The same week we sold MyBlogLog to Yahoo! for a life-changing amount of money, I beat the crap out of our family car with my bare hands. Mind you, this happened AFTER we sold the company…
Entrepreneurs are told that if they start a company, and grow the company and, against all odds, sell that company, they will be happy. Suffer now, for the fruits of your labor will be eternal contentment and fulfillment.
It’s a lie.
Money doesn’t bring happiness. Yes, it can create a barrier to unpleasant experiences (anything you can throw money at ceases to be a problem) but the absence of unhappiness is not the same as happiness. Purgatory is not heaven.
In the first week of January 2007, I suddenly had millions of dollars in my bank account. I was also still in an unhappy marriage. I was still a terrible father. I was still out of shape and overweight and all the money in the world wouldn’t change those things. And when I realized that, I kinda lost it and punched the car until my hands bled.
There has to be more to life than just starting and growing a company. Even if your business has a noble mission, a life with one value is not enough. Same goes for executives (and future executives). Work alone is not nourishment enough. Anyone who tells you otherwise is using you for something.
Founders too often feel like there isn’t space for self care. Exercise takes time. Sufficient sleep takes loads of time. Eating well takes time and money. Ditto therapy. Ditto coaching. Ditto family. Ditto hobbies.
Stop it. Stop putting your life on hold for a future that’s never going to happen. Even if you start and grow and sell that company, you won’t be any happier than you are today.
The good news is that you can become happier and more fulfilled, right now, if you’re willing to place value in yourself. I hope you’ll think about that this week. Do one thing for yourself, because you deserve to be happy during the journey.
And if you’re in Colorado, come to the next Thunderview CEO Dinners next Thursday (Nov 2nd at 6p at the Mercury Cafe in Denver). Our own Lizzie Nelson is hosting a panel of experts and founders who will share how to live a meaningful life while building a startup.
Sign up at https://thunderviewceodinners.com/apply
And, I'm interested. What changes have you made in your own life that made you happier and maybe even better a work? Let me know in the comments.
#startups #worklifebalance #mentalhealth