I recently faced a setback in my career after failing my probation period at a remote data analyst position I took on in February. With five years of experience as a data scientist at a global company, I made the decision to leave that role for what I thought would be a more manageable job that allowed me to work from home. The appeal of remote work was strong due to personal reasons, and I was hoping to have more time to focus on a side gig. Unfortunately, after six months, I was let go because my skills in Excel and PowerPoint weren't up to par. My manager heavily relied on these tools, and I found myself not doing any real coding or data science, which was disappointing. Despite the stress and time commitment, I realize now that getting let go might not be the worst outcome. On the bright side, I have $750k in savings and will be moving back in with my supportive parents. This situation gives me the opportunity to dedicate more time to my startup, which focuses on building an online business leveraging AI. I believe that even if my startup doesn’t succeed, the experience will be invaluable for my career. Now, I’m considering my options. I could look for another remote job to keep the paycheck coming, but the job market is tough and I have a six-month gap on my resume. Alternatively, I could focus on my startup and upskill in AI over the next six months. I think the second option is better for my career in the long run, especially since I have the financial cushion to take this risk. The entrepreneurial path has always appealed to me, and now I have a chance to pursue it more seriously.