March 5, 2021 3 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

We’ve all been there: That dragging job that drains us of our energy, guts us of our dreams and makes us wake up in the morning wondering if this is really what we were born to do.

For many of us there is that million dollar idea that burns inside and with each passing day gets more stale. It is a hard decision to make between leaving the comfort of a stable job and building something of your own. What about the salary? The benefits? The dependents? The 401K?

All those luxuries disappear the minute you turn the company laptop in for the last time.

Conversely a recent survey of 2,500 people, including 500 small business owners, conducted on behalf of Invoice2go found that 60% said they’re committed to the idea of working for themselves rather than an employer, citing an interest in following their passion (57%), a belief that they could be of benefit to others (53%) and a need to set their own schedule (52%).

So how do YOU know if it’s time to jump ship?

Fulfillment

Any entrepreneur that has started their journey after working for another company has had this question: “Am I living up to my potential?”

The answer might be as simple as a role change, a jump into a new career, and maybe, just maybe…a light bulb that is the fact that it’s time to start your own journey.

Related: The Complete, 12-Step Guide to Starting a Business

Health

If you find yourself stressed, depressed and full of anxiety? Your body will tell you. These symptoms can be a result of dissatisfaction at the workplace. Many times it is as simple as looking in the mirror. What version of yourself do you love the most? You have to get back to that form. Every day you don’t will only continue to take a toll on your health. No job is worth your well-being.

Motivation

If you are finding it hard to get motivated to participate, to lead, to achieve, etc. there is definitely a root cause. It does not always have to be work related. It could be in your personal life. However every day that passes where you are not giving it your all ends up being a day that you wish you had back.

Related: Patricia Armendariz will invest in three entrepreneurs, you can be one of them

Reality

You must assess the situation entirely and analyze whether it really does make sense to make the career change and/or start your own business.

Do you have the capital? Do you have a true business plan and model that you could present today? Do you have an idea of the team you want to build or need as you grow? Most importantly, does it really make sense?

Those are the types of questions that should be in your mind constantly if you are truly thinking of making a plunge.

Starting something new is never an easy task. 

Just make sure that you check off all the boxes, the loved ones are taken care of and your entrepreneurial destiny will write itself. When the day comes that you actually are living the life you dreamed of? Take a moment to be thankful that you listened to the signs.

Related: 10 Emerging Careers That Will Dominate the Future of Work