I've always felt a desperate need to prove myself.
In my 20s, that meant proving:
- I made the right call not going to medical school.
- I could actually build something.
- I could succeed.
And I did.
I had zero life for years, my anxiety was at an all-time high, and my hours of daily sleep were at an all-time low. But that first startup sold for 8 figures, and I became an SVP at 30.
Problem was, even after reaching "success," it doesn't change how stressed you feel about the next thing. And the next thing. And the next thing.
Now with
Noble, my life looks completely different.
I'm a husband, a father, and my second child is on the way.
I cannot afford to burn out because it's not just my mental health on the line anymore.
Which means implementing some non-negotiables:
#1 Working out every day
Some days it's the gym (shoutout to my personal trainer and our head of customer success,
Michele), some days it's playing tennis, other days just a walk.
#2 Time with my son
This one's the hardest because I sometimes catch myself being physically there but mentally somewhere else. I'm working on it... but it helps to see the world through his eyes for a bit.
#3 Chess every day
Yes, random, but it's the one thing that forces my brain completely off work. If I'm not focused, I lose... I don't like to lose, if you didn't notice, lol.
None of this is groundbreaking advice.
But for a founder who spent his 20s proving he could outwork everyone, my 30s are being defined by learning to protect my energy.
Which, frankly, has proved harder than building either company...
What are your nonnegotiables? And, more importantly, does anyone wanna play chess with me? None of my team will! 😆