6개월 내에 사임할 것이라고 밝힌 구글의 재무담당 최고책임자(CFO) 패트릭 피셰트(Patrick Pichette)가 회사에 남긴 편지가 공개돼 구글 직원과 네티즌들에게 잔잔한 울림을 주고 있다.

▲ 구글 CFO 패트릭 피셰트. 출처=패트릭 피셰트 구글 플러스

구글 피셰트 CFO의 사임 결정이 알려진 다음날인 11일(현지시간) 피셰트는 자신의 구글 플러스 페이지를 통해 담담한 사임의 변을 남겼다.

올해 51세가 된 피셰트의 사임사는 다음과 같이 시작한다. “CFO로 근무한지 거의 칠년이 지났습니다. 이제 나는 내 가족과 더 많은 시간을 보내기 위해 구글을 떠납니다. 이미 알고 있으리라 믿습니다. 우리는 정말 열심히 일했습니다. 저도 분명 그랬습니다. 저는 동정을 받기보다 일과 개인생활 사이의 균형을 찾고자 하는 이들에게 제 생각을 공유하려 합니다”

그는 “이 이야기는 지난 가을을 시작합니다”라는 말로 자신의 개인적 경험을 서술한다. “지난 9월 밤샘 등반을 마친 아주 이른 아침 아프리카 킬리만자로 산의 정상에서 일출을 본 타마 (내 아내)와 나는 깨끗한 날씨와 더불어 세렝게티 평원과 아프리카가 주는 모험을 즐겼습니다. 그 때 아내는 그냥 계속하는 게 어떠냐고 물었죠. 아프리카를 탐험하고 인도, 히말라야. 발리. 에버레스트, 남극을 탐험해 나가자는 것이었습니다”

여기에 그는 “아내의 물음에 아직 때가 아니라고 구글에는 아직 내가 할 일이 많이 남았다고 거절했다”는 일화를 전한다. 하지만 그의 아내는 그에게 그 때는 언제냐고 되물었다. 회사로 복귀한 뒤에도 그는 아내의 물음에 대한 생각을 떨칠 수 없었고 이미 쉬지 않고 30여년을일했고 언젠가 자라서 떠나버리는 아이들과 더 시간을 보내고 싶다는 결론을 얻었다고 설명한다.

피세트는 “구글에서 일한 것은 분명 특권이었다”고 말하며 “구글에서 만난 친구 래리, 세르게이, 에릭과의 우정에 감사한다”고 밝혔다. 구글의 창업자와 에릭 슈미트 현 CEO를 뜻한다.

그는 새로운 CFO에게 협조해줄 것을 당부하며 “삶은 대단한 것이지만 개인적 삶과 직업적 헌신 사이에서 선택을 해야 한다”면사도 ‘현재를 즐기라’는 의미의 “카르페 디엠Carpe Diem)”을 외치며 편지를 끝맺는다.

구글은 업무 인수인계에 약 6개월 정도가 걸릴 것으로 예상하고 있으며 피셰트의 정확한 사임 날짜는 아직까지 밝히지 않고 있다.

 

<구글 패트릭 피셰트 CFO 사임사 전문>

After nearly 7 years as CFO, I will be retiring from Google to spend more time with my family. Yeah, I know you've heard that line before.  We give a lot to our jobs.  I certainly did.  And while I am not looking for sympathy, I want to share my thought process because so many people struggle to strike the right balance between work and personal life.
This story starts last fall. A very early morning last September, after a whole night of climbing, looking at the sunrise on top of Africa - Mt Kilimanjaro. Tamar (my wife) and I were not only enjoying the summit, but on such a clear day, we could see in the distance, the vast plain of the Serengeti at our feet, and with it the calling of all the potential adventures Africa has to offer.
And Tamar out of the blue said "Hey, why don't we just keep on going". Let's explore Africa, and then turn east to make our way to India, it's just next door, and we're here already. Then, we keep going; the Himalayas, Everest, go to Bali, the Great Barrier Reef... Antarctica, let's go see Antarctica!?" Little did she know, she was tempting fate.
I remember telling Tamar a typical prudent CFO type response- I would love to keep going, but we have to go back. It's not time yet, There is still so much to do at Google, with my career, so many people counting on me/us - Boards, Non Profits, etc
But then she asked the killer question: So when is it going to be time? Our time? My time? The questions just hung there in the cold morning African air. 
A few weeks later, I was happy back at work, but could not shake away THE question: When is it time for us to just keep going? And so began a reflection on my/our life. Through numerous hours of cycling last fall (my introvert happy place) I concluded on a few simple and self-evident truths:
First, The kids are gone.  Two are in college, one graduated and in a start-up in Africa. Beautiful young adults we are very proud of. Tamar honestly deserves most of the credit here. She has done a marvelous job. Simply marvelous. But the reality is that for Tamar and I, there will be no more Cheerios encrusted minivan, night watch because of ear infections, ice hockey rinks at 6:00am. Nobody is waiting for us/needing us. 
Second, I am completing this summer 25-30 years of nearly non-stop work (depending on how you wish to cut the data). And being member of FWIO, the noble Fraternity of Worldwide Insecure Over-achievers, it has been a whirlwind of truly amazing experiences. But as I count it now, it has also been a frenetic pace for about 1500 weeks now. Always on - even when I was not supposed to be. Especially when I was not supposed to be. And am guilty as charged - I love my job (still do), my colleagues, my friends, the opportunities to lead and change the world.
Third, this summer, Tamar and I will be celebrating our 25th anniversary. When our kids are asked by their friends about the success of the longevity of our marriage, they simply joke that Tamar and I have spent so little time together that "it's really too early to tell" if our marriage will in fact succeed. 
If they could only know how many great memories we already have together. How many will you say? How long do you have? But one thing is for sure, I want more. And she deserves more. Lots more.
Allow me to spare you the rest of the truths. But the short answer is simply that I could not find a good argument to tell Tamar we should wait any longer for us to grab our backpacks and hit the road - celebrate our last 25 years together by turning the page and enjoy a perfectly fine mid life crisis full of bliss and beauty, and leave the door open to serendipity for our next leadership opportunities, once our long list of travels and adventures is exhausted.
Working at Google is a privilege, nothing less. I have worked with the best of the best, and know that I am leaving Google in great hands. I have made so many friends at Google it's not funny. Larry, Sergey, Eric, thank you for friendship. I am forever grateful for letting me be me, for your trust, your warmth, your support, and for so much laughter through good and not so good times.
To be clear, I am still here. I wish to transition over the coming months but only after we have found a new Googley CFO and help him/her through an orderly transition, which will take some time. 
In the end, life is wonderful, but nonetheless a series of trade offs, especially between business/professional endeavours and family/community. And thankfully, I feel I’m at a point in my life where I no longer have to have to make such tough choices anymore. And for that I am truly grateful. Carpe Diem.

Patrick