“I quit!” 

Millions of aspiring entrepreneurs would love to utter those words to their employer, hoping to transition from their career to their calling.

Not just “quiet quitting.”  

More women, millennials, and POC are becoming entrepreneurs. Some, because of having identified an opportunity in the marketplace, while others are seeking a new direction because of job loss. Then there are those who have had a lifelong dream to monetize a “gift,” a calling they have silenced due to fear, self-doubt, or a myriad of other reasons.

Whatever the circumstances are, in preparing to ditch the 9 to 5, aka quit your job, I offer ten tips to consider as you map out your exit strategy:

1. CREATE A WRITTEN PLAN – Quite simple – fail to plan, plan to fail.
2. MINDSET SHIFT – Get your headspace right as you embark upon unchartered territory. It is imperative that you identify any limiting beliefs that may have been blocking you from finally deciding to make the leap. Address these things now so that they are less likely to surface later.
3. CLARITY – Be realistic about the business you plan to pursue. Far too many aspiring entrepreneurs operate solely on passion. Passion is great, but is it enough for you to quit your job? It is critical that what you are passionate about is something you have been gifted with or are skilled at. To compensate for the income that you are planning to walk away from, your passion should also be capable of monetization. Passion alone generally does not pay the bills.
4. MONEY TALKS – Financial preparation, or lack thereof, plays a huge factor in why most people remain tethered to a job and why many end up with failed attempts at full-time entrepreneurship. Be realistic about your readiness before taking the leap. Your employer is an investor in your dreams. Are you truly ready to dispense with their contributions? 
5. WHO’S IN YOUR TRIBE? Refrain from sharing your big dreams and plans to quit your job with small-minded people. Find other like-minded ones to hold you accountable and support you in your journey.
6. HOUSEKEEPING – Begin to simplify your life in preparation for your impending exit. Decluttering may be required not just in your living and forthcoming workspace but in your personal relationships as well. Not everyone in your “now” may be best suited for your “next.”
7. “DELE-TASKING” – If you have not done so already, begin mastering the art of multi-tasking and delegating. You will need to be exceptional at both as an entrepreneur.
8. BALANCE – Maintain your stellar performance in your job, as you never know when you might need them as a reference. However, avoid taking on additional demanding responsibilities as you prepare to exit, if possible.
9. DO IT! -When you are comfortable with the above and can no longer tolerate your job, this might be the time to give your notice.
10. THE STAGE IS YOURS – Make a note of the “I QUIT!” day on your calendar – the first day of the beginning of your entrepreneurial life. Congratulations, and most of all, good luck because once you quit your job, sh!t is about to get real! Consider hiring a life coach to assist you with keeping it all together in this new phase of life.

Originally published in Black Enterprise Magazine