Monkburger's journey

I was laid off today after nearly 20 years in the tech industry as a software developer. I’ve been in this field since the early 1990s and spent about 16 of those years with a fantastic privately-owned company. The CEO, who was also the owner, treated us well, and even though we were paid below market rates, I loved my job and the people I worked with. Unfortunately, everything changed when the company was sold to private equity about three years ago. Just 12 hours ago, I received the news via a Zoom meeting, joining many of my colleagues who have faced layoffs in waves over the past 36 months. I can’t shake the feeling that a storm is brewing in the tech industry. I have a strong suspicion that when the AI bubble bursts, it could be more catastrophic than the dot-com crash or even the 2008 financial crisis, as the hype is now deeply rooted in various sectors including tech, finance, and energy. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s time for me to step away from the tech industry and explore what’s next. I still have many working years ahead of me, and I’d prefer to invest that time in building a new path rather than waiting for the next corporate restructuring or acquisition. My experience in tech has been invaluable, but it has also made me realize the importance of moving on.