A former JPMorgan associate has revealed how a 10-day silent meditation retreat completely changed the direction of his life. In a conversation with Business Insider, he said the retreat pushed him to leave what many see as a dream corporate job and later build a startup that has now raised more than $6 million.
‘I built a life I didn’t want’: Silent retreat pushed employee to quit corporate life
Meet Semlani joined JPMorgan in 2015 as an intern in the US before returning to India to work in the asset-management division. Like many young finance professionals, he was eventually drawn into the culture of “30 VP,” the idea that becoming a vice president by 30 was the ultimate benchmark of success.
But by 26, he already felt drained. His days looked monotonous, which involved reaching the office at 9 am, sitting through meetings that blurred together, completing the same tasks, and leaving at 7 pm. Along the way, friendships and relationships thinned out. Despite a growing title and a steady salary, he felt stuck and strangely detached from his own life.
He admitted that leaving his former company wasn’t just about the work, it was about walking away from the identity that came with it. Introducing himself as someone who worked at the bank always got a reaction. It gave him a sense of validation he didn’t know how to replace.
A comfortable salary also played its part. He had grown used to the perks — the gadgets, the restaurants, the lifestyle. Quitting meant giving that up.
In search of a break, he went for a silent meditation retreat. There were no phones, no conversations, and no distractions. The first few days were difficult. But as the silence settled, he started self-reflecting. “Do I actually want this life?” “Is this how I want people to know me?” When he returned home, he made up his mind, it was time to leave JPMorgan. He went back to the office and informed his manager.
A 70% pay cut and a new beginning
After quitting, Meet moved back in with his parents and began looking at startups. He eventually took a customer service role at a company helping international students. The job came with a 70% pay cut, and the adjustment was not easy. He reduced his travel expenses, stopped eating out at expensive places, and re-examined every lifestyle habit. Some days, he wondered if he had made a mistake. But the sense of purpose kept him going.
The startup environment brought a kind of energy he didn’t expect. He could walk up to the CEO with an idea. Decisions happened quickly. But the journey wasn’t easy. In late 2019, the startup ran into fundraising trouble, and he was let go. He briefly considered returning to a corporate job but realised he no longer fit into that mould.
Then the pandemic arrived, and with it, space to think. He decided to take a risk and build a company of his own. Today, his company, Tartan, has raised more than $6 million from global investors and grown into a leading data-infrastructure platform.
He still looks back at JPMorgan with respect. The discipline, the structure, and the work ethic all made him what he is today. But he no longer sees success as a corner office or a senior title.
Looking back, he believes he would probably be a managing director by now if he had stayed. But he’s grateful he didn’t. “Success now isn’t about paychecks or titles,” he says. “It’s about waking up smiling and going to bed smiling. If I can do that, I’m good.”
