I quit my corporate job to become an influencer. It's the riskiest thing I've ever done - here are 5 things I learned.

Keara Callahan left a well-paying government tech consulting job in 2024 to pursue social media full-time after feeling something was missing despite her education and stable career. She described the move as highly risky, especially given her risk-averse nature, but she had already started building her audience and earning money from brand work. After nearly three years, she became a content creator with over 300,000 followers across major platforms. She works more hours than before, yet earns more and feels happier. Her lessons include maintaining a backup plan, preparing for corporate instability, and building income streams before fully transitioning.

""I'm very risk-averse, but I put in my notice and decided to pursue social media full-time," Callahan, 28, told Business Insider. "It was probably the riskiest move I've ever made.""

""We talk about corporate jobs almost as if they're a guarantee that you're going to be OK, but that might not always be true," she said. " There are layoffs, reorganizations, changes in structure, and shifts in the economy.""

"Nearly three years after leaving her job, Callahan is now a full-time content creator with more than 300,000 followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Her content, along with her newsletter and podcast, is geared mostly toward women and focuses on traveling and self-improvement."

"Callahan said becoming her own boss was challenging, but worth it. While she's putting in more hours than at her last job, she's making more money and feels fulfilled."

Read at Yahoo Life