I Quit My Job to Go Full time Chess?! Part 5: My Last Day Full Time Complete
This is Part 5, but allow me to give a brief review. Basically, I quit my job to go full time chess (yes, I actually did this..lol), I discuss a tactic (not a fork..lol) I like which is taking small steps towards even outlandish dreams to make them more real, in Part 3 and Part 4 I discussed how this built up to an opportunity. And now I'll continue! 
Well, I'm on this journey now because yesterday was my last day full time at my job! I'd love to say it was my last day but that wouldn't be entirely accurate. I'm all about slow transitions and small steps as I mention so I structured this transition in a similar way. Basically, I knew that my role at my job is substantial and I didn't want to leave them in a tough position. So when I resigned I probably freaked my boss out a little (lol) because stated rather matter-of-factly that I was turning in my 2 week notice, but that was intended to be a starting point for negotiation and my real plan was to stay engaged with them part-time, in order to make sure they would be all right, and to assist with the transition they would be facing as well. I guess what I forgot to mention is that this timing was not desired on their end. Another staff person in my department had resigned and we lost a full time summer intern as well! So that was 3 full time people leaving at the same time in a department that was only 4 full time (and 2 part-time interns). Brutal!
So yeah, I was aware of that and here's the thing. I know a lot of people don't like their jobs and maybe not their boss either. Maybe they work for the paycheck only, and so when it's time to resign its like a GTFO mentality with choice of fingers up in the air as they head out the door perhaps? haha That is not the case here though.
I invested 20 years of my life doing meaningful work in Slavic Village for Slavic Village Development. I consider my boss a personal friend and advocate. I am proud of the work I've done over the last 20 years, and I care deeply about the people and the organization and I expect I always will. It's simply time for to me go, whether full time chess or something else, so I want this transition to be smooth for me of course, but them as well, and that's how I came up with this little transition plan.
A Slavic Village home on East 52nd Street beautifully renovated through Slavic Village Rediscovered,
the project I managed to provide affordable homeownership opportunity.
What is it? Well, basically I decided to offer to be part-time with them for at least 2 months, and potentially to the end of the year. This would consist of an hourly rate consistent with my past salary, and then in return for this assistance I asked for my health insurance to be continued during this time as well. Health insurance is a scary thing when you talk about leaving your job for chess! So even though I'd rather work two weeks and be done so I can get started on my new work in front of me, I think for health insurance and the opportunity to do the right thing and be there for SVD and my boss, to make sure they are good and transition well, its worth it to do it this way. It's important to sleep well at night isn't it? If I have restless nights I think that will affect my chess performance! hehe
I also asked for a full week off though, and asked for this with my new job, so that I would have a full week break to work on my life goals. I actually have some big plans I'm not sure if I mentioned yet that are all part of this. Basically, I'd like to be only part-time at Progress with Chess, at least for a little while, while I work on the more entrepreneurial aspects of my plan (acquiring sponsorships in cornhole, marketing for cornhole, social media stuff, acquiring chess students as well). But due to this I also need to reduce expenses. The main way I would do this is to sell my house and move back in with my mom.. haha I know how that sounds, but I love plans like this. Temporary concessions that position you for larger gains! hehe Sounds like chess move doesn't it? So I'll talk more about that next. I know my plans sounds a little crazy, for sure they are, but there's a method to my madness.
To be continued!
-Stacia <3
Part I: I Quit My Job to go Fulltime Chess!?
Part 2: The Magic of Small Steps
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