I dropped out of college with $25,000 in loans and did a tech apprenticeship instead. I have a great job now, but I wish I left sooner.

Tech Insider
headshot of a woman in glasses and a black blazer in a hallway
Janika Cook.

Courtesy of Janika Cook

Dating in Silicon Valley is hard. I want to be married and have kids, but Big Tech is holding me back.

Tech Insider
Overwhelmed worker surrounded by piles of work, with logos of big tech companies (Google, Amazon, Apple, Netflix) overhead, cursors, and broken hearts
A manager at a FAANG company says he's gotten more attention since he started working in Big Tech.

Getty Images; Alyssa Powell/BI

I quit Merrill Lynch to start my own business. Leaving a 7-figure income and cushy corporate perks was hard, but I don't regret it.

Tech Insider
a man in a blue outfit poses in front of a palm tree
Chad Willardson.

Tom Pellicer, Rowco Media, LLC

I'm the son of a billionaire who forged my own career path.

Tech Insider
My dad is Steve Ballmer. I spent 5 years working as a product manager in the tech industry before becoming a comedian.

Pete Ballmer, Alisa Solo/Getty Images, Abanti Chowdhury/BI

I drove the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XSE. It's fun to drive and has luxurious features, but it's not worth buying new.

Tech Insider
a blue 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SUV
The 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XSE.

Jules Rogers

I quit multiple dream jobs to move for my husband's career. It was tough but led me to create a flexible 6-figure business.

Tech Insider
a woman holding a laptop stands in front of a blue wall
Emily Reagan.

Courtesy of Emily Reagan

I doubled my salary by becoming a travel nurse. You can't just wait around for a raise — you need to take bold actions.

Tech Insider
Chan was working for below the average hourly rate for nurses in California.
Louie Chan is a nurse in the Bay Area.

Courtesy of Louie Chan

I'm a real-estate agent in the Hamptons. Here are the hottest spots to see and be seen this summer.

Tech Insider
a man in a black outfit poses on the street in NYC
Jonathan Yarton.

Sandy De Jesus

I live rent-free in NYC. Moving into a van has allowed me to save, avoid taking out loans, and live a life of adventure.

Tech Insider
a man sits on top of a blue van in a grassy field
Gerardo Rios Garcia and his van.

Gerardo Rios Garcia

I quit bartending at Twin Peaks to start my marketing career. Within 3 years, I was a CMO earning double my former income.

Tech Insider
a woman in a black outfit standing in a brown field
Brittany Betts is a marketing professional in Nashville.

Dahlia Orchid Photography

Subscribe to lauryn-haas