I quit.

Jumping before you’re ready and learning to live with uncertainty.

“[Most] people will choose unhappiness over uncertainty.” ― Tim Ferriss

One cold January morning early this year, I sat hunched over the kitchen table, thoughtfully mapping out my annual Year Forward plan. 

Among many bold visions and aspirations, one of my resolutions made me feel uneasy to the point of queasiness:

I will quit my job no later than March 31, 2023.

I didn’t know exactly when I would leave (clearly, I’m a few months behind schedule) or what I would do after quitting, but I knew I had to resign.

After graduating from university in August 2021, I joined the Government of Canada where I had been working as a student for eight months prior and have worked as a full-time employee since.

I was promoted from Business Analyst to Senior Business Analyst within four months, a cushy raise to accompany my new role, and everyone I talked to thought I was set for life.

“That’s a job you hold on to!” they would cut me off before I could finish saying “I work for the Federal Govern..."

An understandable perspective from the outside observer. 

The salary and benefits were strong, the working hours were lackadaisical compared to my peers on the private side, and overtime was compensated at time and a half.

But I had grown complacent.

I didn’t hate my job, but I certainly didn’t wake up excited to go to work.

It was a paycheck, but I could feel the golden handcuffs cinching tighter around my wrists each time it hit my bank account.

The steady IV drip of a salary, like a patient undergoing surgery, was numbing my senses to the work I was passionate about. 

If I didn’t rip the tubes out now, I would be knocked out completely, gearing into autopilot for the next thirty years and forgetting all about the grand visions I had for my life.

If there’s any time to be complacent in life, which I’m not convinced there is, it’s certainly not at age twenty-four, with no debt or wife or kids or other major responsibilities. 

So, I collected my courage and handed in my letter of resignation.

My last day of work was August 11th and, as you read this, I’m ambling unemployed on a backcountry hiking trip somewhere in the Canadian Rockies, hopefully not being mauled by a ferocious grizzly.

I’m not sure what trajectory this decision will take me or where I’ll end up in the long run, and I can’t lie, the uncertainty is scary.

But I don’t need to know what I’m doing with my life, I just need to know what I’m doing next.

Embarking on The Next Journey

I started this newsletter in December 2021 with the vision of helping myself and my family and friends improve our lives in three ways:

1. Live longer: How can we give ourselves the best chance at a long life?

2. Feel healthier: How can we maintain the highest quality of life possible for as long as possible?

3. Cultivate strong mental and emotional health: How can we lead a meaningful life of purpose, presence, joy, and fulfillment?

But as the newsletter has grown to over 700 readers, with much of that growth in the past few months, my vision has transformed.

I want to take this thing to a new level. 

To a place where we will all be more equipped and better supported to achieve the same three goals I set out all those months ago.

With my newfound time affluence (aka unemployment), I’m ramping up production with the same target in mind—to help you live better, longer.

The Thursday newsletter won’t change—it will be free for everyone for life.

But if you want more, if you want to double down on your health and accelerate your progress, optimize your exercise, sleep, and nutrition, boost your mental and emotional well-being, and join a community of disciplined, committed, likeminded individuals, you can become a paying Longevity Minded member today.

Here’s what you’ll get.

Free Subscriber

• Newsletters every Thursday at 8 a.m.

• Access to the free archive.

Paid Member

• Everything in the free subscription above.

• A super short Sunday newsletter sharing three hyperpractical health, fitness, and wellness practices for your week ahead.

• One practical PDF guide per month + exclusive subscriber-only posts.

• Admission to a member-only WhatsApp accountability group.

• Access to the full archive.

• Cost: $5/month or $50/year.

Founding Member

• Everything in the paid and free subscriptions above.

• Free access to any e-books and paid guides or programs I release.

• Quarterly 30-minute coaching calls with me.

• Cost: $200/year.

With paid memberships, you will save more time and money in the long run than the cost.

To make this investment in your health 100% RISK-FREE, I’m offering a Money-Back Guarantee.

If you decide to become a paying member but are unsatisfied with my work, just respond to any of my emails and I’ll happily refund your subscription.

This newsletter takes a lot of time and money to put together. Becoming a member will help support my work while boosting your health and saving you time and money in the long run.

The uncertainty is still scary, but I can’t wait to embark on this next journey and to take it right alongside you, my valued reader.

---

If you have any questions about this change, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

You can respond directly to this email and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

Much love,

Jack Dixon