I think it was just more that his job was incredibly stressful and unfulfilling and he was sick of it.

Another time he pulled me aside and said something to ge effect of, "you need to get the hell out of here and go make something of yourself. You do NOT want to do this for the rest of your life. Trust me."

There was plenty of wisdom I ignored during my teen years but I heard that little nugget loud and clear and I actually listened to it.