Break Free from the Cubicle

As regular Write Change Grow readers will know, I left my corporate job in February 2011.

Since then I’ve gone back to work full-time for an employer several times. I’ve discovered that leaving your cubicle and staying out of the cubicle are two different things!

At the moment, I’m back working for myself from home and working hard to keep it that way.

Needless to say, leaving corporate life is a common yearning.

For two earlier posts, both on this similar theme (though slightly more focused on the travel/location independent aspect) read:

6 Websites for Working and Travelling Outside the Box

More Blogs to Get You Out of Your Cubicle

Today, I want to highlight some of the great bloggers that have broken away from their conventional careers and are teaching people how to do the same as well as those that are still working towards the goal of leaving their corporate jobs. While some encourage you to take the next step of leaving your job and starting your own business, others help you be happier with the job you already have.

Have a look for yourself. Be inspired to walk down your own road, whatever that may be.

I have included a few Start Here and About pages to give you a good feel for the tone and contents of the blogs as well as pages I think you will find interesting and helpful.

As the Internet is an ever-changing beast, this post needs a content update as some blogs no longer exist or have changed into something else. Stay tuned…updates coming shortly!

Escaping the 9 to 5

Maren Kate is running her own business and documents what she has learned on her blog.

Read Write Evolve – I couldn’t resist this one being so close to my own way of thinking.

21 Reasons to Work for Yourself

Escaping the 9 to 5 – About page

Puttylike

Emilie from Puttylike is a multipotential (often called a scanner).

She is interested in a lot of different things and is using it to her advantage. Emilie doesn’t believe in sticking to one career path.

Everyone’s got many interests – how are we not all scanners?

Puttylike – Start Here

The Middle Finger Project

I have talked about Ashley Ambirge from The Middle Finger Project a lot already on this blog.

I’m a huge fan of her work.

Ashley is truly inspiring. She is gutsy, crazy in a wonderful way and totally motivated.  Ash tells it like it is. Her blog is not for the timid. If you don’t like swearing then it’s probably not the read for you.

The Surefire Way to Save Yourself from Mediocrity

The Middle Finger New Here Page

Prolific Living

Farnoosh Brook is one of my favorite bloggers. Her site Prolific Living is based on smart habits for rich living.  She is inspiring. motivating and down to earth.

Farnoosh left her corporate job in 2011 and is now pursuing her passion for helping others.

From Corporate to Entrepreneurship

From Fear to Motivation in 22 Radical Thoughts

The 3 Secrets to Staying Motivated in a Corporate Job

The Boomerang Kid

Lindsay Hunt is a fairly recent find via Twitter. Having a closer look at her blog has me knowing that I will become a regular reader.

Lindsay’s tagline says it all – Escaping the doldrums of corporate life

Lindsay’s About page

Lindsay’s Start Here page

The Corporate Detox relearning how to be productive

I will definitely be coming back to read the rest of this Corporate Detox series.  After nearly 30 years (that’s a scary figure) working for corporate, I am well overdue for a detox, particularly when it comes to getting in the mindset of being my own boss.  The leap from employer to working for yourself is one I definitely need to get my head around.

Cordelia Calls It Quits

Cordelia (aka Kelly Gurnett) is in a 9 to 5 job but is working on making her escape.  By quitting, she means to stop living on autopilot and accepting the normal status quo.

About Cordelia

Cordelia’s Quit Lists – to see what she has been working on

17000 Days

I have seen Cara Stein a bit around the Internet but only just had a good look at her blog. I definitely like what I see. Cara’s message is to the point, life is short – make the most of it right this second.

Big dreams and scary leaps – How I Quit My Job

Mental Quicksand

Ending the Grind

Steve is currently still working for as an employer.

Steve recently conducted an interview with Penelope Trunk, a successful yet feisty businessperson. Penelope’s reactions to Steve’s questions, didn’t go quite to plan.  Penelope’s responses made Steve think about his actual goal and left him doing some serious reassessing of his life. To be honest, it was a wake up call to a lot of bloggers other than Steve.

Penelope Truck Calls Bullshit

Falling Down

Prior to his interview with Penelope, Steve was focused on how much he hated his job and how to leave his job by starting an online business.  As it often happens when we hate our jobs, Steve has realised he can’t blame his job for some of the other areas of his life that are less than stellar.

I have no doubt a lot of people are going through a similar internal crisis to the one Steve is facing.

It’s not always easy breaking away from corporate life but it is always worth it. Forge your own path, whatever that means for you.

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