Business Insider contributor Nick Dauk is a freelance travel writer and copywriter. At 22, he quit a salaried job in retail to finish college and switch career paths.<br />Now 28, Dauk has lessons he learned the hard way he'd like to share for creating a smooth, profitable career path.<br />First, even if you hate your job and want to do something completely different, don't quit without the next step already lined up.<br />To line up that next step, define your destination. What do you want to be, where do you want to be, and when?<br />Get the necessary training, contacts, and experience before quitting your loathsome day job that just happens to be paying your bills.<br />Finally, know your true worth in the market. It's easy to be unrealistic by artificially deflating or inflating your competency. Do solid research. Good luck!
