Hi iceberg,
I am a Staff Acctnt and I feel the EXACT same way about my job. I oftern wonder what would happen if I walked off.....walk out the door one day and never come back. I'm too scared to do it but I think about it everyday. The more I hear comments about my cakes, the more I want to walk. Once I get more photos AND business I'm out.

I applaud your courage to walk away. Much luck to you!

geeyanna,

My only suggestion is that if you don't like it as a staff accountant, it only gets worse and more stressful as you move up. I finally gave up as Acct Manager (when I couldn't sleep anymore) and it is even harder to walk away from that salary(thank God for the wonderful hubby). I suggest start really looking at making a career change now! If you can get the cake decorating up and going ASAP...go for it! I do believe that cake decorating is a tremendous stress relief and something I started that was "Just for me" in order to take time out from all the other demands (work and 2 kids). So if you decide to keep going as an accountant, at least keep doing cake decorating for yourself, that is if you enjoy it.

well i just lost my job about 3 weeks ago... it's kinda nice in a way because i'm 6 months pregnant with my first but with the house payment, 2 car payments, 3 dogs, mulitple other bills and a baby on the way, my husband's check just isn't going to cut it for long... thankfully i get unemployment but i'm hoping i can do something with cakes afterwards... i just finished course 1 and am signed up for course 2 (thankfully my mom is willing to pay for these classes or i wouldn't even be able to do this!) i did data entry for 4 years and loved it... it was unexpected to lose my job... i'm scared once i have the baby, i don't know what to do! i'd love to stay home and raise my child but i have no idea how we would pull that off

I know exactly what you all feel. I talk to my boyfriend about it all the time. He is so supportive and tells me I should go for it. He understands, because he plays the violin and dreams of doing the same for himself someday.

You should all consider reading a book I just finished, called "DREAM BIG, Finding the Courage to Follow Your Drams" by Lisa Hammond. Lisa Hammond is known as the Barefoot CEO and the founder of Femail Creations. Has anyone heard of this? She has a catalogue and an online store. Anyway, the book was inspirational and very uplifting. I would definitely recommend it to anyone considering taking a different path in life, no matter what it is. If you want, I think you can go to Lisa's website at femailcreations.com and read an excerpt from the book if you'd like.

My most favorite "lesson", if you will, from this book: What would you do if you knew you would not fail? Think about it. What would you do if you were absolutely guaranteed success? Whatever your fantasy, that's what you should be doing - guarantee or no guarantee.



Pretty good stuff, huh?

Rhonda....I like how you think!!!

RhondaK,
I heard that same question on the FoodNetwork. On "The Next FoodNetwork Star" the bald guy said his mom asked him the same question and....look where he is now....doing this dream.

Thanks for the tip!

RhondaK,
That's exactly what got me started taking pastry classes. A group of friends were together one night and one asked what occupation we would do if we could do anything. I said open a bakery. It got me thinking and a couple of months later, I started taking classes at the local culinary school and I'm now working my way into a business. Sometimes you have to take a different look at your life to see what you really want.

Well I have QUIT my full time job now and have been persuing my cake business for the past few months. I am still working on getting a website together but ALL OF MY WEEKENDS ARE BOOKED THIS SUMMER WITH CAKES!!!!!! Business has really taken off and I am on my way. It will take me a few years I think to be where I want, but at least I feel that I have not compromised myself in a job that I absolutely hate. I enjoy getting up now!!!!!!!
Anyone out there I encourage you to take the plunge if its what is in your heart!

I know what it's like to be stuck in a job you hate. I already have a bachelor's degree and it's gotten me nowhere in the past 2 years since I graduated. So I just quit my job as well. I was going to quit in December because I'm starting school again in July for accounting, but my boss wasn't working around my school schedule so things didn't work out the way I had originally planned. While I love cakes, I feel it would not be as enjoyable for me if I had to do it all day, every day-like it would become a chore. Though I would love to work for somebody else over the summer and fall! Maybe I can get some cake jobs over the summer so I can actually get paid to do what I love to do! My sister's graduation party is in a few weeks so hopefully some people there will be impressed! The bottom line is that you need to make an effort to follow your dreams. It makes me sad when people think it's too late and all they ever think about is "what if i had done this?..." I say if you can afford it and think you'll be happy, go for it!

I just felt the need to tell my short story. I lost my job almost 2 years ago. In that time I worked with 2 other companies. They did not work out and I was having trouble finding work. So I did the only thing I could do........ I put it all in god's hands. It took a while but things started to fall into place. A friend led me to catering and baking but I still needed more income to make up for just starting out. Then a PT position came open with my church. Everything is falling into place now. All you have to do is pray and let god take care of the rest.

Luthien3
Glad you had the courage to follow your dreams. I'm an accountant working in a stockbroking firm and ooooh do I HATE my job Been good in math and all that logical stuff since I was a kid not because I liked it but because "I just had to". I am a creative person and I've always wanted to be a cake decorator. I finally took a Wilton class and I'm hooked. I know in my heart that this is what I want to do for ever and ever.

I've done a lot of research into cake decorating in the last few months, signed up for an entrepreneurship course and am taking more cake decorating classes just so I can live my dream. I've thought a lot about quitting my job but my family and friends keep giving me "common sense advice"(they just don't feel the way I do about it ) I'm going for my dream though, and soon too!

To any one out there in the same situation, sure you've heard it so many times but I still say follow your heart, no matter how long it takes, that's the only way you can truly be happy.

Gosh yes I am sooo in that boat. People are always asking me why I work where I do (I administer welfare payments - not the most satisfying job in the world) and that I should do cakes full time. I would love to but unfortunately my entire wage pays our mortgage. We depend on it too much and if I had a week with no orders...well it's just not something I like to think about. So I feel kinda stuck. I just wish I had done this when the kids were little and I was a SAHM! Maybe I just have to have another baby...not!!!!!

I haven't read this thread in a while and boom, there was my notification that it was going again. I think my higher power must be sending me messages.

I also was on a two year plan, and have done more cakes then I ever dreamed of in the last year. So I have moved the plan forward. Our new house will be ready in 6 weeks and i am going to quit my day job and do cakes full time. I am soooo scared. I know I will love the work, and I know its going to be hard, but being my own boss part time for the last year has been wonderful and I have begun to hate going into my day job. I feel it is taking me AWAY from my cakes! I think to myself Am I really good enough? Will I really survive doing this??
Phew!!!!

Congrads on all the new things in you life. I do understand what you mean, i cut my time back at the office to do more cakes and cooking and i have to say, it gets really hard to go in there when i have to, maybe it is the universe's way of saying time for change. I wish you the best of luck.

Yep, I'm right there with you! I spend most of my time at my day job reading cakecentral.com, sketching ideas and thinking about the business.

My plan is to work this job for the next 2-3 years to pay off all debt and then I will retire from this job and start doing the cakes full time. Hopefully I will be able to use this time to build up the business and start getting a steady client base.

But yes, I'm completely with you on dreading coming to work somedays. I just wish I could be decorating dummies or something. Hmmm...I have a decent size office maybe I can just bring my stuff here and do it on my "down time"...lol...I wonder if they would go for that...

I don't HATE my job, I am just very bored most of the day. I sit in the front lobby and greet people and answer phones. Occasionally, I will be given a project or odd tasks but I usually finish a lot sooner than they expect. I dread coming in every day. My only savior is the time I can spend on CakeCentral.com! I sit here all day and play! Just wish I could be spending my time perfecting my decorating skills. Recently told my DH that I wish I did not have to "waste" my day at work and could stay home and bake. His answer was to purchase a lottery ticket for me!

5 years ago, I was in the same boat - I walked out of my good job, decided to open my "part-time" cake-decorating business, and THEN took my decorating courses! (I had been doing cakes for family and friends for years without any formal classes, but to do wedding cakes, I wanted more training). Talk about jumping in with both feet!

5 years later, I am now full time (still in my home)...I don't make the salary that I was making when I quit, but I don't pay daycare for my kids, I am at home to greet them when they come home from school (which is priceless to me and my husband!), and my business income pays for the little extras like trips and home improvements that we want to do.

I'll give up my day job (stay at home mom!) Just kidding. But as soon as they are in school, I would love to find some financially feezable way to do this for a living. Since I cannot bake from home legally, I don't know how that will work, but some day I think something will happen! Just keep waiting for the opportunity I guess!

Fortunatly my husband is my biggest fan in cake decorating!

Stephanie

I was there too, but October 2 years ago I finally took the leap. My home based business got so busy I had to turn away clients because I couldn't fit them into my work schedule! Convincing my husband too a long time until finllay I sat down with him and showed him the books. Once he saw what I had already booked and what I was tuning away we gave it 3 months to try out. Well in that time I was able to match hat I was making at my day job. Now I have almost doubled that income.

Nearly two years later I can say that I would have done things differently such as create a business plan. My advise is to seek out the local owned cake specialty shop and fish for a job. You may discover that the owner is unhappy because she now runs a business instead of decorating! That has happened to a few local shops but I plan to keep it small & be very selective. I want to make 3-6 cakes per week and charge 2x what the grocery store costs! You have to make a plan then get the experience and decide if you wan to decorate or own a business, it is a change to do both.

I would do anything else but maybe review European hotels I wish you luck!

I just want to say that I am very lucky. My family is the one that talked me into doing this. They have been trying for years. They are the best support system I have.

I KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU FEEL. I WORK IN AN ACCOUNTING AND I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT WHAT I AM DOING. RIGHT NOW I AM DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR THE FAMILY. I SIT ON THIS SITE MAJORITY OF THE WORKDAY. MY DH IS ACTIVE MILITARY SO STARTING A BUSINESS IS HARD B/C OF THE MOVING. I FIND COMFORT IN DOING MY CAKES ON THE SIDE. I KNOW THAT I WILL GET MY CHANCE TO SHINE.

Indydebi
Thanks for the encouragement. It really is my destiny and I should be the one to say where it takes me. I'll keep pushing and someday soon I'll be the proud owner of the cake business I already see in my mind.

I am so glad I came across this post today.. I left my job in 04 becaue they offered a buyout. I was doing my "business" (favors, invitations and such) until January 07. I wasnt marketing my business just doign the orders that came, so I cant say that I failed in my business. I have since started doing cakes (a year in May 07) and I get quitte a few orders. I am looking for a commercial kitchen to rent because Im in sunny ca. but I have askd my job for adjustments in my schedule ( i have to work on saturdays, i tried to get 2 a month off and work during the week to make up for it) I have my notice in my bag and have not turned it in because of the unfamiliar.. thats all it is!

i miss being at home with my children ( i have 3 and they get on my nerves! I hate having to line up a sitter on saturday to the tune of 75.00 if my friend or family doesnt jump in!) my husband was a little apprehensive but he finally told me yesterday that it was ok (he knows I would do anything I want but I need to check with him first)

Keep hoping and dreaming, guys. I have been blessed to actually live it. With the support of my family(husband, mother, father), I quit my job and opened a small cake shop in my hometown. Some days I'm not sure if "blessed" is the right word! HAHAHAHA Business is great! I have my "OMG, what was I thinking days" and "OMG I knew it would work days" It is out there!

i own a bakery, and i dread going to work too....it's not all sunshine and roses....sometimes after standing making cakes for 12-14 hours straight, i can barely walk.

it's about the hardest way to make a living there is.....doing it as a real business is light years from making a few cakes at home.

I also don't hate my job but things are rather slow at work lately that I think to myself why am I wasting my day here where I could be doing a bazillion things with my cake orders?! Sometimes it would be stressful at work and I would think why do I work hard to make my boss rich while I get all the crap? Sometimes it freaks me out to think that life would just pass by without realizing my dreams.

I remember seeing this post before and am glad to rediscover it again. I'm busier now than a year ago but still not where I want to be. Makes me seriously want to put everything in perspective. Thanks for the updates!