One year ago today, I left RSM.
I told myself I was taking six months off. That six months turned into a year of self-discovery, reflection, and maybe the most important thing of all—perspective.
I walked away from a 7-figure role. Not because I had to. Not because I burned out. But because I chose to. And that single decision rewired the way I think about work, life, and success.
Rediscovering What Matters
Leaving the consulting world—the pace, the pressure, the constant pulse—felt like jumping off a moving train. But once I landed, something unexpected happened: stillness. And in that stillness, things got clearer.
I spent more time with my family than I ever had. I worked out every day using Tonal, obsessed over the stats, and found peace in the ritual. I walked from the horse barn to the house each morning, and not a day has passed where I haven’t quietly said, “thank you.”
People love to say “stop and smell the roses,” but few actually do. When you’re finally off the wheel—when you’re not chasing the next quarter, the next deal, or the next badge of productivity—you stop surviving and start living. That’s when the magic happens.
But here’s what no one tells you: stopping is hard. Slowing down can feel like failure—especially in a world that worships busyness. It takes more courage to pause than to push through. To sit still when your identity has always been tied to motion.
But What Are You Doing Now?
A lot of people—some well-meaning, others not so subtle—asked me:
“So, what’s your purpose now?” “You can’t not be doing something.” “You’ve got too much energy to just sit still.”
It was often said with a slight head tilt—the polite version of turning their nose up at the idea of rest. As if pausing somehow meant quitting.
But isn’t that ironic?
Don’t most people work toward retirement as the “end game”? Isn’t that the societal blueprint—grind now, relax later?
I had the rare chance to pause, breathe, and realign before I burned out. And that made others uncomfortable. Because it begged a question we don’t often confront:
If you had the financial and family support to walk away from your job and just enjoy life—would you? And more importantly—do you even know how to?
That’s what this year gave me: not just time off, but the ability to know how to live. To not need to fill every moment with noise or achievement. To find worth outside of a title. To remember why I wanted to build in the first place.
And now, I’m ready to build again—with intention, not inertia.
Looking Ahead: A New Chapter
Over the past few months, I’ve quietly started building again. I’ve been working on a new pitch deck, meeting with investors, and shaping a vision that actually excites me.
Not because I need to stay “relevant”—but because I want to create something that matters. This time, I’m not chasing something to prove. I’m building something that aligns—with who I’ve become and what I care about.
I didn’t lose ambition. I gained alignment. My fire’s not gone—it’s just burning in a different direction now. It doesn’t flare for attention. It fuels what’s next.
💬 If you had the chance to walk away… would you? Could you?
