I quit my tech job in Seattle because I was miserable — here’s how I moved to Los Angeles and started over as a freelancer and content creator

• Dayana Sabatin was working in tech in Seattle and feeling depressing together with her profession.

• She determined to make a significant life change — so she moved to Los Angeles with no clear plan.

• Sabatin began as a waitress after which was capable of develop her freelance writing work to full-time.

4 years in the past, I used to be a monetary specialist at a tech firm in Seattle — in a cubicle for eight to 10 hours a day, and past depressing. I made a decision I needed to alter my life.

I all the time dreamed of residing in a metropolis like Los Angeles. So I made a plan and left my life in Seattle behind to maneuver there.

Since then, I’ve made a life for myself in LA — I am a author, blogger and YouTuber — however getting right here was a journey. I’ve heard the tales of individuals transferring to LA with lower than $200 of their checking account, and I applaud them — however I wasn’t a type of individuals. I spent three months making an attempt to repay faculty debt and save not less than $10,000 for my transfer.

I set a particular sum of money apart for hire, automotive cost, cellphone invoice, gasoline, and groceries from each paycheck. All the pieces else went into financial savings. The objective was to maneuver with sufficient cash in my checking account to really feel comfy till I may get one other job. I did not give myself the choice to spend cash on pointless issues. I am not a saver — I am strictly a spender, so it was difficult.

What helped was understanding I used to be transferring in the direction of one thing that will transform my life. Largely although, what received me by means of was understanding that I used to be doing this purely as a result of I needed to. It was exhilarating.

I did not like the trail I used to be on

Once I was younger, my entire life revolved round the concept I ought to go to varsity, get a level within the tech discipline, safe a job that pays properly, and promote my soul to the company world. I used to be homeschooled in highschool, which allowed me to go to varsity throughout sophomore 12 months, and it was determined that as a result of my cousin made essentially the most in our household as a software program engineer, that I ought to turn into one too.

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I wasn’t essentially the most assured rising up; I did not have a “ardour” for something. It was extremely straightforward for me to be influenced by my household and everybody round me, as a result of there wasn’t something particular that I needed to do with my life.

I had pursuits. I’ve all the time cherished the thought of turning into a author — however these desires felt unrealistic on the planet I used to be raised in.

The change was tough for the individuals round me, however I used to be decided

By transferring to LA, I used to be forsaking every thing I would ever identified — my mother (who’s additionally my greatest pal), my child sisters, my cousin who was additionally my roommate, my canine, and the chums I would made. I’ve all the time been an enormous introvert and making pals was a problem, so the thought of getting to make new friendships was scary to consider.

My household felt blindsided by the information that I used to be transferring.  Once I advised my cousin, she checked out me like I used to be loopy — my mother was fearful I would be kidnapped or that I would be on their lonesome as a result of I did not know anybody. She did not like that I would be so distant.

I advised her that this was my one likelihood to do one thing totally different and thrilling with my life. I had my thoughts made up — I used to be going to LA. I am extremely indecisive, so to really feel so positive about one thing felt unusual, however good.

Some individuals in my life tried to cease me from going

My boss tried to cease me leaving my job, promising me a six-figure wage if I stayed and saved my monetary specialist place — I stated “no thanks” — and my pals additionally tried to cease me, telling me it could be extraordinarily robust to outlive in LA. My ex even tried to get me to remain after which tried to persuade me to take him with me.

When individuals hear that you simply’re chasing your desires or doing one thing they do not perceive, they get jealous. Normally, it is as a result of they’re sad with their very own lives, and the thought of another person escaping and thriving bothers them.

Once I saved sufficient, I discovered an condo on Craigslist

I moved to LA earlier than securing an condo, with round $9,000 in my checking account after paying for a resort. I nonetheless keep in mind the drive from Seattle to Los Angeles. I wakened at 4 a.m., feeling elated. I used to be doing precisely what I used to be meant to be doing, and all these years earlier than that second had set me as much as be the place I used to be.

I doubt Craigslist is all that secure these days, however I lucked out when utilizing it for my condo search. The place I discovered was solely 25 minutes from the seashore and I had two nice roommates — I cherished it.

I used LinkedIn to discover a job and I labored remotely for a tech startup for the primary few months — I used to be making $2,000 a month and my hire was $1,200. My pay was sufficient to cowl hire, meals, and my espresso dependancy, however the hours have been infuriating. I felt like I used to be again in my cubicle in Seattle. After a couple of months, I give up and took a waitressing job at a hip restaurant in Venice, the place I made round twice as a lot as I did earlier than.

I used to be nonetheless fairly misplaced when it comes to my profession, however I used to be residing a life I used to be genuinely having fun with and constructing alone phrases. I met celebrities — like Jillian Michaels, Paul Wesley, Emilia Clarke, and Kevin Garnett. I met my now-boyfriend who launched me to all of his pals, and I went to the seashore each single day and ate unimaginable meals.

I began writing on Medium and recognized my ardour for writing about self-improvement and relationships. The primary few months I made a couple of {dollars}, ultimately these few {dollars} changed into a constant few thousand.  The monetization of my content material got here after a complete lot of grinding and hustling. I reached out to manufacturers, did loads of work at no cost, and ultimately began getting paid right here and there for sponsorships and writing articles. I ended waitressing as soon as I used to be making sufficient from writing.

Now I am rising my way of life weblog, my YouTube channel, and dealing on my e book about courting and relationships. Ultimately, I need to publish extra books — each fiction and nonfiction.

My objective is to be financially free

I need to have the ability to handle myself and my household whereas doing what I like, each single day. I do know what it is prefer to dwell a life dictated by outdoors stress or household expectations, so I need to be an inspiration to different ladies who additionally really feel misplaced of their careers.

I can confidently say I am on the precise path now, and I’ve by no means felt extra excited concerning the course my life is headed in. Should you really feel destined for one thing outdoors of what you presently have, then go for it. Do not be afraid to paint outdoors of the strains.

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