In August of this year, I submitted my resignation and officially concluded my work at the end of October.
I’ve decided not to continue on the traditional career path, based on the following five reasons:
First: Health Reasons:
Born in 1987, I’ve always placed importance on diet and exercise, more so than many programmers. However, since turning 35, I’ve felt my body can no longer endure as it used to. This year, a minor but significant illness led me to undergo surgery, further confirming the tangible impact on my health.
Second: Career Development Ceiling:
Since last year or the year before, I’ve realized the limits of my career progression. I’ve led teams of up to 20 in startup-like environments (including developers, testers, and front-end engineers). However, advancing further would require skills in human resources that I’m neither inclined to learn nor interested in. I prefer staying comfortable within my comfort zone.
Third: Increasing Formality in the Workplace:
I’m not sure if it’s a recent trend or a late realization on my part, but there seems to be a growing focus on concepts over actual work. This has led to increasingly unreliable projects. I find this formalism unhelpful for personal growth and a waste of time.
Fourth: Avoiding Passive Waiting:
There’s a notion in the programming community about “retiring” at 35. I’m not opposed to this idea; I see it as a natural progression that everyone goes through. From a company’s perspective, it makes business sense to replace older waves with more cost-effective newer ones. There’s no moral judgment here; as a business owner, I would do the same. Instead of passively waiting for the company to decide my fate, I chose to actively seek out activities better suited for my age, turning passivity into initiative.
Fifth: The Need for Personal Products:
In the corporate world, job changes are common. I’ve been relatively stable, with each job lasting around 4-5 years, aside from a few short entrepreneurial stints. However, I’ve noticed that once I leave a job, the products I’ve worked on no longer belong to me, and the compounded gains from my years of effort on those products are largely lost. While I’ve accumulated much technical experience, these are best realized through product development. After over a decade in the corporate world, it’s time I had my own product.
Sixth: My View on Future Trends:
Many people are pessimistic about future trends, leading them to seek stable environments for survival. My view differs. I believe future trends will indeed become increasingly unstable, making adaptability essential for survival. A “stable environment” can limit flexibility, and stability isn’t always beneficial as it restricts choices. To feel more secure, one must master skills that ensure survival in any situation, adapting quickly to the increasingly volatile future.
Based on these six considerations, I’ve decided to make a somewhat “risky” decision: I plan to spend the next 1-2 years trying out freelancing.
Fortunately, being a programmer, I’m confident about transitioning to freelancing and already have some ideas.
Of course, this decision comes after years of savings and the absence of major financial obligations. I don’t recommend quitting a job without a solid skillset or financial safety net, as it wouldn’t be a rational decision.
I enjoyed my previous job and performed well. My departure isn’t an escape but a step toward doing something for myself.
In the future, though the seeds I plant may be small, I hope each leaf that grows bears my unique imprint.