Google CFO 的辞职信
2015-03-12 15:31阅读:
Google CFO 的辞职信
After nearly 7 years as CFO, I will be retiring from Google to
spend more time with my family. Yeah, I know you've heard
that line before. We give a lot to our jobs. I
certainly did. And while I am not looking for sympathy, I
want to share my thought process because so many people struggle to
strike the right balance between work and personal life.
This story starts last fall. A very early morning last September,
after a whole night of climbing, looking at the sunrise on top of
Africa - Mt Kilimanjaro. Tamar (my wife) and I were not only
enjoying the summit, but on such a clear day, we could see in the
distance, the vast plain of the Serengeti at our feet, and with it
the calling of all the potential adventures Africa has to offer.
(see exhibit #1 - Tamar and I on Kili).
And Tamar out of the blue said 'Hey, why don't we just keep on
going'. Let's explore Africa, and then turn east to make our way to
India, it'
s just next door, and we're here already. Then, we keep going; the
Himalayas, Everest, go to Bali, the Great Barrier Reef...
Antarctica, let's go see Antarctica!?' Little did she know, she was
tempting fate.
I remember telling Tamar a typical prudent CFO type response- I
would love to keep going, but we have to go back. It's not time
yet, There is still so much to do at Google, with my career, so
many people counting on me/us - Boards, Non Profits, etc
But then she asked the killer question: So when is it going to be
time? Our time? My time? The questions just hung there in the cold
morning African air.
A few weeks later, I was happy back at work, but could not shake
away THE question: When is it time for us to just keep going? And
so began a reflection on my/our life. Through numerous hours of
cycling last fall (my introvert happy place) I concluded on a few
simple and self-evident truths:
First, The kids are gone. Two are in college, one graduated
and in a start-up in Africa. Beautiful young adults we are very
proud of. Tamar honestly deserves most of the credit here. She has
done a marvelous job. Simply marvelous. But the reality is that for
Tamar and I, there will be no more Cheerios encrusted minivan,
night watch because of ear infections, ice hockey rinks at 6:00am.
Nobody is waiting for us/needing us.
Second, I am completing this summer 25-30 years of nearly non-stop
work (depending on how you wish to cut the data). And being member
of FWIO, the noble Fraternity of Worldwide Insecure Over-achievers,
it has been a whirlwind of truly amazing experiences. But as I
count it now, it has also been a frenetic pace for about 1500 weeks
now. Always on - even when I was not supposed to be. Especially
when I was not supposed to be. And am guilty as charged - I love my
job (still do), my colleagues, my friends, the opportunities to
lead and change the world.
Third, this summer, Tamar and I will be celebrating our 25th
anniversary. When our kids are asked by their friends about the
success of the longevity of our marriage, they simply joke that
Tamar and I have spent so little time together that 'it's really
too early to tell' if our marriage will in fact succeed.
If they could only know how many great memories we already have
together. How many will you say? How long do you have? But one
thing is for sure, I want more. And she deserves more. Lots
more.
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.
Patrick