2025 was simultaneously the best and worst year of my life. On paper, it looked like I was crushing it: I bought a house, remodeled the entire basement myself, started dating Meghan (the love of my life), and watched both Boostcous and KnoCommerce hit major milestones.
But here's what didn't make the highlight reel: I broke my back, spent three months on crutches, fell into the worst shape of my life, and replaced "Bar the human" with "Bar the founder."
The Founder's Trap: When Success Costs Everything
Instead of slowing down after my injury, I did what founders are taught to do: I doubled down. 80–100 hour weeks became my norm. My entire identity shrunk to a handful of metrics: MRR, launch dates, Shopify sales, and what's next.
Sleep wrecked. Energy wrecked. Head noisy.
It's the same story many of us are living—we just don't usually post about it. We optimize for revenue while our bodies and minds quietly send distress signals we've learned to ignore.
Balance: My Non-Negotiable Rules for 2025
Going into next year, I'm done optimizing only for revenue. My word for the year is Balance—not the fake "work-life balance" we put on slides, but actual, nervous-system-level balance.
Here's what that looks like for me:
- Work out outside 3 days per week – Skiing, biking, hiking. Whatever it takes.
- Be in the gym at least 2 days per week – My back needs to come back stronger than ever.
- Meditate 4 days per week – Just 10 minutes of not solving problems.
That's it. Simple. Non-negotiable.
The Trade I'm No Longer Willing to Make
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 of 2025 showed me what's possible. The pain showed me what's not sustainable. Next year brings the same ambition, same companies, same problems—but I'm bringing a different version of myself to tackle them.
Because building something meaningful shouldn't mean destroying the person doing the building.