Source: Unsplash (Kamal Hossain)

I have heard so many people talked about how the grass is greener on the other side. It symbolizes that things potentially are better in other places compared to the current one.

However, recently, I have been thinking of this saying. I myself am lucky enough to always have gone to the side with greener grasses.

I would say my current workplace have the greenest of all (except for the boss and learning opportunities), with fantastic colleagues and a work-life balance.

In the last few weeks, I have tendered my resignation for a side that has no grass at all. It’s barren land, as I am going to try to build my own business.

I have had a lot of thoughts about this and here are some of them which I think could help push some of the people on the fence, to take that leap into barren land.

#1 I can grow my own grass, instead of someone else’s

This thought has been on my mind and has terrified me for years. I have always had a full-time job with regular income since the start of my career.

It doesn’t help that I am now married, and plan to have kids down the line. The stress of venturing out on my own with no regular income is overwhelming.

However, as I sit at my cubicle, watering other people’s pastures while getting underpaid and unappreciated, I realized that I have to set my own destiny rather than rely on others.

Being an advocate puts me in the position of needing a bigger cause to fight for and meaning in my work. And I no longer view that as feasible in the current corporate environments.

While there is no grass, I can now decide what and how to plant them. They could grow slowly or none at all, but at least it’s through my own blood, sweat and tears.

#2 I don’t want to look back in regrets

Regret. It’s the one thing I think of constantly. What if I look back 20 years from now on the verge of retirement and regret that I didn’t try to go it on my own?

I could have a cushy job all the way through, but I am constantly doing someone else’s bidding and getting told what to do, how to do.

That is the regret that I could have also if I continue on this corporate path. Constantly pleasing and impressing people I don’t like, and aiming for the next pay ‘raise’ and promotion.

Now that I think about it. I might be egoistic in that regard. I don’t like being put down by higher management and to follow instructions and orders from people I don’t believe or trust.

I guess in some ways, I realized that I am not suited for the corporate life in that regard. To continue on this path would certainly invite more regrets from my part of putting up with these things.

#3 I could always go back to the job market if I fail

I think this the number one fear when it comes to venturing out for me. The fear of failing. If I fail, what would I do?

Luckily enough, I have a wife and family that are very supportive of me who advised that I could always find a job if I fail. One door close, another opens.

If you are thinking of the consequences of your business failing, always remember that there is another way forward.

You might think people do not want to hire you after you went out on your own, think again. Companies are always willing to hire people who have experience managing their own business, and have suffered the ups and downs of it.

#4 The fear will hold you back, but once you get over it, you have a better view of yourself and the world

I am not going to lie. I don’t have a good view on myself or the world. I am insecure, and have a lack of confidence and thinks that the world is out to get me.

For years I have suffered from this, and it has held me back from truly committing to the things that I want to do and strive for. I feel like an impostor most of the time and what special powers do I have?

The fear was real and sometimes it even made me sick physically. I am not going to say that you can just get over it just like that but there will come a day when the fear takes a backseat.

For me, that came when I am in a meeting where people were just talking about nonsensical stuff and playing the corporate politics game.

The blame game was strong. My bosses threw each other and my colleagues also under the bus to avoid being blamed for mishap. I had enough of it.

On the bigger scheme of things, the fear was just an afterthought, thinking of the amount of times I would have to bear with these things in corporate if I continue for another 20-30 years.

Conclusion

The grass is always greener on the other side. But have you considered making it green on your own patch of land?

This decision might be hard to take but to me, I truly believe in the power of betting on yourself. It might work out or it might not.

If you are still on that fence wondering which side is greener, you might want to think of having your own, rather than working on someone else’s.