I made an impulsive decision to quit a great job in Hollywood. It felt like a mistake — but here's what I learned.

Peter Csathy, a studio executive, startup CEO, media and tech advisor, music dealmaker, and podcaster, once made what he calls his "stupidest decision" by leaving a prestigious Hollywood studio job to pursue a startup career. Though it initially seemed like a mistake, it ultimately became his greatest professional and personal break.

Leaving Universal Studios in favor of an internet startup in the late 1990s, Csathy's decision led him to founding Musicmatch, an online music company acquired by Yahoo!, and having two children. He believes that the risks he took and the dreams he pursued have led to a more fulfilling life, even if not all endeavors turned out as expected.