Blogless

I’ve extolled the virtues of getting fired here at BlogLESS before. I think everyone should get fired from a gig for standing up for their principles at least once, and this weekend – while you’re upacking your winter sweaters – I wanted to give you something to think about with regards to the seemingly less accessible half of this equation. After all, it’s easy to get fired: it’s harder, though, to quit.

So get out your pencil and paper, this is going to require a little math. And listen: Don’t think you can do this in your head and internalize it. You can’t. You’ve got to see the numbers. Otherwise, its all going to seem like sound and fury, which I promise it’s not. The payoff is huge. The day I really internalized this was the day my life got a lot happier. A lot.

How to rebalance the scales

• Take the amount of money you make in an average year of consulting. Call that a.
• Now take the amount of money you make on an average job. Call that b.
• Now take the amount of money you spend in an average year. Call that c.
• Now take a – b. If this number is greater than c, I’ve got news for you, and you can skip down to the bottom section. If it’s not, then I’ve got something for you to ponder this weekend.

if (a – b) < c

• Try and think of something that you spend about c – (a – b) dollars on that you could live without. Try hard. Call that thing d.
• If you can’t find a valid d, take the day off; come back tomorrow to try again.

Now…

if ((a – b) > c) or d

I think that (((a – b) > c) || d) is true for almost everyone. And if it’s true for you, it means that you can afford to take one less gig this year, and at most, this will cost you something that you don’t need anyway. And once you know this — that you can really, honestly afford to quit a gig this year, or else not take one — and you know exactly what it will cost you, you’re not going to have to think twice when the time arises.

And that certainty is awesome! Knowing what you know, the the next time someone wants you to do something you’re not sure is ethical, or wants you to make something you wouldn’t put in your portfolio, you can tell ‘em thanks but no thanks and still be laughing all the way to the bank.