Summarized from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ejj-02Xno0

  1. He underestimated the pervasive background stress he was constantly under, even believing he loved his job.
  2. He underestimated the true number of hours dedicated to work, including exhausted evenings, 24/7 availability, and vacation emails.
  3. He failed to recognize the significant financial costs of working, such as commuting, work-related expenses, and wasted money due to lack of time to optimize finances.
  4. He underestimated the toll work took on his health, including stress-eating and sedentary days, and how much better he would sleep without alarms.
  5. He confused many co-workers for true friends and underestimated how quickly the company would move on without him.
  6. He underestimated the substantial mental energy consumed by office politics and drama.
  7. He didn’t realize how fast-paced and rushed his life was, leaving little time for unhurried activities and causing him to complete retirement projects at an unsustainable speed.
  8. He underestimated the profound value of “carefree timelessness”—spending unburdened, agenda-free time with family and friends.
  9. He underestimated the deep satisfaction derived from working on his own life, learning, and self-improvement rather than working solely for money or an employer.