I quit Amazon after two months

Summary

This powerful personal story follows Navi's journey from feeling lost and defeated after quitting a high-paying Amazon job to finding redemption through consistency and self-discipline. Struggling with intense anxiety, depression, and self-doubt, Navi navigates a period of extreme emotional turmoil, including drug-induced psychosis. Through a commitment to daily self-improvement, including solving LeetCode problems, Navi regains control over his mental health and eventually secures a job at Google. The story emphasizes the importance of persistence, self-reflection, and never betting against oneself in the face of adversity.

Takeaways

• 😀 The narrator struggled with severe anxiety and depression after starting a high-paying job at Amazon, which led to quitting despite initially being excited about the opportunity.
• 😀 Growing up in a difficult environment, the narrator's goal was always to help his family, which influenced his decision to pursue a high-paying career in tech.
• 😀 Despite initially getting a job offer from Amazon for a 140k annual salary, the narrator struggled mentally with the intensity of the job and his own personal challenges.
• 😀 After quitting Amazon, the narrator spiraled into depression and turned to substances like drugs and alcohol, seeking an escape from his feelings of failure.
• 😀 A life-changing mistake involving consuming LSD worsened the narrator's mental state, intensifying his feelings of paranoia and losing touch with reality.
• 😀 The narrator experienced extreme anxiety, confusion, and memory loss, including forgetting basic tasks and personal details like his age and name.
• 😀 In the midst of these challenges, the narrator found solace in reading positive affirmations and focused on small daily goals like solving LeetCode problems.
• 😀 Consistency and predictability in his routine helped the narrator regain his mental clarity and stability over time, which led him to start making LeetCode videos again.
• 😀 After a year of consistent effort, the narrator eventually received a job offer from Google, marking the beginning of his recovery and a shift in perspective.
• 😀 The narrator reflects on the experience as being a form of drug-induced psychosis, noting that the mental breakdown was likely caused by a combination of stress, substances, and the pressure of high expectations.
• 😀 The key lesson from the narrator’s journey is the importance of consistency, staying honest with oneself, and being persistent, even when faced with immense mental and emotional challenges.

Q & A

What was the reason the speaker initially quit their job at Amazon?

The speaker felt intense anxiety and mental strain at Amazon, which led to difficulty concentrating and completing tasks. Despite being hired for a high-paying role, they struggled with feelings of inadequacy and eventually quit after several attempts to resign.

How did the speaker’s upbringing influence their career goals?

The speaker grew up in a financially challenging environment, with a single mother and absent father. This motivated them to pursue a degree and secure a high-paying job to help their family, which became their primary goal after graduation.

What did the speaker experience after quitting Amazon?

After quitting Amazon, the speaker struggled with depression, anxiety, substance use, and feelings of failure. They questioned their own abilities and felt disconnected from reality, even experiencing paranoia and memory loss.

How did the speaker’s mental health impact their decision-making?

The speaker’s mental health issues, including depression and anxiety, led them to make poor decisions, such as turning to drugs and alcohol. At one point, they consumed LSD in an attempt to escape their negative feelings, which worsened their mental state.

What was the significance of the handwritten notes the speaker took at Amazon?

The speaker became paranoid after taking handwritten notes at Amazon, fearing that they might be used against them in the event of a data breach. This anxiety led to them destroying the notes to protect themselves.

How did the speaker begin to regain their sense of stability?

The speaker started to regain stability by committing to solve a LeetCode problem every day. This small, consistent effort helped them calm down and regain a sense of control over their life.

What role did LeetCode play in the speaker’s recovery?

LeetCode provided the speaker with a structured routine that helped reduce anxiety and gave them something tangible to focus on. Their daily commitment to solving problems helped them regain mental clarity and confidence.

How did the speaker’s experience lead to their eventual job offer from Google?

After months of consistency and improving their mental health through small daily tasks, the speaker was able to secure a job interview and offer from Google, marking a major turnaround in their career.

What does the speaker believe about the nature of their breakdown?

The speaker believes their breakdown may have been caused by drug-induced psychosis, particularly following the LSD incident. They view the experience as a significant mental health challenge that impacted their sense of reality.

What lesson does the speaker impart about overcoming personal challenges?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of consistency, self-honesty, and passion for what you do. They advocate for never betting against yourself and remaining resilient in the face of adversity, suggesting that staying persistent will eventually lead to success.