Khaberni - In a striking confession full of honesty, Google co-founder Sergey Brin said that retiring was the worst decision he made in his career, revealing a personal experience that did not go as he imagined, but instead pushed him to return to the heart of work and intellectual challenges.
Brin explained that he feels immense gratitude today for still being able to engage in complex mental and intellectual challenges at this stage of his life, considering that work is not just a job obligation, but a vital space to maintain mental sharpness and creativity.
Pre-mature retirement
According to Brin, the story of retirement dates back to just about a month before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when he decided to step away from work thinking that the next phase would give him time to relax and pursue his old passion for studying physics.
He imagined himself sitting in cafes, reading and studying calmly away from the pressures of management and daily work, but the reality turned out to be completely different as cafes closed with the pandemic outbreak, and the ideal picture he had painted of his retirement faded.
Feeling of stagnation and mental decline
Over time, Brin began to feel a sense of stagnation, describing his experience as being "like spinning in circles," adding that he noticed a gradual decline in his mental sharpness, which was an alarm bell for him.
At that point, he realized that completely stepping away from work was not the right choice, deciding to return to the office despite it being closed at the time, in a move he described as pivotal in rebalancing his life.
Gradual return to "Google"
After several months, as some colleagues began returning to work locations, Brin started being present at the office intermittently, before gradually increasing his participation, spending longer and longer at work, especially on projects related to artificial intelligence.
One of the most notable fruits of this return was his contribution to the project “Gemini,” which later became one of the pillars of Google's strategy in the artificial intelligence race.
A message beyond "Google"
Sergey Brin's experience carries a broader message that transcends the boundaries of Google, suggesting that retirement is not always synonymous with rest or happiness, especially for minds accustomed to challenge, innovation, and continuous work.
For some leaders and entrepreneurs, continuing to work – even at a different pace – may be a mental and psychological necessity, and not a burden as it is sometimes portrayed.
