Ask HN: Why shouldn't I leave Google?

Do you know how to:

* manage people?

* raise money?

* deliver/project manage?

* be a product manager?

Do you have:

* a set of friends who have a diverse set of non-SWE skills that are willing to join you?

* Determination to make shit happen?

* the ability to give up vacations and weekends for your startup?

Running a startup sounds romantic, but the reality is considerable less so.

My question is: Have you stopped learning/growing at Google? Staying at Google is probably the safe path. But you're stuck at the Mothership; And as guilded the cage is, it's still a cage. I left my company and now enjoy my days visiting friends, family, biking, dog-walking etc. and work at nights (on the nights I want). My capacity to learn has increased 10-fold now that I'm not slogged down in a 9to5 job (I should add, I'm "old", 46). I've started 3 businesses that are in different stages, one already paying my monthly bills after just 2 months! All I can say is "FREEEEEEEEEDOM!" :-) That being said, Google pays amazing and you'll amass a good fortune that can give you guaranteed freedom if you keep your expenses low and save /invest properly for 8+ years. So the question is: Are you a gambling man? :-)

Leave Google, and travel wherever you want.

It will be harder later in life assuming you plan on being in a serious relationship and/or have children. When you are done, and realize that you have an idea- open a business. if you realize you don't have an idea, join a different place of work.

After traveling, you might not even want to do SWEing anymore, who know. you might want to go into permaculture! or a open a parking garage in Tokyo after meeting a nice person over there.

If you were 32 I would have a different opinion.

With all the crisis with millennias having to find meaning, not having a steady job and not saving for the future. I write these words and think "is my suggestion helpful?". in general, I hope saying to someone "go search where you think you will find yourself" is the healthiest thing. regret is a bitch later.

Here is a bonus new word to learn "Onism" it was coined by youtube channel called "Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows". you should take a look at it, it has a good sense if explaining how I feel about your question: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrBlmpqh8T0

Good luck! being 26 will look a more naive time later in life, but don't only take my advice. i'm only 28.

Assuming you have a great Google salary, I would live frugally and have enough money to be financially independent / retire in 5 years.

Then travel or work on whatever you please for the entire rest of your life!

I agree staying too much is usually not good, but you worked for many companies, he only for one. Observing many companies (or at least some) is very useful.