Sicily Scooter (Source: Geo Davis)
Good morning, midlife-curious readers. In any quest it’s revitalizing and encouraging to stumble upon inspiration. Mentors and [cheer]leaders offering alternative perspectives and positive reinforcement. We all need role models. We all need refortifying when we’re diverging from the herd.
So on this day full of challenge and opportunity I would like to introduce to you Patrick Pichette, Google’s CFO. Big job, right? Right.
Pichette has announced that he’s taking an early exit despite his young age, ongoing career potential and walking away from millions in options. Mountains of mammon. He’s retiring early to savor a “mid life full of bliss and beauty” with his bride of 25 years.
What follows is a truly inspirational look at his midlife crisis management plan. Enjoy.
Allow me to spare you the rest of the truths. But the short answer is simply that I could not find a good argument to tell Tamar we should wait any longer for us to grab our backpacks and hit the road – celebrate our last 25 years together by turning the page and enjoy a perfectly fine mid life crisis full of bliss and beauty, and leave the door open to serendipity for our next leadership opportunities, once our long list of travels and adventures is exhausted.
Working at Google is a privilege, nothing less. I have worked with the best of the best, and know that I am leaving Google in great hands. I have made so many friends at Google it’s not funny. Larry, Sergey, Eric, thank you for friendship. I am forever grateful for letting me be me, for your trust, your warmth, your support, and for so much laughter through good and not so good times.
To be clear, I am still here. I wish to transition over the coming months but only after we have found a new Googley CFO and help him/her through an orderly transition, which will take some time.
In the end, life is wonderful, but nonetheless a series of trade offs, especially between business/professional endeavours and family/community. And thankfully, I feel I’m at a point in my life where I no longer have to have to make such tough choices anymore. And for that I am truly grateful. Carpe Diem. (Source: Patrick Pichette – Google+)