why i quit my day job (a note from nate)

It was February of 2015 and my wife had just approached me about leaving my job in I.T. sales and coming home to help her expand our dōTERRA business. At the time it was an idea I was very uncomfortable with. I loved my job. It was close enough that I biked there most days, I really enjoyed my co-workers and on top of it all I made really good money.

But as I weighed out the advantages and disadvantages of making the move it was clearly lopsided in favor of me coming home. We had four kids ages seven, five, three and one. Imagining the chance to be way more invested in their lives ultimately won me over. But there were other reasons, too. The freedom flexibility to no longer be tied to how many vacation days your workplace offered you. We could pick up and take off any time we wanted. And although I had just made a six-figure income the previous year, my wife’s checks were already tripling what I was bringing home.

The transition wasn’t a piece of cake. My wife and I don’t argue much, but we got in a pretty good fight my first day being full-time at home. Learning to let go of my ego, was difficult and a humbling experience. I would catch the “sugar mama” jokes and guys would rib me about “who wears the pants in my family”. I also ended up taking over some of the roles that my wife had mostly taken care of when I was working. I got really good at grocery shopping, I found out my laundry folding needed work, and I even perfected a few “Dad specials” in the meal department (although mom is still by far the better cook). As I said, this transition wasn’t easy, but it gave me a greater appreciation for what my wife had done to run our house (all while raising four little kids).

Looking back, I am confident I made the best choice. My youngest son and I get to wrestle together every day after school. I pick up and drop off our kid’s at school and don’t have the stress of work hanging over my head so I’m able to have meaningful conversations with them along the way. My wife and I get away for day dates very regularly (just imagine an awesome night out, but extended and without the crowds. I’m able to attend my kid’s field trips and sports activities. My older two are enrolled in an online school and are at home this year. I’m able to have special one-on-one connection time with them when they have breaks. Most of these things would be impossible if I was at my old job. And finally, our home is filled with so much peace. We don’t live with the stress that most families do on a regular basis. We’re able to have focused family time every day when the kids get home at 4pm. We sit down to a home-cooked, hot meal and have conversations about life. Laundry is done, the home is (mostly) clean. We are all a better version of ourselves. It’s a dream life, and I’m so glad I get to live it!