I mean sitting at a desk from 9-5 working for someone else. (Obviously I would potentially be at a desk writing as a fulltime author.) I even had a friend in college say she could never see me behind a desk taking orders from higher ups. And after college I didn’t go to a desk job. I had the very rare opportunity to live out a dream I never thought possible and took over the small business of a surf and skate shop on the Jersey Shore. I had interned there during my MBA and when the owners said they were closing I was upset and the owner said he would sell it to me for $1. I thought he was kidding…he was not.

For 6 years (almost 7) I worked 7 days, 80 hours average. While I loved the people I met, a lot becoming lifelong friends (shoplifters definitely not included) , the hours and issues with landlords took a toll on my mental health and most of my relationships outside the shop. My now husband and I almost broke up at one point. And with all of that happening I made the tough decision to close the shop. Shockingly it was a blessing in disguise because a year after I closed was 2020. (Something happened that year right?)

I sobbed for sure. Not only because a dream of mine didn’t work out, but because now that my dream failed I had no clue how to move forward.

During those 6 years I started on a lot of side hustles during the slow seasons and lulls in the days. None that made me any kind of money but were fun none the less. I had written and published my first book (no longer available), Traveler was written in that shop and only now just met the light of day. I have clearly loved writing for a very long time. And another thing I was able to do was write album and concert reviews for a friend’s online music magazine. The concert reviews turned into concert photography as well. I loved it. I had so much fun being able to see so many amazing concerts and listening to so many amazing bands.

But while I had a blast doing all that, none of it paid the bills. My book was maybe bought by a few family members and some random people who absolutely hated it (yes I looked at the reviews), going to concerts, while I got to go to the concert for free, I was also not getting paid for my writing, which was all good because it did help me learn how to write articles, but again…this life does require money.

I started working a part time retail job while trying to figure out my next step. I had only just started dabbling with writing Seoul Searching and never thought writing would be a way to make money. I had also pitched the book to editors and agents who told me no one would be interested in the book’s idea. Especially since it was K-drama inspired and they didn’t know what those were so others wouldn’t know either.

I had begun to put Seoul Searching up for free for people to read. Yes, on this very site. All of this to say I didn’t see writing as a way for me to make money.

A friend ended up finding me an opening in her company and I started my corporate America journey. It wasn’t great, but it was in NYC around the corner from ktown and across the street from the celebrity entrance to the Empire State so it had some perks. While I missed BTS walking in one time, my coworker caught them. I was only there for a little over two years when I left for a better offer and that is where I currently am.

I’ve been here now for five years and I’m over it. It’s not that I dislike the company, it’s actually not a bad gig, but I’ve outgrown my position. And if I wanted to stay in corporate America, I have no room for growth here. But I’m done with it. Like I said at the beginning of this I don’t see myself at a desk being told what to do by higher ups who don’t even know I exist beyond making them money.

I now have seven books out. Seven! And I have so many more screaming at me in my brain to be written. But I can’t write them all with the limited free time I have. And that’s how we get to the title of this post and my goal.

My son starts school in three years. And in those same three years I turn 40. Yes, I’m old af. By the end of those three years, I hope to leave my job and pursue writing full time.

The big question to me is, HOW?! How will I be able to do this? While my books sell well, they don’t pay for life. They pay for the next book to be published and other book-related things. So, for the next three years I’m building up my retirement by upping my contribution for the next 3 years, putting some of my savings into CD’s (not album CD’s lol), and watching my spending (no more swiping on vertical dramas) to build up a small nut. A cushion. I will also be calculating the average bills cost and other expenses to figure out my cost of living. I want to create a quarterly assessment which will start with my first one being September. (If you’re interested I can share it here)

3 years. 3년 (nyeon- year(s)) I’m giving myself three years to become a fulltime author. I want to prove to not only myself that I can do it, but my son. I want to show him it’s never too late to start following your dreams.