Finding The Courage to Sack My Boss | Useful tips if you need to escape the 9 — to

This story begins in 2012. I was a young man with my whole life ahead of me.

I worked for a school and earned minimum wage, despite having a university degree.

But when you come from my home country, being underemployed is just one of those things you have to live with.

My boss at the time believed himself to be a good man and would occasionally let us attend some personal development events.

On this particular occasion, two speakers made an impression that inspired this story that I tell today.

The first was a man I would meet just once in my life. His name was Dr King, and he was some sort of motivational speaker.

His message was simple. “Sack your boss and employ yourself!”

The man was electric, charismatic and easily excited everyone who heard him. But away from his theatrics and his rumbustious voice, the message was clear.

“Your 9 — to — 5 will not make you successful. Walk your own path.”

I thought about this whole idea long and hard. For someone on a minimum wage, how do I accomplish this task?

Then the other speaker, whose name I do not remember, took the stage. He was a regional manager at a bank. His message was quite the contrast and jolted us back to reality.

The goal of running off and starting a new venture is quite tempting, but challenging. How can you tell that your initiative will take off? What if it fails? But most importantly, how will you pay your bills while you are working on your goals?

The many questions I had and the lack of understanding remained the reasons I did not act on anything that would make me financially independent.

I had doubts. I entertained many fears, and honestly, it was inconceivable for over a decade.

One day, I just upped and quit my job. I finally sacked my boss. Yaay!

The truth was that I did not have money saved up. I really did not have a plan. I would figure it out along the way.

One thing was certain. Whatever I had done up until that point was not working in my interest.

Things had to change, and they had to change immediately.

There was a realisation that I made that changed everything for me. But I’ll get to that later.

But why did I have to sack my boss?

He was a classical prima donna. Nothing is ever satisfactory.

Imagine working under a boss to whom nothing is good enough. Except when he’s the one doing it. No opinion matters except his, and no matter how brilliant a plan is, he will resist it if it does not originate from his brain.

He’s not that bright. But who would tell him?

Working in a space that does not empower you is a mistake.

That was one hard lesson that I learned. But the real motivation to quit my job was one simple thing.

When you have something to fall back on, it is difficult to make bold moves.

Insurances and securities are the enemy of optimising one’s true potential.

So I fired my boss and survived. Ever since, it has become my second-best thing.

To quickly sever any work relationship with undeserving bosses or colleagues.

Have you ever had cause to do the same?

If there was ever a workplace decision that puts your interests against those of your employer, choose yourself.

Do not hesitate.

Make it into a mantra.

Echo it to yourself every morning.

Hire yourself… Fire your boss…

Hire myself… Fire the boss…

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