Love this pov, Peter! I’ve been following your story for a while and now a paid subscriber. Betting yourself is perhaps the 🔑 to life that many of us realize as we move through it more 😉 I’m right here w you!
I quit Meta four years ago for all these reasons, it's been great :)
The only not great part is that life in a HCOL area really does get more expensive, and your neighbors who work at Google and NVIDIA didn't quit so they can afford $10,000 karate lessons (or whatever) whereas you might not be able to. A worthwhile tradeoff for quality time with the kids, especially while they're young, but something I've had to remind myself of.
You won't regret it Peter! You've already proven to the world and to yourself that you can create so much value for people with your content. Going all in is the way to go!
Good luck, Peter! I did the same thing (except the 7-figure part) a couple of months back. Now building a consumer product and just creating things. I loved your point on, if you are a builder, just embrace it and DO STUFF vs. pontificating.
I really enjoyed reading your article. It relates to me in so many different ways. I also left my corporate job at Google last year; but I didn't have any solid plans in mind.
Your calendar screenshot really resonated with me; it reminded me of my own life. Every day I woke up at 5am and started back to back meetings from 6am onwards, grabbing quick breaks for workouts before continuing with meetings until sometimes 9pm. I had lost so much control over my time to learn; social; bond with my family and just simply to live.
At some point, I realised that I wasn't excited about a promotion, a new deal, or a pay raise anymore; instead I started mourning the sacrifices I had made, the alternative paths I missed, and the memories that I could have otherwise created.
Ever since I left Google, I've been giving myself an intentional pause to rewind, but also to reinvent myself. Since then, I've taken on a lot of interesting projects and met people from very different backgrounds, getting inspired in so many different ways. The money part doesn't add up yet or it may never does; however, I'm lucky to have been paid well in tech so that I can afford this life of reinvention.
I know a lot of young people or graduates might not have these luxuries especially when they are still carrying their student loans. But I truly believe that while this might be one of the worst time for job seekers; it actually is the golden time for ambitious people that wanted to drive changes and build things.
i still think about the time you told me your dream is to be a full time creator and wonder when it would happen. it came true! congrats, i'm very inspired 👏🏻
Congrats on this, Peter! Every time I've bet on myself, it has always worked out well, so I fully believe it will work out well for you as well. I wish you continuous success and all the best.
the identity part is what nobody talks about enough. spent years introducing myself as "product manager at X" and when that's gone you're just... a person with an idea. took me months to stop feeling naked at networking events lol
Love this pov, Peter! I’ve been following your story for a while and now a paid subscriber. Betting yourself is perhaps the 🔑 to life that many of us realize as we move through it more 😉 I’m right here w you!
I quit Meta four years ago for all these reasons, it's been great :)
The only not great part is that life in a HCOL area really does get more expensive, and your neighbors who work at Google and NVIDIA didn't quit so they can afford $10,000 karate lessons (or whatever) whereas you might not be able to. A worthwhile tradeoff for quality time with the kids, especially while they're young, but something I've had to remind myself of.
Kudos. Zone of Genius is a great way to think about this. Life's too short to spend it not energized by what you do.
You won't regret it Peter! You've already proven to the world and to yourself that you can create so much value for people with your content. Going all in is the way to go!
Congrats on making the jump and betting on yourself. Also, that Wait But Why graphic is one of my favorites!
Appreciate you Jaclyn! We still gotta meet up in person :)
Best of luck, @peter
You’re an inspiration
Good luck, Peter! I did the same thing (except the 7-figure part) a couple of months back. Now building a consumer product and just creating things. I loved your point on, if you are a builder, just embrace it and DO STUFF vs. pontificating.
Hi Peter,
I really enjoyed reading your article. It relates to me in so many different ways. I also left my corporate job at Google last year; but I didn't have any solid plans in mind.
Your calendar screenshot really resonated with me; it reminded me of my own life. Every day I woke up at 5am and started back to back meetings from 6am onwards, grabbing quick breaks for workouts before continuing with meetings until sometimes 9pm. I had lost so much control over my time to learn; social; bond with my family and just simply to live.
At some point, I realised that I wasn't excited about a promotion, a new deal, or a pay raise anymore; instead I started mourning the sacrifices I had made, the alternative paths I missed, and the memories that I could have otherwise created.
Ever since I left Google, I've been giving myself an intentional pause to rewind, but also to reinvent myself. Since then, I've taken on a lot of interesting projects and met people from very different backgrounds, getting inspired in so many different ways. The money part doesn't add up yet or it may never does; however, I'm lucky to have been paid well in tech so that I can afford this life of reinvention.
I know a lot of young people or graduates might not have these luxuries especially when they are still carrying their student loans. But I truly believe that while this might be one of the worst time for job seekers; it actually is the golden time for ambitious people that wanted to drive changes and build things.
I've written this article recently for graduates and I hope to hear your thoughts: https://substack.com/home/post/p-200602884
Thank you for your thoughtful reflections Loretta - I think alot of people feel the same way as us.
i still think about the time you told me your dream is to be a full time creator and wonder when it would happen. it came true! congrats, i'm very inspired 👏🏻
Good luck Peter! Your post resonated a ton with me- I did the same just a week ago and am looking forward to building.
All these principles resonate. I am on the path to get to this point too
Congrats on this, Peter! Every time I've bet on myself, it has always worked out well, so I fully believe it will work out well for you as well. I wish you continuous success and all the best.
Good luck Peter
the identity part is what nobody talks about enough. spent years introducing myself as "product manager at X" and when that's gone you're just... a person with an idea. took me months to stop feeling naked at networking events lol
The biggest problem of PM is devoting yourself to a product that doesn’t belong to you.
Hard relate on all this. Congrats on making the jump and showing what's possible for those of us with similar ambitions.