Navigating Risks and Rewards Outside the Corporate World

When I announced my decision to leave my corporate tech job to go freelance earlier this year, the reaction from family and friends was overwhelmingly skeptical. “Why now? The economy is unstable—what if you can’t find another job?” they asked. Truthfully, I didn’t have a tidy response. My decision stemmed from the culmination of several frustrations: a toxic work environment, stagnant career growth, and work that felt unfulfilling no matter my effort.

The tipping point came when I realized that half my colleagues were seeking psychiatric help—a significant indicator in a culture where therapy is not widely normalized. Their sentiment about moving to another company was equally disheartening, as they often joked about how they’d actually need to “think and work” elsewhere.

I didn’t have a clear plan, but two things were certain: I refused to let fear of failure trap me in a corporate environment that stifled creativity, and I was determined to break free from the culture of ladder-climbing at others’ expense. Freelancing was my chance to reclaim autonomy and rediscover the joy of meaningful work.