In a modern workplace culture that glorifies the grind, a young Google professional’s journey has become a cautionary tale about the hidden cost of chasing career milestones too fast. A recent report by CNBC Make It features the story of Tia Lee, whose pursuit of financial success pushed her to the edge of a health crisis.
A Four-Job Hustle to Feel “Successful”
Graduating from Michigan State University in 2020, Lee devoted her twenties to making more money. By 2023, she was working four jobs at once, including a full-time role as a program manager at Google, along with three demanding side hustles as a social media manager, website designer, and fashion entrepreneur.
Her packed schedule required constant travel between California, Michigan, and Texas. Lee told CNBC Make It that she began falling sick every few weeks and dismissed it as a side effect of hectic airports and back-to-back commitments.
When Money Comes at the Cost of Health
The breaking point came when months of unexplained vomiting, headaches, eczema flare-ups, and random bleeding led her to repeated hospital visits. Her OB-GYN eventually diagnosed her with endometrial polyps, a condition typically seen in women decades older.
Her doctor warned that severe stress could be the root cause. That revelation forced Lee to rethink what she had been sacrificing in her pursuit of professional recognition.
A Radical Lifestyle Reset
Following surgery, Lee made a bold decision to pause her career completely. She downsized her life: sold her Tesla for a low-cost car, moved back with her parents in Michigan, and cut spending through creative means. She even bartered her website skills with a private chef to secure weekly meals without grocery bills.
After building enough savings for two years, she resigned from Google in June and relocated to Brooklyn, choosing slower living, nutritious food, journaling, and mindfulness over climbing the corporate ladder.
“Now I have complete autonomy over my health and my time,” she told CNBC Make It, adding that she is not planning a return to work yet.
The Hidden Health Toll of Overworking
According to the Cleveland Clinic, chronic overwork can weaken immunity, heighten anxiety, disrupt sleep, and reduce productivity, even before more serious complications arise.
Wellness experts quoted in the report suggest that not everyone can quit their job to heal. They recommend resetting with activities that mimic a short vacation, whether through leisure, nature, or mini breaks that restore mental balance.
Lee’s story reflects a shift in how many young professionals define achievement. Her message is simple. Wealth and titles can wait, but wellbeing cannot. She urges peers to examine whether the version of success they are pursuing is worth risking lifelong health.
A Four-Job Hustle to Feel “Successful”
Graduating from Michigan State University in 2020, Lee devoted her twenties to making more money. By 2023, she was working four jobs at once, including a full-time role as a program manager at Google, along with three demanding side hustles as a social media manager, website designer, and fashion entrepreneur.
Her packed schedule required constant travel between California, Michigan, and Texas. Lee told CNBC Make It that she began falling sick every few weeks and dismissed it as a side effect of hectic airports and back-to-back commitments.
When Money Comes at the Cost of Health
The breaking point came when months of unexplained vomiting, headaches, eczema flare-ups, and random bleeding led her to repeated hospital visits. Her OB-GYN eventually diagnosed her with endometrial polyps, a condition typically seen in women decades older.
Her doctor warned that severe stress could be the root cause. That revelation forced Lee to rethink what she had been sacrificing in her pursuit of professional recognition.
A Radical Lifestyle Reset
Following surgery, Lee made a bold decision to pause her career completely. She downsized her life: sold her Tesla for a low-cost car, moved back with her parents in Michigan, and cut spending through creative means. She even bartered her website skills with a private chef to secure weekly meals without grocery bills.
After building enough savings for two years, she resigned from Google in June and relocated to Brooklyn, choosing slower living, nutritious food, journaling, and mindfulness over climbing the corporate ladder.
“Now I have complete autonomy over my health and my time,” she told CNBC Make It, adding that she is not planning a return to work yet.
The Hidden Health Toll of Overworking
According to the Cleveland Clinic, chronic overwork can weaken immunity, heighten anxiety, disrupt sleep, and reduce productivity, even before more serious complications arise.
Wellness experts quoted in the report suggest that not everyone can quit their job to heal. They recommend resetting with activities that mimic a short vacation, whether through leisure, nature, or mini breaks that restore mental balance.
Lee’s story reflects a shift in how many young professionals define achievement. Her message is simple. Wealth and titles can wait, but wellbeing cannot. She urges peers to examine whether the version of success they are pursuing is worth risking lifelong health.
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