From Software Engineer to YouTuber: A Story of Finding Purpose
Hi, my name is Alex, and I used to be a software engineer. I spent about four years programming before realizing it wasn't for me. I wanted to share my story, hoping it might resonate with others.
A Catalyst for Change
My decision to quit wasn't immediate. It came about recently when my dad had a stroke. I took three weeks off to be with him, a very difficult time in my life. Seeing someone you care about struggle with basic tasks is incredibly hard. After a few weeks, he improved, but when it was time to return to work, I knew I couldn't. That 10-minute conversation with my manager marked the last time I saw my coworkers.
The Reality of Software Engineering
Many people asked why I quit, and I often cited taking care of my dad. But that was just the catalyst. The truth is, I had become disillusioned with software engineering. People often imagine working at tech giants like Facebook or Google. The reality is often very different. You might be assigned a small part of a webpage to maintain for years.
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Working on one small thing for long time.
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Lack of excitement on the current project.
This can become incredibly boring and unfulfilling. Coupled with my dad's situation, I realized life is too short to spend doing something I wasn't passionate about. It took some soul-searching to figure out what that passion might be.
Building a Life, Not Just a Career
I remembered a graduation speech from an engineering professor who said that we often regret the things we didn't do more than the things we did. As engineers, we're supposed to build things, so we should be asking ourselves what we want to build with our lives, not just what job we want.
The Turning Point
I often noticed younger coworkers who would gather in the corner, chatting and drinking lattes, joking about only working four or five hours a day. While I understand the appeal of having ample free time, I wondered why they weren't pursuing something they cared about. Their response, "This is just how life is," really bothered me. Life is short, and they were choosing not to build anything meaningful or pursue their passions.
Recognizing My Own Unhappiness
That's when it hit me: I wasn't happy programming. I had no desire to improve my skills, read engineering books, or learn about the latest technologies. I realized I wouldn't be successful with that mindset. While others might be drawn to the high salaries and perks, I associated programming with stress and deadlines, not with joy.
Finding Purpose Through Introspection
During those three weeks with my dad, I began asking myself what I was truly passionate about. Rather than looking at things like Flow or Ikigai, I focused on three key questions:
- What is something you would want to do even outside of work hours?
- What is something you would always want to get better at, no matter how good you are?
- If it's something that makes you happier, how are you going to make it happen?
These questions helped me narrow down what could give me purpose. For me, the answer was creating YouTube videos. I enjoy presenting information and sharing knowledge that might help others.
Embracing the Unknown
I might not make a lot of money doing it, and I might even have to go back to software engineering if things don't work out. But I'll never regret trying to do something that makes me happy. And I hope you won't either. Thanks for listening to my story.