Quitting Silicon Valley, Healing from Burnout, and Finding meaning.
One of the most embarrassing moments of my life was when I only ran 16 miles instead of the 24 I’d set for myself. I still remember the unbelievable pain coursing through my entire body as I lay collapsed on the floor, waiting for a friend to pick me up. Ironically, 16 is also the age when I got my first job, and by 18, I had two jobs. It’s been two jobs ever since—both in Silicon Valley, where the culture is to ‘move fast and break things.’ I thought I could keep up with that pace forever. But soon, I felt the same exhaustion creeping into my everyday life. Even sitting still, the pain in my body was relentless, and a pounding headache finally drove me to the ER. After running some tests, the doctor said my brain was fine but mentioned that he sees a lot of stressed-out guys like me. Then he asked me the most important question: Are you happy?
That question made me re-evaluate everything. Was this truly what I wanted, or just what everyone else wanted? Many people would trade places with me in a heartbeat. Searching for answers, I turned to my favorite books, and Scott Harrison’s words, What would the complete opposite of my life look like? stopped me in my tracks. I couldn’t even grasp the concept of slowing down or taking a break—no vacations, no pauses, just full speed ahead. Scott had gone from a selfish New York City club promoter to providing clean water to millions, transforming a life of indulgence into one of impact—a journey toward meaningful masculinity. I realized that the men I admired, like Casey Neistat, Phil Knight, and Malcolm X, all answered the Call of Adventure, each in his own way, regardless of their age, environment, or socioeconomic status.
I began to wonder what my own adventure might look like. Then, I stumbled upon an old Google Drive file from my freshman year of college, where I’d written about my dreams after college—one of which was to travel the world. I’d always told myself, There’s always next time, but my ER visit was a stark reminder that the “next times” may not be endless.
As I get older, I feel what a miracle it is to wake up healthy each morning. We are all going to end up six feet deep eventually; we don’t control how the play is edited, only our final “signature.” Sadly, too many of us will settle for Times New Roman or, worse, Comic Sans. But I want my signature to stand out. That’s why I sold most of my possessions, left the comfort of home, and set out to see what I’m capable of with just my two hands. It may feel like I’ve let go of a lot, but everything I need is right here, in the palm of my hands.
So, I hope you’ll join me on this journey because this one is going to be a tough one to back out of—I’ve cornered myself in the best way possible. I hope you’ll take a leap of faith too and watch as your dreams begin to unfold.