The next time you’re moodily sitting in your office, wishing you were living your dream instead, answer the following questions… or answer them now! They’ll give you a sense of whether or not now’s the time to make the break.

1. My job is making me crazy; so crazy I’d do anything to quit.
   
   
   
   1. Highly agree
      

   2. Mildly agree
      

   3. Don’t really agree
      

   4. Strongly disagree
      

   
   

2. If I left my job for my dream, I’m not sure what I’d do first, or even how I’d begin it.
   
   
   
   1. Highly agree
      

   2. Mildly agree
      

   3. Don’t really agree
      

   4. Strongly disagree
      

   
   

3. My boss runs my life … or ruins it. I feel completely misunderstood and trapped by this job. I don’t even know if I could quit – how would I survive? Who would even hire me?
   
   
   
   1. Highly agree
      

   2. Mildly agree
      

   3. Don’t really agree
      

   4. Strongly disagree
      

   
   

4. I hate this job but I really need the money. I don’t see any other viable alternative.
   
   
   
   1. Highly agree
      

   2. Mildly agree
      

   3. Don’t really agree
      

   4. Strongly disagree
      

   
   

5. If I stay at my work just a little longer, I stand a good chance of getting a promotion and a raise. Then I could find my way clear to saving a little money for my dream.
   
   
   
   1. Highly agree
      

   2. Mildly agree
      

   3. Don’t really agree
      

   4. Strongly disagree
      

   
   

   5. Yeah, I could quit my job for my dream, but I could run off to Tahiti, too. That’s way too much risk for my taste.
   

   
   
   1. Highly agree
      

   2. Mildly agree
      

   3. Don’t really agree
      

   4. Strongly disagree
      

   
   

6. My spouse/partner is okay with the thought of me quitting my job for my dream. We’ve talked it through and he/she sees it as the next thing I need to do.
   
   
   
   1. Highly agree
      

   2. Mildly agree
      

   3. Don’t really agree
      

   4. Strongly disagree
      

   
   

7. My spouse/partner fully understands what life will be like when I make the leap to begin my dream. He/she will be there for me, emotionally and even financially if necessary.
   
   
   
   1. Highly agree
      

   2. Mildly agree
      

   3. Don’t really agree
      

   4. Strongly disagree
      

   
   

8. I have a business plan for my dream all organized and ready to go. I’ve even
   
   
   scoped out sources for capital, and necessary space and materials to get to work.
   
   
   
   1. Highly agree
      

   2. Mildly agree
      

   3. Don’t really agree
      

   4. Strongly disagree
      

   
   

9. I have a savings account for my dream with enough to get started, plus an emergency savings account worth 6 months of my general living expenses. I’ve also scoped out alternatives to my current health care and insurance.
   
   
   
   1. Highly agree
      

   2. Mildly agree
      

   3. Don’t really agree
      

   4. Strongly disagree
      

   
   

   10. I’ve been developing a systematic plan for leaving my job for a while now… I feel I’m almost ready to go.
   

   
   
   1. Highly agree
      

   2. Mildly agree
      

   3. Don’t really agree
      

   4. Strongly disagree
      

   
   

   11. I have an adequate support system in place to really help me move ahead with my dream. It includes good friends and advisors, adequate child or elder care, a supportive spouse, and even a coach or mentor.
   

   
   
   1. Highly agree
      

   2. Mildly agree
      

   3. Don’t really agree
      

   4. Strongly disagree
      

   
   

If you answered mostly a) and b) to questions 1-4, you’re stuck. Your job has forced you to forget about essential pieces of yourself – it’s time to get some career coaching now.

If you answered mostly a) and b) to questions 5 & 6, you’re a borderline case. You haven’t yet decided whether your dream is all that important to the quality of your life. Just an experiment, you might want to sit with a blank piece of paper and really brainstorm what it would be like to live your dream.

If you answered mostly a) and b) to questions 7-11… what are you waiting for? You’ve got a plan, you’ve set up the necessary support and you’re good to go; you should be able to weather the inevitable ups and downs. Be sure to allow your company enough notice to make the transition smoothly, so you can leave with glowing reviews. Congratulations!

Copyright 2004 Suzanne Falter-Barns

Suzanne Falter-Barns is an expert on creativity, and the author of two best sellers on creativity. Her website, howmuchjoy.com, and her ezine, The Joy Letter, have been featured in SELF, Fitness, i-village, cybergrrl, and on msn.com among others. To learn more about finding the time, money and energy to live your dream, check out our free ezine, The Joy Letter, at http://www.howmuchjoy.com/joyletter.html