Bemused…

Well, it feels like it’s been a while since I left Infosys (although it’s just been a month and half now). But I feel happy that I don’t miss Infosys anymore. Happy because it reassures me that my decision to leave was the right one, Happy because it tells me that I am confident about my future even without the safety and security of a high paying job and Happy because I have the freedom to do what I need to do. But maybe the single biggest factor for not missing Infy could be that I don’t feel like I have moved away – I still have all my Infy friends around me – I move around with them, they are always around to share my happiness and sorrows.

I did not leave because I was unhappy with Infosys. On the contrary, Its because of Infosys that I am able to do what I am doing now. Infact, Infosys is the only reason I left Infosys. And I will always be grateful to Infosys for that. Had I not joined Infosys, I would’ve probably become a bigger disaster than ‘RGV ka Aag’ (couldn’t think of a better analogy to depict the scale. You get the picture).

The 11.5 years I spent in Infy taught me a lot (yep, coding too – wise guy). What I am talking about is the larger picture – It helped me realize my potential. It provided me with direction in life. It gave me a status in the society. It exposed me to people and places I never would’ve dreamt of meeting or seeing. I firmly believe that to become successful in life, what matters most (apart from having some core expertise) is to be exposed to as many people as possible. You never know when one of your acquaintances can open up an opportunity that can change your life. Not that I am a big networker. I probably am one of the worst. But I realize the power.

I digress. Well, anyways,

I did not leave Infosys for the usual reasons a person leaves a company. I was working for one of the best Global companies. I have always had great bosses. It wasn’t that I was disliked by people around me. It wasn’t that I was faring badly in my job – I was among the top always. It wasn’t that I was dissatisfied by the money or facilities. It wasn’t that I got a raw deal – with promotions or appraisals. It wasn’t that I was looking for better pay, or a bigger role. I valued my job highly, and I worked to be known as a great person. I sincerely believe that I achieved all I wanted.

Despite all this, I left when my career was on the upswing. To be frank, I was perplexed myself on why I did it. May be crossing 30 years (of age) had something to do with it. Though I did not compromise on my work, I started feeling that I didn’t enjoy doing it anymore. I felt restrained. I felt there are other things I should pursue – things that I am supposed to do – things that I am designed to do. I also wanted to prioritize my family time. Time was running by, and if I had to do anything, this was my last chance. So, after a 2 month long period of confusion, self doubt and consultation with my seniors and family, I decided to take the plunge. I still did not have a firm idea for earning my livelihood. But now, thanks to Iqbal (my ex-boss from infy) who let me team up with him at Semnox, I now have a goal to pursue. And I have no doubts that we will succeed. I do owe a special thanks to Naren (ex-VP at Infy, who has now started his own company called Inflection Point or i-point for short) for his guidance. Thanks also to all my friends and family for supporting my decision.

So, was it the right decision? I guess only time can tell. But for now, I definitely feel this is the right way to go for me in my pursuit of happiness.

I am not writing this as a PR stunt for Infy. Nor am I writing this to justify my decision to leave. I am writing this as a ‘thank you’ note to Infosys and all the wonderful people who make this company a great one for empowering me to go out on my own. Writing a blog was the least I could do.

Technorati Tags: Infosys, high paying job, Global companies, career, Semnox, pursuit of happiness

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