Blog

One of the first questions people ask me after hearing that I have quit my corporate job, is almost always the same: “How do you handle the stress?” “How do you sleep at night knowing there’s no guarantee of a paycheck at the end of the month?” It’s a fair question. We’ve been conditioned to believe that a regular salary is the ultimate safety net, and that stepping away from it automatically means living in a constant state of anxiety. But after spending some time on the other side, I’ve realized something important about stress and it’s something that doesn’t get talked about enough. ...

How to come up with good ideas as a solo developer? How to decide what to build? Ever since I left the corporate world to build independently, I’ve been wrestling with these two questions. Being a solopreneur is liberating, but it also means waking up to a blank canvas every single day. Before we dive deeper, let me address the first thought that usually comes up: “Is the idea itself what really matters, or is it the execution?” ...

It’s been a while since I shared an update, so I figured it’s time to check in, partly for anyone following my journey but mostly to get my own thoughts in order. Post Microsoft, the past few months have been a mix of celebration, reflection, recalibration, minor chaos and a surprising number of “what am I even doing?” moments. So here’s a quick catch-up on where my time and headspace have been lately. ...

After a roller-coaster 7.5 years at Microsoft, I handed in my ID card and laptops few days back. Even though this moment had been brewing in my mind since long, it was still bittersweet when it finally arrived. Microsoft has been an incredible place to work, especially in terms of hybrid work and perks, which made this decision all the more difficult. But after spending 21+ years in the software industry working at large corporate behemoths, I felt it was time for change. Time for pause, reflection and reset. I will be taking the next few months to focus on health, sleep, and personal growth, revisit long-neglected passions like writing and traveling, spend more time with family and build some cool stuff while learning new skills along the way. ...

Sorry for the clichéd title, yes, I’m trying to hook you in. But stick with me, because this isn’t about vague “life purpose” philosophy. I’m talking about something more practical: what actually makes people succeed in corporate careers? Think about it. In almost every field, whether marketing, sales, finance, or software development, you’ll find that most people start strong, but many drop out along the way. Some burn out, some others stay put in middle management until retirement, some settle for “good enough” and some others simply drift. And then there are a few who keep climbing, who seem to stand out and rise above the rest. ...