In a world that prioritises corporate stability, one Bengaluru couple is redefining success by trading high salaries for creative freedom. Saksham Raj Seth left his high-paying software engineering role, where he earned ₹85 lakh annually, to pursue full-time travel content creation. Meanwhile, his partner, Smriti Sidana, continues working as a software engineer, earning ₹1.5 lakh per month to support his dream. Speaking with hindustantimes.com, the pair shared how they navigate income uncertainty to prioritise experiences and time over corporate comfort.Saksham Raj Seth and his partner Smriti Sidana. (Saksham Raj Seth)Why leave a well-paying job?Talking to hindustantimes.com, Seth revealed that he decided to quit his job in August this year. “The decision wasn't really about disliking the job or wanting to stop working. Over time, my life had become quite monotonous, work took up most of my time, and I felt that I was earning well but had very little freedom over how I spent that time.”Also Read: Mom’s journey from 9-to-5 employee to homestay entrepreneur: ‘ ₹21 lakh in revenue’He added that he eventually realised that he wanted to value “freedom and experiences more than earning a high salary”. He stated, “Since we were already creating travel content together and had been seriously considering this lifestyle, I decided to take the risk and give content creation a full-time shot.”Seth explained, “It wasn't an overnight decision. Leaving a job where I was earning ₹85 lakh, meant knowingly giving up a very comfortable financial situation for something much more uncertain.”What are the hurdles they face?Seth said, “The biggest hurdle is the uncertainty. When you leave a stable, well-paying job, you don't suddenly have another equally stable source of income waiting for you.” He reflected how his content creation income is currently “nowhere close to what he was earning as a software engineer, so financially it has definitely been a step down”.That’s not it; there is also the pressure of making the new career work. He reflected, “As content creators, there is no fixed salary, no guaranteed growth and no clear career path. You have to constantly create, experiment, pitch to brands and figure out what works.”He told hindustantimes.com, “Another challenge is building a lifestyle that is actually sustainable rather than treating travel like a permanent vacation. We are learning to balance work, content creation, finances and personal time while moving between different places.”How is life now?“Life is definitely more uncertain, but it also feels more intentional. The biggest change for Saksham is having control over his time. Instead of spending most of his day working and waiting for weekends or holidays, he can decide how he wants to structure his day,” Seth explained during a conversation with hindustantimes.com.She expressed, “At the same time, we don't want to romanticise it. Being a full-time creator is still work. There are shoots, editing, brand negotiations, planning, pitching and the pressure of constantly creating something people want to watch.”Rather than chasing quick sightseeing trips, the couple is actively focusing on creating a sustainable, long-term routine on the road. They aim to balance daily responsibilities while immersing themselves deeply in new environments.“For us, the goal isn't simply to travel continuously. We are trying to build a lifestyle where travel, work and everyday life can coexist. That's also why we started experimenting with spending longer periods in places rather than just taking short vacations.”What do they do now?Sidana is a software engineer and also creates travel and lifestyle content part-time. Seth is now a full-time content creator.How much do they earn?Seth told hindustantimes.com, that Sidana “earns around ₹1.5 lakh per month from her software engineering job.” He added that he left his ₹85 lakh-per-annum job to pursue this new career. Seth used to work as a software engineer.Navigating an unconventional journeyAcknowledging their privileged position, the couple clarified that quitting a job to travel isn't a blanket solution for everyone. They emphasised that individual circumstances vary and that financial safety nets play a crucial role in taking such leaps.“We don't see this as a message that everyone should quit their job and start travelling. Saksham was in a fortunate position to be able to take this risk, and we understand that not everyone can make the same choice.”For them, stepping away from corporate stability was less about escaping work and more about reevaluating what true success looks like. They realised that high earnings mean little if you lack the time and freedom to actually enjoy life.“For us, the bigger realisation was that a high salary isn't necessarily the same thing as a fulfilling life. We wanted to find out what would happen if we prioritised time, experiences and freedom a little more, even if that meant earning less for a while.”Rather than claiming to have all the answers, they see their ongoing journey as an open-ended experiment in alternative living. They hope that sharing their experience candidly will offer a realistic perspective for others seeking change.Also Read: 45-year-old quits corporate life for nursing after long job search: ‘I should’ve done this sooner’“We're still figuring it out ourselves. We don't have a perfect formula or a guarantee that this will work forever. We're simply documenting what happens when you choose a less conventional path and try to build a life around the things that matter to you.”While Sidana is from Panipat in Haryana, Seth hails from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. However, the couple are now building their life together in Bengaluru.