[Removed] Picked up an extra $8k per month by leaving an engineering job at Google to do independent consulting

Hello, I thought I would share something I don’t really tell people elsewhere. I’m an engineering grad from a top school and got a SWE job at Google over 3 years ago. One of the best paying jobs in the world and I was pegging my identity and self worth to the job title, income, and benefits. I was naive and thought I was rich based on my paycheck. It turns out I was pretty broke and in debt not including the house I bought. <br><br>I was making great money but not time, I was working 12 hour days 6-7 days a week. I laugh when I see the articles in the news about tech layoffs, how lazy engineers are, or how tech workers complain but make so much money. We’re humans too. It’s not that we’re lazy but when you put a part of yourself into your work, you do feel undervalued to a certain extent. I always thought the grass was greener on the other side but it’s actually greener where you water it. Covid really made me think what my priorities are and how to live life on my own terms. <br><br>I left Google to start doing consulting work last year. I learned how to sell, market, and deliver. Today I’m making good money and have plenty of free time. I used to make good money and work all the time. I made a lot of mistakes of overspending, thinking I was rich, being lazy, and being overly confident. I learned a lot and I’m still learning. I’m debt free including my house now and investing a lot. I was broke last year.<br><br>For those that feel like they’re stuck in a rut, it’s okay. It took me almost 30 years to get to this point. I’m by no means financially free but I can afford to pursue my hobbies and choices without worrying about time or money. It’s the best feeling in the world being able to live life on my own terms. <br><br>Edited to add: Some people are asking me “how did you do it?”. I think the best advice I can give is to stop being lazy and always be resourceful. I learned how to sell, market, and deliver via online courses, books, and trial and error. I spent a lot of time learning. If you’re an engineer at a big company, your job is not the only way to make money. I made a lot of mistakes, got rejected, and failed. The key is not to give up.