Entertainment for me has become micro content… scrolling.
What do you do to relax and de-stress?
Workout, walk the beach, break bread and shoot the breeze with close friends, watch my kids do silly things, dance…
Do you have any sleep tips?
I could use some here…sleep is the antidote to most illnesses. Don’t use the phone an hour before bed, keep the room temperature low (I like to sleep cold), and keep the room pitch dark. Sleep + Exercise + Diet will put you in peak mental shape, top 1% of humans.
When are you most in flow, productive and energized?
Wake up early, morning ritual, and hit the gym. Upon waking up, the first thing I do is give thanks for something good that happened in my life the previous day. Perhaps an event, an experience, a thing, or a person. I then play Eye of The Tiger and bang out as many pushups as I can. By then I’m super energized so I hit the gym. I love working out before starting my day. It puts me in a positive mental state. There is no brain function that exercise doesn’t improve.
Do you meditate or practice mindfulness? If so, how?
Yes, every morning as part of my morning ritual with 5-10 mins of silence.
Who taught you how to hustle?
I was a refugee of the gulf war. Necessity is the mother of all hustles and pain is the precondition for growth.
What keeps you up at night?
Losing a family member or close friend.
Do you exercise?
Yes, 5 days per week. Weights (push, pull, legs split) followed by 20 min HIIT cardio.
What communities inspire you?
Harley-Davidson, Peloton, SaaStr, and of course, Traction.
Are you more Hustle or more Zen, lately?
Used to be more hustle, now more zen. All my life I chased success looking for happiness and destroyed my health and relationships in the bargain. Then I realized success finds you if you’re in a happy state of mind.
What would you do if you did not do your existing work/business?
Probably another business, at the intersection of technology, wellness, and community.
How do you define a good work/life balance, and how important do you think it is?
Life and business is a marathon, not a sprint. If you keep sprinting a marathon you’ll likely die. Same with life and business. Prioritize the things that bring you joy and health when you wake up, in the middle, and at the end of the day. That means fitness, family, and friendships.
Are you married, in partnership, have kids, have relationships impacted your balance?
Married, 3 kids, 2 dogs. My wife’s been my rock, she took care of the fam and finances over the last ten years while I had repeated failures.
What’s some advice you would give to new or struggling entrepreneurs/hustlers that seem out of balance?
Prioritize workout, diet, sleep… Your oxygen mask first as they say on the plane. Cut out negative energy… from what you consume to who you hang out with… It’s neither the destination nor the journey but the companions that matter the most. So curate your companions wisely, your wellbeing depends on it! Change your environment every once in a while if you can, it will bring you new perspectives and improve your mental health.
What advice would you tell your younger self?
Chase freedom, not money… take care of your health.
What is one issue you are out to change in the world?
Emphasis on prevention-focused wellness/healthcare vs. cure. We’re proactive with everything other than our health. I would like to see this change. Businesses should focus on uplifting their customers by building communities vs. just selling products. We need more passion and less transaction.
What is your favorite quote, mantra, motto?
The only way to create abundance in life is to help others without expecting anything in return. If you chase money, you make short-term decisions; if you chase power, you destroy relationships. The only way to build something lasting is to chase impact.
Your last 2¢?
Brands of yesterday were built on what they told the world about themselves... Brands of the future will be built on what the community says about them. If you build a community, you won't become a commodity!
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