Why I Left Google: A Software Engineer's Perspective
It's been a while since my last upload, and a significant change has occurred in my life: I left my software engineering job at Google. This video aims to explain the reasons behind this decision, which may seem surprising from the outside. I worked as a software engineer at Google for about four years, fulfilling a long-held dream. However, the reality wasn't quite what I expected, and I felt compelled to make a change.
Quick Summary of Reasons (For Those In a Rush)
-
Always planned to work for myself eventually.
-
Job lacked passion and challenge.
-
Realization of finite time after a personal loss.
-
Restrictions on outside projects and creative freedom.
-
The kind of life and success I seek is better suited to being self-employed.
The Reasons Behind Leaving Google
1. Working for Myself Was Always the Goal
Working at Google was a dream come true, but it was also always a stepping stone. My ultimate goal was to work for myself, to have the autonomy to decide what to work on, who to work with, and where to work. Even when I received the offer from Google, I viewed it as the most direct path to achieving my long-term ambition of self-employment. I felt that taking the Google job now would prevent me from later wanting to try it before pursuing my own ventures.
2. A Job Is Just a Job: The Passion Paradox
A common sentiment in tech is that a job is, well, just a job. Despite working at a prestigious company like Google, I never felt a strong passion for the projects I was involved in. This wasn't unique to Google; it was a recurring theme throughout my career.
-
Lack of Passion: I've never been able to get truly passionate about working with specific technologies or within certain product areas.
-
False Hope: Early in my career, I attributed this to not working at the "right" company or not earning enough, but I eventually realized that this feeling persisted regardless of the company, role, or salary.
-
The "Cap" on Caring: Ultimately, I realized that there's a limit to how much I can care about something that isn't my own.
I felt that I wasn't putting in my full potential because I just wasn't that interested. I knew I was capable of more, and felt like I was being held back from accomplishing or doing something bigger. I began to focus on enjoying the present moment rather than postponing happiness until I reached some arbitrary future milestone.
3. The Value of Time: A Post-Loss Perspective
The passing of my father almost three years ago profoundly impacted my perspective on life. It forced me to think critically about how I was spending my time and what I was doing. This event reinforced the understanding that our time is finite, and we must pursue the things we love.
-
Opportunity Cost: As time went on, the benefits of staying at Google, such as financial security and healthcare, became less significant compared to the opportunity cost of not pursuing my own goals.
-
Living Consciously: I realized I wanted to be more deliberate about my choices and ensure that I was doing things I genuinely wanted to do.
-
Embracing Risk: I decided to embrace calculated risks, viewing life as a movie where I should make decisions that make the story more interesting. The idea of living a "safer" option, one that I wouldn't want to relive in the future, did not resonate with me.
4. Restrictions on Outside Projects and Creative Freedom
Working at large companies comes with restrictions on what you can do outside of work. I've always enjoyed building things and creating content online, but my employment contracts limited my ability to pursue these passions.
-
Non-Compete Concerns: Companies often monitor employees' outside activities to ensure they don't violate non-compete clauses or create conflicts of interest.
-
Suppressed Creativity: I felt stifled by the limitations placed on my creative endeavors. I was told I wasn't allowed to do certain things.
-
The "Big Brother" Effect: I felt like I was being constantly watched and that my activities were being scrutinized.
I felt like there were all these things that I wanted to do, but my employer said I couldn't. I hated lawyers and HR telling me the things I was allowed and not allowed to do. The path I was on was never going to intersect with the path of what I actually wanted to be doing. So, I decided to bend the line to find a path for where I want to be.
5. Incompatible Lifestyle and Financial Goals
Ultimately, the kind of life I want to live, and the level of success I aspire to achieve, don't align with working at a place like Google.
-
Beyond Employment: To achieve true financial success and fulfillment, I believe I need to venture out on my own.
-
Working on My Terms: I want to dedicate my energy and effort to projects I own and care deeply about.
-
Taking the Leap: I know there's no guarantee of success, but I'm confident that if I work hard enough and give it enough time, I can make it work.
Moving Forward
I understand the risks involved in leaving a stable job, but I believe the potential rewards outweigh the risks. I'm confident that even if things don't work out, I can always return to the traditional path and find another job. The important thing is that I tried. After all, you don't get outsized returns by doing very normal or average things. So far, this has been a very good decision on my part. I'm going to go out on a limb because that's where the fruit is.
I hope sharing my thought process helps others who may be in a similar position. I will continue to document my journey and share my experiences along the way.