[Gracie2006]

I actually did just that, only once. I was working for a small company. The HR person was a good friend of the owner. My boss was also a good friend of the owner. He was from Iran. He did not think much of women. As I excelled, he began to feel threatened and started harassing me. I finally just could not take it anymore. I felt I had no where to turn. I called in sick on a Friday. I remembered the words of a former boss whom I respected. She said "The day you wake up dreading coming in to work is the day you should move on." I came in early on that next Saturday morning, cleaned out my desk and left a resignation letter on the boss's desk. Then I left. No notice. I refused to take calls from the boss who ended up coming in that same Saturday. He arrived no more than an hour after I left. The next morning, on Sunday, I woke at 3 am in a total panic, not sure what I had done or what I was going to do. I was single with a mortgage payment due. By 5:00 that evening, I was in business for myself. I ended up consulting for all of the clients that I worked for at the old company, despite the non-compete contract. That was 11 years ago. And I still have my own consulting business. I have been back and forth to corporate America. I love having a piece of my work life be my own, even if I do have to deal with some real jerks sometimes. It's a whole lot better than working for a boss from he--.

I can totally relate. Go with your heart. Find a day job you can tolerate and that feeds your stomach, and a side job that feeds your soul.