These professionals aren’t retired, they just have zero to prove

livemint.com:

They came, they saw, they conquered work. Then they shrugged. Some strivers who piled up money and status say they’re over the endless hustle and are embracing what they call a “post-achievement" lifestyle with family, health and passion projects taking priority over career accomplishments.

Another promotion? Too busy surfing. Deferred compensation that’s oh-so-close to vesting? Slipping the golden handcuffs is less painful than you might think. Post-achievement professionals aren’t necessarily retired, even if they’re financially set for life.

Many have transitioned to roles with fewer hours and responsibilities to make time for pursuits they find more meaningful such as podcasting, meditating and playing guitar. Rather than grab every available dollar and accolade, Kevin Dahlstrom quit a seven-figure, round-the-clock job in 2018. He prefers to be seen as a bold, slightly mysterious figure who could have risen higher but opted out on his own terms.

“I’d be lying if I said that doesn’t stroke my ego," says Dahlstrom, who left a chief-marketing-officer role and moved to Boulder, Colo., to rock climb. Professional acquaintances sometimes refer to him as a legend because he jumped off the corporate ladder in a way that most people only dream about. “Who wouldn’t like being called a legend, right?" At age 53, he estimates that he passed up more than $10 million of future earnings but says he doesn’t need to make another penny.