Leaving Google!

Hey Guys..

I dont know where to begin.. how to begin.. But the fact is.. “The Day” has arrived.. Well today is my last working day at Google..
Will people ever leave Google also????? I really cant believe that such a day is happening in my life..

In my final year B Tech, I had an interview for the “Outstanding Student of the Batch”.. I was asked “what are your career plans?” Ofcourse, I had never heard of that word “Career” then.. I told them.. “I am going to join Google.. Work for a year.. Do an MS, and join Google again!!!” I was soo short sighted then! I certainly couldnt foresee.. I would be leaving Google!

Time flies.. Its 2 years since I joined Google!.. Right out of campus.. And it has been an eventful journey!! Right from the time.. I started off working with Rohit… All the way to my last project with Tushar & Pranav.. Work & life with Google has been a pendulum for me.. The pendulum has swung.. Trust me.. the pendulum was wild.. I had “extremely happy moments”.. I thought Google is my life.. I wont need a second job.. I was super happy with my work.. my performance.. And more importantly, the way my manager evaluated my performace Wow.. Those were the days!!! Then.. pendulum swung the other way.. It swung soo badly that I almost had a depression.. (No more details here.. :-)) And finally by the time, I completed my 2 years @ Google.. It came back to Normal!!! On the whole, I had an “6/10″ experience @ Google!

During my two years @ Google.. I interacted with a lot of people.. I worked with guys like Amit Singhal and Krishna Bharath.. These are people who have wiki pages.. (I would also eventually have one.. But thats a different story!! ;-)) I am sure.. I wouldnt have such opportunities in other companies..

If there is one amazing person, I met in the whole journey.. It is undoubtedly.. Sreeram Ramachandran.. He is just too good.. I will certainly emulate the way he keeps himself updated, the way he helps others… He is so accessible and helpful.. Unbelievable..

I made a lot of new friends.. news-quality team was more a like a family.. How can I forget the “flames with Mahesh!”
I also enjoyed my real *journeys* in cabs.. I would have probably spent close to two months discussing how to solve bangalore traffic woes.. with Narendra Babu.. And everyday.. Narendra used to shoot down my ideas! Travelling with Varun was fun as well.. Watching all the latest movies.. discussing about the “NEXT BIG THING” for CWS.. It was all fun.. Aditya is another cool guy whom I met after I started CWS.. He is always full of bubbly ideas.. which is very useful for coffee time discussions.. How can I forget my TT sessions with Gerard!! That used to be soo awesome.. We always start off with an agreement that we will “Only play best of 3″ matches… But we would eventually end up playing 15 games.. Half of those.. I would have forfeited when the scores read 8-2 or 9-1.. Ofcourse.. Gerard leading! I am like Mohamed Ghazni you see.. who invaded India in his 18th attempt.. Whenever we stretch our number of matches from 15 to 18 .. I would eventually win the 18th game of the day!

Man… What I will miss the most.. is not the work.. not the facilities.. not the free food given.. or pampering comforts like spa.. or the gym, which I probably visited twice.. But the great time, I had with Balaji, Sadeesh, Krishna Roy and Selvam.. That was one awesome group.. Calling ourselves as Tamil Sangham.. although nobody ever recognized this small clique of friends.. Electing ‘Super’ sadeesh as our group leader.. Definitely.. our group never respected him.. This group was just about vetti (useless) talks.. Amazing Mokkais (dont know the english equivalent) and constant coffee breaks… While Sadeesh takes half an hour to drink a glass of coffee.. ‘IAS Sir’ Selvam keeps cribbing that he has sooo much work to do… Time flies when ‘Kalakkara’ Krishna and ‘Blogger’ Balaji crack PJs after PJs about yours truly’s blog.. Hey Guys.. I had a great time with you!! Do keep in touch.. Ofcourse, how can I miss Tushar in this list.. One really really smart guy I have come across.. 2 years @ Google with him was an extension of my 4 years fun @ NIT Trichy.. Tushar always used to say this for fun.. “How sad that we are in the same company!” “How sad that we are working in the same project” “How sad that I have to see the same face for 6 years..” Well Tushar, the moment has finally arrived.. when we *actually* are doing something different.. All the best for your Phd.. if at all you decide to go for it!! Life will move on! No doubt I will make new friends, but the time I had with you guys is very special to me and I shall remember it for a long time..

People are asking me.. “How do you feel LEAVING Goooggggllllleeeee?” I would say I have mixed feelings.. Sometimes, I am happy that it is over.. Other time, I feel really really sad about leaving Google.. Google was (and is) a such big thing for me.. At times, you have take tough decisions..

Google taught me that I should do what I love.. and not just what I am capable of… Passion and attitude more important for success..

If getting into Google is all that I accomplished, I would be disappointed..

And at the bottom of my heart, I know have taken a right decision.. to pursue something.. which I am passionate about.. I am going to IIM Bangalore to pursue an MBA..

Googlers, its time to bid adieu to you guys!! You guys are amazing.. I am honoured that I was a part of part of the Google family!

Also check out Learnings from my experience @ Google.

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