Escaping the Golden Handcuffs: How I Chose Passion Over Promotions to Rewrite My Career Story

Have you ever felt the weight of success holding you back? It’s a question I’ve been asked time and again during Career Jam sessions by fellow Product Managers: “Should I aim for growth and promotions in my current role, or switch to something I’m passionate about?”

In a world that's evolving at lightning speed, staying in your comfort zone might just be the riskiest move of all. As Mark Zuckerberg pointed out, the greatest risk is avoiding all risks—in rapidly changing times, that's the one strategy guaranteed to fail.

In 2017, I found myself at the pinnacle of a promising career at Telenor Digital, recognized as one of the top talents among 35,000 employees. By all traditional measures, I was exactly where I was supposed to be. Yet, deep inside, a different story was unfolding. A persistent whisper urged me to return to my entrepreneurial roots, to chase the dreams I'd harbored since I was 15.

This is the story of how I chose passion over promotions, broke free from the golden handcuffs, and embarked on a journey to rewrite my career story.

Assessing Personal Values and Goals

Back in 2017, I was part of a dynamic product team at Telenor Digital. I had recently been selected for Telenor Academy's Expert Path and invited to a top leadership offsite as one of the 50 top talents among 35,000 employees. I was on a clear trajectory toward senior leadership roles—a path praised by my mentors and colleagues.

Yet, while my career was thriving on paper, something inside me was pulling in a different direction. I’d always dreamed of starting a software company, a goal I’d set for myself when I built my first personal website at the age of 15. That dream kept resurfacing. The more I succeeded in the corporate world, the more I felt the tug of entrepreneurship.

It wasn’t an easy decision. I loved my team, my colleagues, and the work we were doing. But I had to ask myself: Was I staying for the right reasons, or because of the safety and prestige that came with my role?

Understanding the Market Dynamics

When I decided to dive deeper into my entrepreneurial ambitions, I realized I didn’t need to abandon the corporate world entirely, at least not right away. I decided to take a calculated risk. I teamed up with Derek Hosty to pitch an idea for Telenor's Ignite incubator, a program designed to foster internal innovation. Being accepted allowed me to flex my entrepreneurial muscles while still working at Telenor, and it led me to meet Petter and Soheil, who would become my future co-founders at Diffia.

At the same time, I was keeping a close eye on broader market trends. It wasn’t just about passion; I wanted to make sure that my entrepreneurial instincts were aligned with emerging opportunities. The world of healthcare was rapidly evolving, and I saw potential in building a startup focused on improving healthcare through digital solutions.

By the time Diffia raised its first round of funding and secured its first paying customer, I knew it was time to make a choice.

Considering the Long-Term Impact

At this point, I’d spent four years at Telenor. My initial plan had been to spend just two years in a corporate setting to gain hands-on business experience before returning to entrepreneurship. Clearly, those two years had doubled, and it was time to make the leap. But I didn’t want to make a reckless decision.

My manager at the time, Arild Nilsen, was kind enough to offer me a part-time arrangement so I could test the waters. Both Petter and Soheil were supportive, as was my wife. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t rushing into a full-time startup role without knowing what I was getting into.

However, I eventually realized that if I wanted to fully commit to Diffia and my long-term goal of founding a successful software company, I had to go all in. Staying at Telenor would keep me comfortable, but I needed to push myself beyond those limits to truly grow. With full support from my family, I made the decision to leave Telenor and go all in with Diffia.

The Role of Mentorship

Throughout this journey, mentors played a crucial role in helping me gain clarity. In 2022, as I continued exploring new opportunities in Artificial Intelligence, I sought advice from my mentor, Gunnar Sell?g. He asked questions that forced me to think deeply about my long-term goals and to trust my instincts rather than overanalyzing every decision. His advice gave me the confidence I needed to take calculated risks without feeling paralyzed by doubt.

Earlier, in 2017, when I was debating whether to stay at Telenor or join Diffia as a co-founder, I turned to Usman Javaid. He had left a high-profile role at Telenor Pakistan to pursue his own entrepreneurial ambitions. His advice helped me realize that waiting for the "perfect" moment might mean missing the best opportunities.

Back in 2014, my manager and mentor, Areej Khan, had also supported me in seeking roles that aligned more closely with my aspirations. Her confidence in my abilities gave me the courage to look beyond the comfort of my current role and seek challenges that better aligned with my personal goals.

Calculated Risk-Taking and Financial Stability

Before making such a big leap, I knew financial stability had to be a priority. Knowing I wanted to return to entrepreneurship one day, I had started building a personal runway—savings that could sustain my family even if I wasn’t drawing a full-time salary for a while.

In 2017, my wife and I were putting a deposit on our first apartment. Even though we could have afforded something bigger with both of our incomes, we chose a home that we could still manage if I left my job at Telenor. This decision wasn’t about limiting our dreams; it was about expanding our comfort zone through calculated risk-taking.

When I joined Diffia and took a 50% pay cut, my personal savings allowed us to maintain our lifestyle without stress. It wasn’t about jumping blindly into the unknown—it was about taking the necessary steps to ensure that my risks were well-calculated and aligned with our future goals.

Closing: Expanding the Comfort Zone

Breaking free from the golden handcuffs wasn’t about leaping into the unknown without a plan. It was about calculated risk-taking—about expanding my comfort zone to encompass the challenges and opportunities that truly resonated with me. I didn’t abandon the stability I had built; I stretched it, pushing its boundaries to include the pursuit of my passion.

If you’re feeling the weight of success holding you back, remember that it’s not always about stepping outside your comfort zone. Sometimes, it’s about expanding it, embracing calculated risks, and moving forward with intention. Life is too short to let the golden handcuffs define your path. Dare to rewrite your own story, push the boundaries of what you know, and pursue what sets your soul on fire.

Thank you for reading my journey. I hope it inspires you to take the risks that matter and expand your own horizons. If you’ve faced similar crossroads or are currently navigating them, I’d love to hear your story—let’s continue this conversation together.