If you haven’t fantasized about quitting your day job to indulge your true calling, congratulations — You’re Tom Brady. Give Gisele our love.

For most others, ditching the bread-winning 9-to-5 grind can be alluring, even though it may or may not be an option. A post on Fabulously Broke in the City describes the method the author used to leave a day job and pursue other interests, and provides a checklist that helps you cut the cord with class and precision.

Among the tips in the story:

*Ask yourself why you need to leave. Compile a list of problems with your workplace, and make sure that they’re permanent.

*Formulate your career plan. Suss out the moves you’ll make to segue into your next career, and estimate how long it might take to break in. This will help you determine how much money you’ll need to have set aside to reach your goal. It’s a good idea to give yourself from three to six months to get another job. Also, be sure to have a back-up plan in place in case it takes longer than you thought to start making money again.

*Give your employer proper notice. At least two weeks is standard practice, but be prepared for your boss to cut you loose early. If you are counting on that next paycheck, you’ll want to hold off and work longer than you planned in order to play it safe.

If you’ve quit a day job to move on to greener pastures, what advice do you have for others about how to pull it off?

How to leave a job (my story of how I did it) [Fabulously Broke in the City]

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