I got laid off from Amazon 3 years ago, and it changed the entire trajectory of my life — I couldn't be happier

Ricci Armani decided to go all in on comedy after Amazon laid him off.

Ricci Armani

• Ricci Armani got laid off from Amazon in 2022 and used his severance to launch his comedy career.
• He has taken on part-time retail work to make ends meet while building a career in comedy.
• Though he has moments of self-doubt, he says choosing to chase his dreams is worth the risk.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ricci Armani, a 33-year-old comedian based in Seattle.