I quit my $192K Microsoft job to build a startup. Weeks later, almost everything I owned was stolen.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with David Chong, a 38-year-old startup founder in Toronto. He previously worked as a senior software engineer at Microsoft until resigning last September. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I resigned from Microsoft in September 2025. Less than a month later, I lost almost everything I owned.

During my move from New York City to my hometown of Toronto, the trailer transporting my belongings was stolen in the middle of the night. The trailer was eventually recovered, but none of my belongings were.

While resigning from Microsoft set me down this unfortunate path, I believe leaving Big Tech was the right move for me. I’ve had to learn what the Zen monks preach about letting go of your earthly possessions to reach enlightenment.

I struggled to get promoted at Microsoft

In 2016, I moved from Canada to New York City on a work visa. Before joining Microsoft, I worked at a smaller tech company…