Quitting a High-Paying Job: Why I Walked Away
I recently resigned from my job, a decision I've been contemplating for years. Last year, I earned over $100,000 annually. My boss, colleagues, friends, and classmates were surprised, often asking if I had another job lined up. In this article, I will explain the reasons behind my decision to resign, despite the seemingly desirable situation.
The Reality of a "Middle-Class" Position
Income and Performance
My position within the company can be described as a "small middle class" role, an ordinary working-level position, not a high-level one. The annual income for this position is around $400,000 to $500,000, which is relatively rare. This high income requires consistently achieving the highest performance level each year.
Performance assessments consider both your current level and your performance trend over the past year. This creates a large distribution curve with significant differences between the lowest and highest earners.
The Price of Success
In my 7 years, 2 months, and 21 days at the company, I achieved the highest salary every year, except for the year I was sick. However, the cost was high. My days consisted of over 10 hours of work, essentially just breathing, working, and drinking coffee. A typical day included about 13 meetings. This lifestyle was unsustainable.
The Middle Management Grind
As a middle manager, I found myself in a challenging position, mediating between upper and lower levels, as well as different departments and countries. My role involved coordinating relationships rather than focusing on strategy.
Furthermore, the company culture emphasized "up or out," meaning employees were encouraged to either advance or leave. Advancement required gaining the favor and support of various vice presidents, often involving agreeing to decisions I considered unwise. The constant pressure to please superiors was exhausting. I tried to force myself to do it well, but ultimately, it was too much.
The Myth of High-Tech Work
The Illusion of Technology
Many might assume that working at a large, high-tech American company is glamorous. However, in reality, 90% of the daily work is low-tech. Many executives and leaders lack deep technical knowledge. A former boss even advised me against focusing on technology, stating that understanding strategy and people is more important. This sentiment permeates all levels, from senior officials to middle management and even the grassroots.
The Reality of Engineering
I've observed that tasks that could be completed by a Chinese team in a few days often take American, or predominantly Indian, teams weeks or months. This requires significant time spent communicating with and managing these teams. This is not to say that all Indians are incompetent, but that this is a frequently observed phenomenon. The longer one stays in these large companies, the more disconnected they become from actual technology.
The Breaking Point: A Question of Priorities
The Vice President's Lifestyle
The turning point came during a business trip with a vice president. He explained that adjusting to different time zones wasn't just his personal responsibility, but a "family matter." His wife and children had to adjust their schedules to accommodate his travel and meeting demands, even down to keeping the children quiet so he could rest.
The Turtledove Analogy
This explanation sparked a powerful image in my mind: a turtledove (him) spinning wildly, with his family acting as satellites, revolving around him. I questioned whether achieving that level of success was worth the sacrifices required of my family and myself.
Choosing a Different Path
This realization led me to give up a potential million-dollar income and unvested stock options. While I understand that others may still want to experience working in a large factory, I hope to provide insights into the realities of that environment in future videos. I plan to share details about the work, the passion, and the professional development opportunities available.