I moved to Colorado and became a ski instructor after a layoff from my senior VP job. The pay cut is worth the peace.

Douglas Craig moved to Colorado and is working at an aerial adventure park this summer.

Douglas Craig

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Douglas Craig, a 58-year-old ski instructor in Silverthorne, Colorado. The following has been edited for length and clarity.I worked in media for more than 30 years for a lot of different companies, including Discovery Communications. I helped launch Animal Planet, then switched to the digital side and worked for Roku and Comcast.My most recent position was senior vice president of content strategy for Paramount+ on the international side. I worked across teams from eight different regions for almost five years. It was a very enjoyable role. I had a great team of people — very high-paced with lots of energy. Getting to build and launch the Paramount+ platform was incredibly rewarding.Last June, my position was eliminated, and I was laid off. I was caught up in the transition period before the Skydance deal to acquire Paramount was finalized.Although I considered getting another job in media, I decided to take on seasonal work in Colorado because of my love for skiing and my desire for a better work-life balance. I wanted to take more time to enjoy life.