Once upon a time
When I was a kid my parents use to repeatedly say “Go to school, study hard, get good grades and when you graduate you will get a good job. You will settle down and be happy in life”. Like most kids, I followed what my parents told told me. And this is what happened….
I worked really hard .. made it to top 0.1% of Indian students and got admitted to the elite Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) engineering program in 1996.
When I arrived at IIT I thought I ‘made it’. I don’t need to work anymore. Boy I was so wrong I ‘almost’ failed a few classes in my 1st semester — this was a wakeup call for me. I got my stuff together and worked hard to compete with the best in the country (remember it was the top 0.1% smartest and hard working kids in the whole country). I graduated in Top 12 of my class of 26! Not bad for a kid who almost failed in his first semester.
Once I graduated, I got a job offer from PricewaterhouseCoopers as a consultant – that I gladly declined! Everyone from IIT seems to be rushing to go to the USA, with the promise of better pay and better opportunities. I had to be there too.
I landed in the USA in 2000, with 2 bags of clothes and supplies. I worked really hard and graduated with MS in computer science with GPA of 3.91 from University of Texas at Dallas.
In 2002, just before I graduated the telecom bubble burst there were very few jobs in Dallas, TX area. However, I was lucky and got a full-time job with Texas instruments and I thought everything was set.I was in a great company, great education and awesome career ahead. I think this is what my parents meant by ‘settle down and happy life’. What could go wrong?
In all truth and honesty, TI was a excellent company to work at. I learnt a lot, made good friends, did some really cool stuff. I moved to try various roles at the company to learn more and try new things.
But, one day in late 2012, the company decided to shutdown my division and I was laid off. I found that I have developed certain niche skills and might need to relocate to another city find a job. I started doing some remote consulting, then luckily (I think) the opportunity a full time Reliance Jio showed up. I can’t really open up here on my experience here at Jio as I am under strict legal agreements on what I can say in public.
In 2017, I reached a milestone of ’15 years in the tech industry’. I dint do bad for myself I made decent money, made good friends and nice loving family that I am always grateful for.
Here and now
Looking back at my years in the technology industry there was a common denominator among most people I:
• Most people are NOT HAPPY in their job.
• Most people are AFRAID that they might loose their job any moment.
• Most people are feel HELPLESS when they want need to find different work.
• Most people don’t develop REAL SKILLS and even worse some of the skills they actually had — atrophy in their corporate jobs.
• Most people only have ONE INCOME STREAM (their paycheck) and are totally dependent on by that.
It does not have to be this way.
I believe, all of these problems can be fixed.
I believe, that each of us are capable of effort and choices – to avoid these situations or dig ourselves out of them.
I believe, each of us a born to do work that is meaningful, live a life of purpose and contribute our best to world.
I believe, that each us can flourish and have a full life.
Imagine a world
Imagine a world, where you are not afraid any more. You choose what you want to work on and who you work with.
Imagine you are not afraid of loosing a paycheck, not afraid to get laid off or fired, not being being stuck to your job.
Imagine living you best life, doing your best work. Thats the possibility I want for myself and for you as well.
I am Jay Goluguri, and I’m on this journey of discovery and reinvention, sharing all insights and wisdom I find with you. Do, you want to join and followup along?
I invite you to subscribe to my mailing list where I will share all of this … lets get started together!
The views expressed on this site are my own and do not reflect those of my employer or its clients.