"Why is living a life that feels aligned with your values and who you are as an individual courageous? Shouldn’t it be normal?" What you wrote made me think of the quote from J. Krishnamurti: "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." Enjoy the journey, my friend!
The term "career" is a thought trap spoken by corporate victims with Sockholm syndrome. Forget that word. Better to find a paying gig and work community that you enjoy and feeds your soul. It wont last forever. Then learn to remake yourself and do it again. Be kind to yourself. You are not alone. Thank you for validating my same journey of decades ago.
Vimrata, I’ve followed you on LinkedIn because I felt that someone who had 7y in Tech could teach me, who had 20 years more experience, something every day. And with this post, you have. I was struck by “being surrounded by ambitious people who had centered their whole identity on achievement and impact.”
I grew up in Tech at a different time when impact wasn’t as much of a focus as the craft of building something that changed people’s lives. That has sustained me over the years, been fed by self-created startups. Though, in our achievement oriented career, I too have perhaps let the spark of creativity take a back-seat. Your post will help me reevaluate my goals in the next act of my career.
When I went to college, coming from another country, I wanted to study Writing and Literature. Fate sent me to MIT to become a computer engineer. Yet one never forgets one’s first loves.
Thank you for sharing links of people who supported you, as I knew of just one person in that list. Good luck on your rediscovery of you!
Hey! Really interested to read this. I've just embarked on a journey on here too and have referenced both The Pathless Path and Burnout in my writing so far. Feels like we are on a similar wavelength! Also interested to read about your intention to discover your purpose - that's the topic of my next piece of writing scheduled for Sunday. Good luck with your journey, I'll look forward to hearing how it goes.
Go V! Always so great to see how your career has evolved over the years as someone who was similarity disenchanted by tech/product at one point and ended up taking a career pivot - excited to support you in this next chapter and also walk together in taking my first sabbatical of sorts since graduating in 2016 as we gear up for a new addition to the family
I find so many similarities with my journey and the way of telling the story it's actually confusing! Currently exploring writing, coaching, organisational coaching, solopreneuship and so on ... Seems like we're living in a transitional time and values are fighting back :) happy to chat about it or have your thoughts on my long form articles about that journey of mine!
I am in a similar phase and ended up taking 3 yrs of long break after a hi-tech career in tech and I could totally relate to what you are saying about achievement. I have also been highly spiritual and the break has mostly turned out to be focused on spirituality.. though my career was never my identity and I had no issues quitting the job and taking the sabbatical, the best advice from a mentor when I was taking the sabbatical was to relax into it which I was able to do even though I keep coming back to thinking about what to do next in terms of career... I now trust the process of life much more, very very glad that I took the break and it is completely worth it.. I am yet to get back to making money and I am mostly okay with it as I know that I have to go with the flow.. the biggest thing for me is I now feel a career in tech/product and the long working hours and stress in corporate/startups might not be the one I might go for.. But, I am ready to put all the hard work for sth that I am very much called to.. which prolly might be sharing my lessons and experiences with spirituality.. I am going with the flow..
There is this notion in the society that one should never quit job and keep on working.. For me, it was important to carve time for my spiritual goals.. am glad that more folks are addressing burnout, i hope more ppl become aware of it and also solve it in the corporate/startups level as well.. glad that you are taking this break, i am following your journey here..
On sabbatical after 13 years into my career as a management consulting then tech. Lots of relatable nuances in here. Thanks for sharing and wishing you peace, energy and lots of growth during this time 🩷
"Why is living a life that feels aligned with your values and who you are as an individual courageous? Shouldn’t it be normal?" What you wrote made me think of the quote from J. Krishnamurti: "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." Enjoy the journey, my friend!
The term "career" is a thought trap spoken by corporate victims with Sockholm syndrome. Forget that word. Better to find a paying gig and work community that you enjoy and feeds your soul. It wont last forever. Then learn to remake yourself and do it again. Be kind to yourself. You are not alone. Thank you for validating my same journey of decades ago.
Vimrata, I’ve followed you on LinkedIn because I felt that someone who had 7y in Tech could teach me, who had 20 years more experience, something every day. And with this post, you have. I was struck by “being surrounded by ambitious people who had centered their whole identity on achievement and impact.”
I grew up in Tech at a different time when impact wasn’t as much of a focus as the craft of building something that changed people’s lives. That has sustained me over the years, been fed by self-created startups. Though, in our achievement oriented career, I too have perhaps let the spark of creativity take a back-seat. Your post will help me reevaluate my goals in the next act of my career.
When I went to college, coming from another country, I wanted to study Writing and Literature. Fate sent me to MIT to become a computer engineer. Yet one never forgets one’s first loves.
Thank you for sharing links of people who supported you, as I knew of just one person in that list. Good luck on your rediscovery of you!
thanks for sharing this, nice to hear about your journey, I'm just coming out of a sabbatical now
“Why is living a life that feels aligned with your values and who you are as an individual courageous?”
💯💯💯
Excited to watch you move towards finding a schedule of flow & new sources of meaning :)
Hey! Really interested to read this. I've just embarked on a journey on here too and have referenced both The Pathless Path and Burnout in my writing so far. Feels like we are on a similar wavelength! Also interested to read about your intention to discover your purpose - that's the topic of my next piece of writing scheduled for Sunday. Good luck with your journey, I'll look forward to hearing how it goes.
Wonderful post
It is always good to honestly examine self and not many people have guts for the same
Proud of you
Go V! Always so great to see how your career has evolved over the years as someone who was similarity disenchanted by tech/product at one point and ended up taking a career pivot - excited to support you in this next chapter and also walk together in taking my first sabbatical of sorts since graduating in 2016 as we gear up for a new addition to the family
I find so many similarities with my journey and the way of telling the story it's actually confusing! Currently exploring writing, coaching, organisational coaching, solopreneuship and so on ... Seems like we're living in a transitional time and values are fighting back :) happy to chat about it or have your thoughts on my long form articles about that journey of mine!
I am in a similar phase and ended up taking 3 yrs of long break after a hi-tech career in tech and I could totally relate to what you are saying about achievement. I have also been highly spiritual and the break has mostly turned out to be focused on spirituality.. though my career was never my identity and I had no issues quitting the job and taking the sabbatical, the best advice from a mentor when I was taking the sabbatical was to relax into it which I was able to do even though I keep coming back to thinking about what to do next in terms of career... I now trust the process of life much more, very very glad that I took the break and it is completely worth it.. I am yet to get back to making money and I am mostly okay with it as I know that I have to go with the flow.. the biggest thing for me is I now feel a career in tech/product and the long working hours and stress in corporate/startups might not be the one I might go for.. But, I am ready to put all the hard work for sth that I am very much called to.. which prolly might be sharing my lessons and experiences with spirituality.. I am going with the flow..
There is this notion in the society that one should never quit job and keep on working.. For me, it was important to carve time for my spiritual goals.. am glad that more folks are addressing burnout, i hope more ppl become aware of it and also solve it in the corporate/startups level as well.. glad that you are taking this break, i am following your journey here..
On sabbatical after 13 years into my career as a management consulting then tech. Lots of relatable nuances in here. Thanks for sharing and wishing you peace, energy and lots of growth during this time 🩷
Nice post. How did you know you are burnt out as opposed to stressed?
I love this reflection and am so happy to hear you are taking a sabbatical! Excited to follow your journey and see where this takes you <3
Love this! Would love to read more about your current thoughts on this: "Create a blended career across the creative arts, tech, and business"
Wonderful post. Proud to walk along this with you
This is beautiful.