In a world where success is often measured by a fancy job title, a high salary, and a corporate lifestyle, few people dare to walk away from it all. Yet, that’s exactly what 33-year-old Meet Semlani did. He left a prestigious job at JPMorgan Chase, took a 70% pay cut, and stepped into the unknown — all because he realised his life no longer felt meaningful.
His journey is more than a career shift. It’s a story of courage, identity, vulnerability, and rediscovering what truly matters.
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The Corporate Dream That Turned Into a Routine
Like many ambitious young professionals, Semlani worked incredibly hard to build his corporate career. He started at JPMorgan as an intern, returned to India, and climbed the ladder to become an associate in asset management. His target was clear: Become Vice President by age 30, earn big, and secure status.
On paper, everything looked perfect.
But deep inside, something felt wrong.
His days became painfully repetitive — wake up, get dressed, reach office at 9 AM, attend back-to-back meetings, return home exhausted at night, sleep, repeat. The cycle never changed. Slowly, he began losing touch with friends, forgetting hobbies, and feeling disconnected from his own life.
He described it in one honest sentence:
“My life felt robotic.”
The Moment of Awakening
Everything changed when he decided to attend a 10-day silent meditation retreat. Ten days without speaking, without a phone, without work — only silence and self-reflection.
During those quiet moments, he asked himself a powerful question:
“If I continue living the same way for the next five years, will I be proud of myself?”
The answer was a painful No.
That clarity changed everything. He realised he was living to maintain an identity — not to build a life that made him happy.
Walking Away From Comfort
Soon after the retreat, he made the toughest decision of his life:
He quit his job at JPMorgan.
Leaving a high-status job wasn’t just giving up a salary — it felt like giving up a part of who he was. People admired him because of where he worked, and he had tied his self-worth to his job title.
Suddenly, he was starting again from zero.
He joined a student-focused startup and accepted a salary 70% lower than what he earned before. He moved back in with his parents and cut down on personal luxuries. Some days were filled with doubt and fear, but he stayed committed to finding work that felt meaningful
Failing Forward
Just when things looked stable, the startup faced funding issues and he lost his job. Another hard hit. But instead of breaking down, he used the downtime to rethink his future — this time more consciously.
During the pandemic period, he focused on learning, researching, and exploring new opportunities. Eventually, he co-founded his own venture — Tartan — which later grew into a rising tech company with significant global investment.
What began as a scary leap of faith turned into a defining success story.
Redefining Success
Today, Semlani believes that success is not a title or a paycheck. It is something deeper — waking up with purpose and sleeping with peace.
He says:
“If I wake up smiling and go to bed smiling, I think I’m successful.”
He doesn’t regret his time in the corporate world; it taught him discipline and structure. But he refuses to return to a life where he feels like an automated version of himself.
Life Lessons From His Journey
Here are some powerful lessons that we can take from his experience:
Success without happiness is failure
Your identity is more than your job title
Silence and reflection can change everything
Growth often begins where comfort ends
Sometimes you must take a step back to leap forward
Being meaningfully busy matters more than being calendar busy
Why His Story Matters
In a generation obsessed with hustle culture, fast money, and validation, Semlani’s journey reminds us of something rare — the courage to walk away from a life that looks good but doesn’t feel good.
Not everyone needs to quit their job, but everyone needs to ask:
- Am I growing or just running?
- Do I love what I do or simply tolerate it?
- Is my life aligned with my values?
The real victory isn’t in impressing others.
It’s in becoming someone you are proud of.
Final Thoughts
Semlani’s story shows that the biggest risk is staying somewhere that no longer makes you happy. Sometimes, the path to purpose demands uncomfortable choices, sacrifice, and patience. But in the end, it leads to something priceless — a life that feels truly your own.
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