Why I Quit My $400K+ Job
And What I'm Doing Now
It's been almost two months since my last day at Chime, and one of the questions I'm asked a lot is why I quit.
The short answer: I wanted to take a break to figure out what to do next while reconnecting with my extended family back in my home country.
You can stop reading right there—unless you want to know the longer answer.
The Longer Answer
Embracing a Sabbatical
Fifteen years ago (15 years! 🤯), I watched a TED talk by Stefan Sagmeister called "The Power of Time Off." That's when I heard the word sabbatical for the first time. Since then, I've always thought about how cool it would be to take one.
The basic idea of a sabbatical is to take a year off every few (usually seven) years to rest, recover, and get inspired. This is somewhat common in academia, but folks in other industries practice this as well.
Taking a sabbatical requires preparation, especially on the financial side. It eats into savings and is costly in terms of lost financial opportunities like career progression and compounding. Personally, I enjoy working, so I'm okay with retiring a bit later in life. So why not spend more time with family, work on fun stuff, and travel a bit while I'm still young and my kids are little?
The Entrepreneurial Twist
But here's the catch: I'm not taking the time completely off.
When I thought about what I'd do during my sabbatical, it wasn't hobbies that came to mind but a list of ideas I've been collecting for years. Most of these ideas have the potential to generate income. It's not something I specifically strive for, but creating products and businesses genuinely interests me.
I started and shut down a couple of startups many years ago, and despite the failures, that's when I had the most fun. I'd love to try starting something new again without the pressure of making it financially profitable. That's why I call this year my entrepreneurial sabbatical.
Reconnecting on the Personal Side
I've been living in Canada for a few years now and have become a Canadian citizen. We've been fortunate to have the chance and financial means to travel to see our parents or have them visit us every year. However, every time we met, it never felt like we had enough time together. It was also hard to visit all of our extended family whenever we went home.
It felt like the right time to reconnect with our immediate and extended families. Our kids are growing up quickly, and we wanted to ensure they have a deeper connection with their grandparents, cousins, uncles, aunts, and everyone else. That's why my wife and I decided to base ourselves in our home country during this sabbatical. The lower cost of living is an added bonus.
How It's Going So Far
My sabbatical started as we were finishing our trip to Europe, which we enjoyed immensely. After that, the last two months have been busy with non-work stuff:
Immigration Process: We had to give up our previous citizenships when we became Canadians, so we went through the immigration process again. It's strange to be an immigrant in your home country.
Family Visits: We've visited our families in two cities and attended several family events.
Settling In: We've been busy looking for an apartment and a daycare for our kids.
On the Work Front
This Newsletter: The first thing I started is this newsletter, which has been a fulfilling way to share my journey and insights.
Writing a Book: I'm working on a book about solving algorithmic (aka Leetcode) challenges, something I've been thinking about for a few years. I plan to have the beta version ready by the end of the month. Stay tuned if you want to be one of the first readers/testers!
Mentoring: I've taken on a few mentees whom I'm helping prepare for their interviews on a one-on-one basis. I have room for a few more. Working closely with people is something I've enjoyed throughout my career, and I intend to continue doing it even after my sabbatical is over.
What's Next
Aside from releasing my book, I'm looking forward to:
Attending Weddings: Two of my high school buddies are getting married (not to each other) in the next two months. I wouldn't have been able to attend their weddings if I weren't on sabbatical.
Travel Plans: I'm planning a trip to Southeast Asia in the winter and a trip to South Korea in the spring.
Embracing the Unknown: Beyond that, I don't really know what I'll be doing next. And that's the beauty of this sabbatical.
Stay curious and happy coding,
Nurbo