I quit my Big Tech dream job to work for myself. I loved the perks and the 6-figure salary, but the hustle culture wasn't worth it.

Tech Insider
a woman sitting in a chair in front of a LinkedIn sign
Jean Kang.

Courtesy of Jean Kang

I moved from Paris to a house in New York with 15 roommates. The $2,000 a month rent is fair for what I get.

Tech Insider
Young people socializing with a photo of a living room in the background
Cohabs are shared houses in cities around the world.

Cohabs; iStock; BI

I was fired from my new job after 3 days. It taught me that mental health is more important than earning money.

Tech Insider
Calli Nguyen wearing a red blazer in her headshot.
Calli Nguyen planned to quit but was fired from her director role within three days of starting the job.

Jordan Hefler

I got divorced and lost my job at the height of my success. After moving back in with my mom, I regained my self-worth.

Tech Insider
a headshot of a woman in front of a brown wall
Ayan Said.

Stacey Poterson

I quit my dream job at Goldman Sachs to care for my mother. I felt bad for myself but realized the simple things are what truly matter.

Tech Insider
Cassindy Chao standing at the airport.
Cassindy Chao (pictured above) says she chose family over money and she's richer because of it.

Courtesy of Cassindy Chao

I was fired from my accounting job and had to give up my apartment and sleep on my friend's floor. Now, I make $500,000 a year as a YouTuber.

Tech Insider
black and white headshot
Quentin Latham.

Courtesy of Funky Dineva LLC

I cold-emailed Mark Cuban and a Meta exec, and they both responded. Here's how I worded it.

Tech Insider
Meta logo with a blurred out cold email behind it

Meta, Tyler Le/BI

I made $600,000 last year from my online business. Skipping college paid off — I'm the first in my family to own a home.

Tech Insider
headshot of a man with a gray background
Oliur Rahman is a YouTuber and he sells products online.

Courtesy of Oliur Rahman

I spend over $1,600 a month to get help with my wardrobe, home, and kids. We should all treat ourselves to these types of breaks when possible.

Tech Insider
Gabrielle Gambrell headshot.
Gabrielle Gambrell outsources housekeeping, wardrobe styling, and childcare to alleviate stress.

Courtesy of Gabrielle Gambrell

I became a data analyst and grew my salary 5x without working in Big Tech. Non-tech companies offer more flexibility and less stress.

Tech Insider
Charlotte Chaze wears a black blazer as she smiles at the camera
Charlotte Chaze went from making $28,000 to $158,000 in four years after becoming a data analyst.

Heart & Rae Photography

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