2025 was the best year of my life. And the worst.
I bought a house. Remodeled the entire basement myself. Started dating the love of my life, Meghan—and that alone changed how I see everything. Boostcous went from idea to real brand with real sales on real shelves. KnoCommerce had one of our best years yet.
On paper, it looks like a "crushing it" year. The kind people screenshot and brag about.
But here's the part that didn't make it into any highlight reel.
When Success Costs Everything
I broke my back. Spent three months on crutches. I slid into the worst shape of my life—sleep wrecked, energy wrecked, head noisy.
And instead of slowing down, I did the thing 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."
My entire identity became: How's MRR? How's the launch? How are Shopify sales? What's the next thing?
It's the same story a lot of us are living. We just don't usually post about it.
The Hidden Cost of Founder Culture
The startup world glorifies the grind. We celebrate the all-nighters, the sacrifices, the "whatever it takes" mentality. And for good reason—building something from nothing requires extraordinary effort and commitment.
But there's a dangerous illusion baked into that narrative: that more hours always equals more progress. That if you're not working yourself to exhaustion, you're not serious enough.
I bought into that completely. And while my companies grew, I didn't. In fact, I shrunk—physically, mentally, emotionally.
The truth that took me far too long to learn: sustainable growth requires a sustainable founder. You can't build long-term value from a depleted state.
My Word for the Year: Balance
So going into next year, I'm done optimizing only for revenue.
My word of the year is Balance.
Not the fake "work-life balance" we put on slides. Actual, nervous-system-level balance.
For me, that looks like a few simple, non-negotiable rules:
- Work out outside 3 days per week: Skiing, biking, hiking—whatever it takes.
- Be in the gym at least 2 days per week: I want my back to come back stronger than ever after this injury.
- Meditate 4 days per week: 10 minutes of just...not solving problems.
That's it. Nothing revolutionary. But for someone who's been running at full throttle for years, these simple commitments represent a fundamental shift in priorities.
The New Definition of Success
Because 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.
I've learned that real success isn't just about what you build—it's about who you become while building it. It's about whether you can actually enjoy the wins when they come. Whether you have the energy and presence to nurture the relationships that matter most.
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 into how I tackle those problems.
For Fellow Founders: You're Not Alone
If you're reading this and seeing yourself in my story, know that you're not alone. The pressure to perform, to grow, to prove yourself—it's real, and it's relentless.
But so is the cost of ignoring your own well-being.
I'm sharing this not because I've figured it all out, but because I'm committed to figuring it out. Because I believe we can build exceptional companies without destroying ourselves in the process.
2025 was the best and worst year of my life. I'm grateful for both sides.
Here's to a more balanced 2026.