I left my $130K job at Lyft and became a barista. Here's what it taught me.

• Chris Jereza left his well-paid job at Lyft after three months and became a barista. 
• He has explored different paths, including vlogging for BuzzFeed and working as a software engineer. 
• The 25-year-old shared what he's learned along the way with Business Insider.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Chris Jereza, 25, a former software engineer at Lyft. The following has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified his identity, former employment, and earnings.