I have not too many data points to add, but the 2nd smartest person I know joined Microsoft and left after 2 years to found a startup. The smartest person I kn

I have not too many data points to add, but the 2nd smartest person I know joined Microsoft and left after 2 years to found a startup. The smartest person I know left the industry after doing a few years of freelance work¹ earning heaps of money and bought a property for their family to settle somewhere remote. ¹ ABAP