How I quit my day job to become a life coach

Name: Aurora M. Suarez

My job today: Life coach

My last corporate job: I was the Marketing and Purchasing Director for National Book Store, the biggest one in the Philippines.

Why did you leave?

When I joined National Book Store, I was in the middle of training to become a life coach. There were a lot of bills to pay—the tuition for my training program, monthly car payments, my fancy cellphone. I had left my previous job with a comfortable financial cushion but I could see my bank account slowly getting depleted. I knew I needed to take a full-time job.

Then there was my love for books. National Book Store had been my happy place since childhood where I could spend hours, losing myself in books and school supplies. Because I didn’t have many clients then, I was confident I could be a life coach on the side. I would attend classes for my life coach training, do homework and coach clients after work and on weekends.

However, after 10 months, I realized that working in retail wasn’t for me. Buying books for myself was different from buying books for 200+ branches for a variety of tastes. I also didn’t see myself taking a bigger leadership position in the company eventually or moving into another retail environment.

It had always been my dream to have my own business. I wanted to give my life coaching business a chance.

What made you decide the time was right?

Synchronicity happened as it always seems to in my life. My husband was getting busier with his own consulting business (and would be unable to be my daughter’s regular school bus). The yaya (nanny) who had been taking care of my daughter since birth also asked for a raise. I was reluctant to give this to her as her duties had radically declined as my daughter was already six.

It made me realize that I could help both my husband, be more present for my daughter and lessen my bills by letting go of our beloved yaya and working from home. It was extremely difficult emotionally when yaya left as she had been a part of our family for so long.

What were your fears surrounding this change?

The fear around this was fear of failure and whether I would make enough to help support my family.

How did you manage your fear?

As we learn in life coaching, I listened to my fear. I reassured it that this was what I wanted to do in my life and that I wanted to give it a real chance this time.

There’s a quote that speaks so powerfully to me: “What if you fall? Oh, my darling, what if you fly?”—Erin Hanson

I knew I wanted to give myself the chance to fly.

One of the things that stops people from pursuing their dreams is the question of money. How did you deal with this?

While working, I made it a habit to put away a big chunk of my paycheck as savings. I also negotiated with my husband regarding the division of household bills. Lastly, I worked as a marketing consultant for six months after leaving my day job.

What did you do to prepare before quitting your day job?

It was important to me to establish a strong branding image, a professional website and beautiful marketing collaterals for my business. While receiving a regular income, I worked with a designer. This was one of the biggest expenses for my business (after the training program) so it was good I had my day job income to pay for this.

I made sure I was comfortable financially, I wanted the energy that I would give my business and my clients to be filled with positivity and delight and not desperation and fear.

Is there anything you miss about the corporate world?

I miss the regular paycheck. I also miss my colleagues and laughing through the stress or working as a team to find a solution. But what I miss the most are the free books!

What lessons have you learned since leaving your day job?

It’s a daily commitment to your business. There are no set hours—I find myself working on weekends or even Sunday nights.

Just because you’ve set up your business and declared your intention to the universe and the world doesn’t mean that your business will immediately take off. It’s about constant learning, community building, getting your name out there and making sure your systems are working so people can find you, understand what you’re offering and book a session.

It’s about putting aside your shyness and reaching out to new customers and potential clients, wherever they may be.

I learned about being open to opportunities.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to leave their day job and pursue their dream?

Don’t leave your day job to escape—stress, a terror boss, colleagues you can’t get along with. I believe you can still live your best life while having a day job.

Leave it only if you’re ready to make daily courageous choices to follow a dream that can’t seem to quiet down no matter how many affirmations you recite, how many retreats you go to, how much advice you listen to.

NOTE: This series (“How I quit my day job to become a __________”) is about following the dream that calls you and making powerful and courageous decisions to heed that call. It’s not about escaping stress or colleagues who make you unhappy. Don’t quit your day job to escape. Leave it because the vision you have for your self lies beyond the 9-to-5, the regular paycheck, the comfortable lifestyle. My hope is that the lessons from women who have done the same will encourage you to make your own courageous choice.