My Story: From Security to Uncertainty (and Back Again)
I climbed the ladder and reached Principal Engineer. From the outside, it looked like success. But inside, I wasn’t fulfilled. And, honestly, I wasn’t secure. Then came the recession. I was laid off, and for the first time, I realized: “I have nothing to fall back on.”
When I got another opportunity, I wasn’t the same. I decided I would never depend on one income again. I tracked my money. I worked with others. I invested and used my experience in new ways. Everything changed—slowly. I built income outside my job and created a true safety net. I finally felt calm again.