Imagine having a Rs 1 crore salary, a stable job, and a predictable life. Now, imagine walking away from all of it. That’s exactly what Varun Hasija did. He quit his high-paying role without another offer, a plan, or even a safety net. Why? Because he craved something more meaningful – happiness, impact, and peace. In a detailed post on X, he explained his stance.
A couple of months ago, I made one of the hardest decisions of my life: I left my cushy, high-paying (₹1 Cr+) job without another offer in hand.
No plan. No backup. Just the decision that I needed a break—a real one—for the first time in my decade-long career.
— Varun Hasija (@warunhasija) December 5, 2024
Varun followed a three-point framework to decide where to work – happiness (work that brings joy), impact (work that has tangible value) and wealth creation (the company’s growth as well as his own).
EdTech as an industry had already been struggling.
VCs pushed for hockey-stick growth, sales teams were put on steroids, and by 2023–24, the bubble burst. Growth stopped. Numbers fell.
And when the industry fights headwinds, you start feeling it within the company too.
— Varun Hasija (@warunhasija) December 5, 2024
Unfortunately, his last job in EdTech wasn’t delivering on happiness or impact. With the industry struggling, internal dynamics shifted from creating value to mere survival. He realized, “This is how corporate life works”. But he wasn’t ready to settle.
Networking within is king. – there is loneliness at the top.
The higher you go, the lonelier it gets. Everyone’s busy pretending they’re fine, but the truth is, most people feel the same.
So, its important to have people who’ve got your back and you’ve got theirs.
— Varun Hasija (@warunhasija) December 5, 2024
The signs were clear – stagnation, unfulfilling work, and an unhealthy focus on optics over substance. Varun chose to walk away. It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. He sent in his resignation and embraced uncertainty for the first time in his decade-long career.
“I needed a real break,” he shared.
Since leaving, Varun has focused on things that bring him joy – cooking new recipes, spending quality time with his wife, and prioritizing his mental and physical health. He’s been exploring side projects, consulting for startups, and dreaming of moving abroad.
You see we started building our careers 10 years back, in the hope of having a better life. To be able to travel and experience new food, culture, stories and build our own.
But somewhere in the middle we kind of lost that track. We made compromises.
— Varun Hasija (@warunhasija) December 5, 2024
This pause gave him clarity.
This isn’t the end of the story.
I’ve been:
Working on side projects. (Adtech)
Consulting for early-stage startups.
Talking to friends in Europe, the UK, and Australia—dreaming of moving there one day.Not sure where I’ll end up 6 months from now but its gonna be a fun ride.
— Varun Hasija (@warunhasija) December 5, 2024
Varun’s decision proves that a break isn’t a setback – it’s an investment in yourself.