5 STEPS TO TAKE BEFORE QUITTING YOUR JOB TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR MAKE SURE YOUR IDEA IS VIABLE. Billions of ideas are born every day, but not every idea is a good idea, and unfortunately, not every good idea is a viable idea. That “viability” factor is what usually fools people. IN THEORY, YOUR BUSINESS IDEA MIGHT BE BRILLIANT -- SOLVING A VERY REAL NEED IN AN INNOVATIVE AND INTERESTING WAY -- BUT IF IT CAN’T BE PRODUCED EFFECTIVELY OR IF THE MARKET ISN’T READY FOR SUCH A SOLUTION, EVEN A GREAT IDEA CAN FALL FLAT. PREPARE FOR THE REALITIES OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP. Most businesses fail, and most entrepreneurs end up going back to work. Most of those glamorously successful entrepreneurs spent years developing their ideas, coming to the brink of failure or flat-out failing many times before eventually finding success. YOU GET TO BE YOUR OWN BOSS, MAKE YOUR OWN RULES AND BUILD SOMETHING UNIQUE FROM THE GROUND UP. ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS REWARDING, BUT IT’S ALSO VERY, VERY HARD. READ UP ON THE REALITIES OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT. ESTABLISH A PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLAN. Quitting your job means your main line of sustainable income will disappear. Your personal finances need to be in immaculate order before you allow that to happen. TO PREPARE FOR THIS, TAKE A LOOK AT EXACTLY HOW MUCH MONEY YOU NEED TO CONTINUE YOUR CURRENT LIFESTYLE AND HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE. TALK TO PEOPLE. Ultimately, quitting your job has to be your decision. But before you pull the trigger, it’s worth your time to talk to others about your options. You may find these alternative perspectives illuminate problems you didn’t know were there or help to put your mind to ease. TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT WHETHER THEY BELIEVE YOUR IDEA IS PROMISING. MAINTAIN THE BRIDGE. Once you’ve decided to move forward and quit your job, the last step is to quit your job in the right way. Never, ever burn a bridge in the professional world. Talk to your employer candidly about leaving, give them as much time as they need to find a replacement and exit as smoothly as possible to preserve your relationship. THERE’S A CHANCE YOUR IDEA WON’T PAN OUT AND YOU’LL NEED TO COME BACK, AND THERE’S ALSO A CHANCE YOUR IDEA WILL BECOME A SUCCESS AND YOU’LL WANT TO WORK TOGETHER WITH YOUR FORMER EMPLOYER IN A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP. ONCE YOU’VE COMPLETED THESE FIVE STEPS AND YOU STILL FEEL GOOD ABOUT LEAVING TO BECOME A FULL-TIME ENTREPRENEUR, THERE’S NOTHING THAT SHOULD STOP YOU FROM QUITTING YOUR JOB. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/249796