I spent my twenties in Silicon Valley chasing the startup dream. I wanted to build something revolutionary to make millions. I worked eighty-hour weeks sacrificed relationships neglected my health all for external validation. When my startup failed I hit a wall. But that failure became my greatest teacher. I realized I had been living someone elses life designed by society not by me. I started asking: What do I actually want? What brings me joy? What is worth my limited time on earth? The answers were different. I did not need to be a billionaire. I wanted to be present meaningful work and to mentor younger engineers. I changed careers and moved to Austin. Now I code but I also live.
The Tech World and My Soul
