The Year I Had Everything (And Almost Lost Myself)

2025 was simultaneously the best and worst year of my life. Here's what happened when success came at the cost of everything else.

The Highlight Reel

On paper, 2025 was extraordinary:

Bought a house and remodeled the entire basement myself
Started dating Meghan, the love of my life
Launched Boostcous from idea to real brand with actual sales on retail shelves
KnoCommerce had one of its best years yet

It's the kind of year people screenshot and post about. The "crushing it" year.

But here's what didn't make the highlight reel:

I broke my back. Three months on crutches. Slid into the worst shape of my life. Sleep wrecked. Energy wrecked. Head noisy.

And instead of slowing down, I did what founders are taught to do: I doubled down on work.

80–100 hour weeks. All-in on Kno. All-in on Boostcous. Zero-in on me.

Somewhere in there, "Bar the human" quietly got replaced by "Bar the founder."

Not the fake "work-life balance" we put on slides. Actual, nervous-system-level balance.

Here are my three non-negotiable rules:

🏔️ Work out outside 3x per week

Skiing, biking, hiking—whatever it takes.

💪 Gym 2x per week

I want my back to come back stronger than ever.

🧘 Meditate 4x per week

10 minutes of just... not solving problems.

That's it.

If I keep running 80–100 hour weeks, Boostcous and KnoCommerce might grow.

But I won't.

And that's not a trade I'm willing to make again.

The wins showed me what's possible.
The pain showed me what's not sustainable.

Next year: same ambition, same companies, same problems.

But I'm bringing balance to how I tackle them.