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‘Don’t let work become your identity’: Entrepreneur who quit Google shares lessons


‘Don’t let work become your identity’: Entrepreneur who quit Google shares lessons

As he prepares to turn 43, entrepreneur Rohit Sakunia, who quit Google more than a decade ago to begin his entrepreneurial journey, has looked back at his 30s and shared a few lessons he wishes he had understood sooner.Sakunia posted a personal reflection on Instagram said it was not meant to be advice but “thodi clarity (little clarity)”, the kind of understanding he believes would have helped him earlier.One of the biggest lessons, he said, was not allowing work to become his entire identity. “Work was good, mood was good. Work was off, everything felt off,” he wrote. Over time, he realised that professional success and personal well-being are not the same thing.He also spoke about the importance of being careful about where time and energy are invested. According to him, not every friendly person becomes a true friend, and learning to set boundaries took longer than it should have.Another lesson was about the difference between being busy and being clear about one’s direction. “Calendar full tha… but direction har baar clear nahi thi,” (the caleder was full, but the direction wasnt clear always), he wrote, adding that staying busy is easy, while finding clarity takes effort.Sakunia admitted that he neglected fitness for years, often putting it off for later while dealing with long workdays and unhealthy eating habits. Looking back, he believes low energy levels eventually affect every part of life.He also said he spent too much time trying to prove himself and too little time expressing himself. Confidence was another challenge. For years, he felt conscious about his English and often spoke less than he wanted to. “Most of that hesitation… sirf dimaag mein hi tha” (most of that hesitation was in the mind), he wrote.In an earlier post, Sakunia shared details of the uncertainty he faced when he left Google at the age of 33. At the time, he had a three-month-old baby at home and was stepping away from a stable job to build something of his own.In that post, he recalled worrying about finding clients, earning enough money, supporting his family and losing the identity he had built around his role at Google. The first few months were difficult, with slow business and financial pressure adding to the stress.However, he said some of his biggest fears never came true. He did not have to return to his old job, his business gradually found its footing and a new identity eventually took shape.Looking back now, Sakunia said he does not believe he got everything wrong. He simply feels some lessons would have been easier to learn earlier. “If you’re between 30–39… maybe this helps,” he wrote.



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