The Day I Decided to Retire

I have worked in the technology industry for over 30 years and have architected, designed, and lead numerous semiconductor products. In my last job, I managed products that sold for hundreds of millions of dollars. It was a thrilling ride through the many cycles of boom and bust in the semiconductor industry.

In my previous role, I was responsible for planning the overall AI products and features for all business segments within the company. While AI is a promising technology of the future, it requires skillful product definition to generate profits for the company. After successfully defining a product in the embedded market, my boss requested me to lead the AI product in the company's main business segment. However, upon careful study, I didn't believe there was a market for it. I expressed my concerns with my boss. He agreed with my concerns, but I was asked to continue with the work. Knowing that many people's jobs were on the line, I surpassed my concerns and worked diligently with the hope that, somehow, there would be a market when the product comes out. A year later, the product was ultimately cancelled by the executives. I felt relieved knowing that the unnecessary investment had come to a halt.

I was watching over a more promising products in the interim. However, six months later, I was asked to lead another new product, for which, again, I believed the chance of success was very slim, maybe even non-existent. After meeting with my boss on the new product plan, I found myself asking, "Do I really want to do this again?" At the sometime, a second question rose in my mind: "Why am I still working? Am I simply trading time and passion for money?"

For the first time in thirty years, I felt that my work no longer had meaning. I lost the will to put in more hard work on negotiation, planning, and execution, sacrificing sleep and missing school activities and family dinners. I honestly did not see this coming. I had always thought I would work till the day before I die.

That was the moment I began to feel a gap between myself and my career, which I had previously focused on fervently and passionately. Once the feeling of separation set in, it grew stronger and stronger. I consulted with retired friends whom I respected, read books and articles on retiring early, dotted the i's and crossed the t's to ensure the down side is limited. Then turned in my resignation. My superiors asked me to stay longer and inquired about what was needed to keep me. Unfortunately, it lost its lure on me. I left on the day I originally requested to leave.

I felt as if a dark cloud had lifted from me when I walked out of the office building for the last time. I am no longer limited to focus on a single direction and follow instructions which I might or might not agree with.

Early retirement opened up the world to me. There is so much to learn, experience, and express. I read book after book on various topics such as science, psychology, world affairs, history, economics, investment, philosophy, nutrition and others. I was surprised at how ignorant I was outside of my field, and I probably still am ignorant beyond my belief. I started playing musical instruments for the first time in my life and doing service works to make the world a better place since I have been here. Moving forward, I am enthusiastic about stretching my capabilities and fully experiencing the wonders of the world.