Was I mad to quit my well paid IT job to follow my social media dream?
Ryan T Williams
Online Safety Expert. Head Of Ops at IS THIS YOU? Exited Co-Founder of KOMI Group
I've decided to try and retrospectively document my time in the Social media business and my journey along the way.
Back in January 2016 I did something I never thought possible and gave up the IT career I'd been building since 18 to chase a dream. A dream of running my own company and working in social media full time. The last thing anyone would think of doing is quitting a decent public sector IT job to work in social media however I did one more than that, I quit to become a director in one. Having a young family meant this wasn't a decision taken lightly. However for a number of months the social media part of my life had turned from hobby to be quite full on. Full on to the extent it was seriously starting to distract me in my day job. A decision had to be made, do I stop doing the social media side, sell my accounts and move on? Or do I look at the possibility of this being a full time job which can sustain the life I'd built? I was turned down by a large social media firm during this period after an interview but it turned out to be the best thing that happened to me. I went on to meet two like minded businessmen on social media to which discussions started and the business plans were laid to launch our own company. As the weeks went by and the work load increased it was crunch time but how do I broach this with my wife, with my family, more so my father? The man who'd supported me all my career after not opting to go to Uni. After chats with my fellow business partners it was decided they would support me in giving up the IT job should I so wish. At this point my mind was made up and the chats with the family began. To my great surprise it was very easy. Both my wife and my father couldn't have been more supportive, they saw how passionate I was about social media and how disillusioned I'd become working in IT.
Many people ask me "what is it you actually do?"
If you're interested to find out and this gets good feedback I'll carry on from what happened when I handed my notice in..
Business Strategy Manager at ESB
6 年You've followed your dream, took a risk (and more i guess!) and its paying off. Well done mate and good luck with the adventure. Oh and what happened when you handed in your notice...??
IT & Digital Apprenticeships | Tech Skills and Qualifications | End Point Assessments | Tea Drinker
6 年Well, Daniel Disney - what do you reckon?
Helping companies grow online through best-in-class websites and perfectly executed SEO strategies
6 年Carry on! You can't just end the post like that. Give us more! :)
Security analyst
6 年Knowing the sort of person you are I knew you would put 110% into this and make it as much of a success as you have with your beautiful family, well done fella you are one to be looked up too
cover supervisor at oasis academy oldham
6 年Life's to short to think 'what if'. Follow your dream. Everything happens for a reason and taking risks is only part of the plan. Onwards and upwards Ryan, you've worked hard to get where you are and deserve it