Google CFO resignation letter

Google CFO resignation letter After nearly 7 years as CFO, I'll be retiring from Google to spend + 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 stories starts last fall. A very early morning last September, after a whole night of climbing, looking at the sunrise on top of AFRICA-MT Kiliman Jaro. 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 p Lain of the Serengeti at we feet, and with it the calling of all the potential adventures Africa have 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 "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 and we have the go back. It's not time yet, there are still so much to does 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 was 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 in work, but could isn't shake away the question:when is it time for us to just keep go Ing? And so began a reflection in My/our life. Through numerous hours of cycling last fall (my introvert happy place) I concluded in a few simple and self-evident truths :

First, the kids is gone. The college, one graduated and in a start-up in Africa. Beautiful Young adults We is very proud of. Tamar honestly deserves most of the credits here. She has done a marvelous job. Simply Marvelous. But the reality was that for Tamar and I, there'll be no more Cheerios encrusted minivan, Night watch because of ear infe Ctions, 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 in how do 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 Amaz ing experiences. But as I count it now, it had also been a frenetic pace for about $ weeks now. Always on-even when I is not supposed to be. Especially when I wasn't supposed to be. and am guilty as Charged-i love my job (still does), my colleagues, my friends, the opportunities to leads and change the W Orld.

Third, this summer, Tamar and I'll be the celebrating our 25th anniversary. When we kids is asked by their friends on the success of the longevity of our marriage, they simply joke that Tamar a nd I has spent so little time together that "it's really too early to tell" if our marriage would in fact succeed.
If they could only know how many great memories we already has together. How many would you say? How long does your have? But one thing are 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 are simply that I could don't find a good argument to tell Tamar we should wait all longer for us to GRA b Our backpacks and hits the Road-celebrate our last 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 are exhausted.

Working at Google is a privilege. I have worked with the best of the best, and know this 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 is me, for your trust, your warmth, your support, and for so much laughter through go OD and not so good times.

To is clear, I am still here. I wish to transition through the coming months but only after we had found a new Googley CFO and help him/her through an Ord Erly transition, which'll take some time.

In the end, life was 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 I no longer has to be such tough choices anymore. And for that I am truly grateful. Carpe Diem.


Patrick
http://weibo.com/p/1001603819593293553031

Google CFO resignation letter