Breakups hurt. They tend to affect mental peace and stability. It often leads individuals to take extreme, life-changing decisions, which can either make or break their life goals. For this 27-year-old engineer, though, it led him to let go of his well-paying American dream job at Google and pursue a life of entrepreneurship and creativity.
Jim Tang, a software engineer, shared his decision via Business Insider to resign from a highly lucrative position at Google. The decision came after Tang went through a personal breakup, which, coupled with growing frustration with his corporate career, led him to abandon a salary of over Rs 2.52 crore ($300,000) and his long-term goal of retiring early.
Ex-Google quits his ‘American dream’
Tang, who joined the tech giant in 2021, initially believed that landing a job at Google was the pinnacle of the ‘American dream’ and would make his family proud. However, he soon found the work to be lacking in personal meaning, despite the substantial salary and generous employee perks. His journey with the company was part of a larger plan to achieve FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) by the age of 40, a goal he was set on achieving.
“I remember bringing my parents to the office and feeling like we’d achieved the American dream,” recalled Tang.
However, a difficult relationship breakup made him re-evaluate his life and career. He took a leave of absence in May 2025, during which he travelled and reflected on his professional and personal goals. This period of self-discovery led him to the conclusion that he needed a more fulfilling life – a life that was not solely defined by his work or a future retirement plan.
“Even though there were a lot of perks and I was working with brilliant people, I was never a big fan of corporate work. While working on B2B products in ads for Google, I was probably helping them make a boatload of money, but it didn’t feel particularly meaningful,” wrote Tang.
Tang changed his career course
Since resigning, Tang has embraced the life of a digital nomad. He began his journey in Tokyo, documenting his experiences as a creator and entrepreneur. He is now focused on building his own digital products and offering coaching services.
Tang says that this path offers a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment in his life. His new definition of success, as he has stated, is not about external accolades but about finding joy and meaning in his day-to-day life.