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This was the pinnacle of his career. Googler Adam Coelho led a two-hour mindfulness workshop, standing in front of Google CEO Sundar Pichai and other executives. A week later, a new boss said he wasn’t providing thoughtful enough leadership. Months later an ambush meeting took place. Coelho was given three days to choose between a short severance or a performance improvement plan.
Sharing this story on the ChoiceFI podcast, Coelho said he realized he was financially capable of quitting his job after 14 years. Still he struggled to get away.
“You had different options available that wouldn’t be available to the average person out there or even the average Googler who, like most people, spends most or all of their money there, even if they’re making $200,000, $400,000,” said Brad Barrett, host of ChooseFI. So why would someone like Coelho remain in a poor working situation despite achieving financial independence?
FI numbers you need to know
FI (Financial Independence) NumberDeveloped by Barrett, invested assets are required so that investment returns can cover annual living expenses indefinitely, freeing you from the need for a paycheck. The rule of thumb is about 25 times your annual expenses, which comes from 4% safe withdrawal guidelines. This is the central goal of FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement.
Getting your FI number is “necessary, but not sufficient, to have a great financially independent life,” Barrett said. The real challenge is not to accumulate wealth, but to find who you are without work. Coelho, who ultimately left Google after spending his entire career there, points out that people often use “one more year syndrome” as an excuse. They claim they need more money when “if they’re really honest with themselves, it’s probably just that they’re afraid of losing who they are without the work.” Our professional identity becomes deeply intertwined with our self-worth. Being a Googler was not just a job for Coelho, it was a core part of his identity that signified success both internally and externally.
The reality is that job security does not exist in today’s economy. You can be excellent at your job and yet be suddenly laid off. Building financial independence creates choices when facing these career crossroads and also gives you the freedom to leave toxic work situations.
Take This Job and Shove It
“fu money” (Having enough savings to be able to leave a job) definitely helps. But this doesn’t solve everything. “FU Money gives you options and security,” Coelho said. “But vision gives you direction and speed.” He suggested listeners start experimenting with life without work before you reach your FI number. Don’t wait until retirement to find out what gives you meaning beyond your career.
Coelho emphasized that “the sooner you start figuring it out for yourself, the better off you will be, both down the road and once you actually move into that new chapter.” Barrett suggested using zero-based thinking. “If I had to unravel every aspect of my life today, and start over, would I choose X?” he asked. Apply this framework to your career, location, relationships, and daily activities. Recognize that adjusting to life after work can take a lot of time, even for someone who is financially prepared. Start recognition work now instead of waiting until retirement. Barrett said FI has created a “nothing to lose scenario because you have built up so much power on your side of the ledger.”
Coehlo explains that having financial freedom without a clear vision is like “getting in a car and starting to drive without looking where you’re going or without a GPS.” The real power of FI isn’t just the money, it’s the freedom to ask “What do I really want?” Without the constraints of current reality.
What exactly to do before quitting?
- Try an imaginative exercise. Coelho’s prompt: “If everything in your life starting today meets or exceeds your most optimistic expectations, everything turns out to be better than you ever imagined, then what does your life look like 5 years from now?” Leave the “how” aside. Cover the location, people, daily activities, and your desired emotional state.
- Try mindfulness. Identify the stories you are telling yourself about your FI journey. When you find yourself engaging in negative self-talk (“You’re not good enough” or “You’ll never get this far”), ask a simple question: “Is this helpful?” If not then let it go.
- Tell others about your goals. Talk to other people about your perspective, Coelho said, which “plants a seed in your mind by doing that, but it also plants a seed in the other person’s mind.”