Last June, Taylor M. LaSane faced a decision that was about as stressful as choosing between a rock and a hard place. Should she keep her comfy six-figure job at Google, or leap into the wild world of career coaching—a business she started three years ago and that was, shall we say, still in its toddler phase? Spoiler alert: she chose to fly free like a little bird, shackled only by the weight of her own dreams.
Adding drama to this corporate saga, Google had just invited some lucky employees to jump ship with a voluntary buyout offer, positioned as a lifeboat for those who no longer felt “all in.” Not exactly the kind of life jacket you’d want in the turbulent waters of corporate America, but hey, it was something. LaSane’s buyout came with just under six months of severance pay, a veritable treasure trove that could potentially finance her new entrepreneurial ship—though, let’s be real, her business was bringing in about 10% of her previous salary. Nothing like a bit of financial forecasting to dampen your entrepreneurial spirit!
If deciding to take a gamble on her future wasn’t enough, tragedy struck when LaSane learned of her uncle’s unexpected demise at 62—proof that retirement can be just a fancy prelude to a dirt nap. His untimely departure forced her to confront the uncomfortable reality that life is short and waiting for permission is a surefire way to miss the party. “Life is too short,” she mused, like a fortune cookie that gained sentience, realizing that at 32, it might be time to stop playing it safe.
So, our heroine applied for the buyout and, shocker, got accepted. Her grand escape from Google was officially set for October, just in time for an existential crisis that would rival most midlife moments.
In the year since, I’ve interviewed a bunch of brave souls—let’s call them corporate Houdinis—who traded their tech jobs for a life of uncertainty and Instagram ads. Some found refuge at other tech giants; others fled to the quaint pastures of small firms, started their own quirky ventures, or refocused on life’s joys, like yoga or parenting. In this economy, where quitting for a better job feels like deciding to abandon ship while an iceberg looms, these rebels chose to steer their own course. They sought greater control over their careers, leaving behind a stable paycheck and a plethora of office coffee options.
Among those I spoke to, common themes emerged—concerns about job security, workplace culture growing colder than a polar bear’s toenail, and a longing for something meaningful in an environment that often prioritizes bandwidth over brain power. I mean, who wouldn’t want more control over their destiny? At this point, they were just trying to break free before the next round of layoffs got announced at the company-wide Zoom.
TikTok Trials and Tribulations of Motherhood
Beyond her duties at Google, LaSane indulged her coaching ambitions with an internal program, leading coaching sessions like a self-made Oprah. By 2022, her yearning for something more—cue the dramatic music—prompted her to dive deeper into coaching and TikTok content creation. YouTube may have the vloggers, but TikTok had become her platform of choice. But, after years of asking why her promotion felt like a gilded cage, she realized late-night meetings weren’t the key to happiness. They were more like an initiation into a college of confusion.
With numerous clients to juggle and an ever-expanding to-do list, a time crunch was coming her way like her mother at a family BBQ. And then, of course, her colleagues started noticing her TikTok fame, diverting her focus from actual career satisfaction. Can you really thrive in two worlds at once, or is that a myth propagated by overzealous life coaches?
Fast forward to 2023, when LaSane belly-flopped into the world of motherhood with not one but two babies—because why not double the chaos? During an extended hiatus that came wrapped in maternity leave, she put her coaching adventure on hold, all while frantically managing diaper duties. When the dust settled, she returned to Google, but not without a newfound desire to grow the business that virtually toddler-sat while she was away.
Going All-In on Entrepreneurship
Deciding to swap TikTok for LinkedIn, LaSane leaned into group coaching and live events like it was the hottest trend in town. Then came the eye-opening moment when organizational changes at Google left her feelings more ambiguous than her relationship status on Facebook. The looming question became, “Am I in the right place?” So, when news of a buyout fluttered into her inbox, she thought it might be time to actually take the leap, securing an exit that sounded more like a dignified retirement than a panic-fueled breakup.
“Big Tech layoffs are everywhere,” she mused, “so why stay put when the other side of the fence might have better grass?” With that logic swirling in her mind, she made the leap and bid adieu to her corporate life. Was it a risk? Definitely! But was it the kind of risk that could lead to her own version of a success story? Absolutely—at least in her mind.
Since her grand exit, LaSane’s business has evolved into a full-blown “career studio”—whatever that means—offering workshops and group sessions that give off a sense of creative flair. Though she’s not pulling a salary just yet, she managed to pull together a live coaching workshop that generated $3,000. Not exactly Bill Gates-level revenue, but hey, $3,000 is still $3,000!
Taking a year to pursue her dreams might end up being the best narrative for her kids. “Look kids, your mother didn’t just play nice in the corporate sandbox; she took risks, and maybe let a few toys fly!” That’s the legend she hopes to leave behind, blending dry humor with a pinch of irony as she navigates the unpredictable waters of entrepreneurship. Her advice for anyone else walking this precarious path? “Chase your purpose, and let the universe handle the rest.” Or, you know, just don’t sleep on your dreams—but seriously sleep, it’s important.
