From my time building my startup, things moved so quickly that there was little time to think longer-term about what motivates me, what stage(s) of the company I enjoyed the most, what working dynamics do I like, what really did I learn after years on the grind. That amount of reflection I find is important to finding the next longer-term opportunity, as opposed to hopping into something just to keep yourself busy (since we are so used to going 100mph 7 days a week).
We’ve collected here some useful strategies to help find fulfillment as a post-exit founder:
Redefine Success and Contentment
- Shift your focus from wealth accumulation to finding contentment and fulfillment.
- Reflect on your definition of well-being and how you can achieve it in daily life.
Balance Life and Work
- Strive for a healthy work-life balance by setting boundaries and prioritizing time with loved ones.
- Learn to appreciate and find joy in the slower, simpler moments of life.
Identify Personal Passions and Interests
- Reflect on activities and topics that energize you and consider how you can invest in them.
- Pursue lifelong learning in any areas of interest (arts, sciences, etc.).
- Experiment with different hobbies (ex. sports, travel) or volunteer opportunities to find what resonates most.
Build Relationships and Community
- Again, strike a balance to prioritize time for those important to you.
- Connect with like-minded individuals through through online and offline communities and clubs.
- Find a sense of belonging and purpose by participating in community service or philanthropic activities that strike a chord with you.
Education
- Columbia Business School’s Executive Ed program offers an expansive library of free, on-demand webinars.
- Many universities have special free programs for alums.
Seek Meaningful Work
- Engage in mission-driven work that aligns with core values and passions, such as climate change or mental health.
- Look for roles that provide a broader sense of purpose and allow you to leverage your skills to make a positive impact beyond yourself. Collaborate with organizations or start initiatives that address these issues and create constructive change.
Evaluate Personal Development
- Engage in personal development through retreats, reading, therapy, or coaching.
- Consider programs like The Hoffman Process for intensive self-discovery and transformation.
- Prioritize personal health and wellness through active living, healthy eating, exercise, and mindfulness.
- Explore biohacking, meditation, or other activities to enhance your overall well-being.
Teach
- Join a university Accelerator/Entrepreneurship Center as a mentor, EIR, and/or guest lecturer. Many universities now have programs like this, and most are glad to work with people who didn’t happen to graduate from their particular program.
Share your Journey
- Document your progress and learnings to motivate yourself and others through blogs, books, or online communities.
- Offer mentorship and guidance to those navigating similar transitions.
Further reading
- What’s Next: The Entrepreneur’s Epilogue and the Paradox of Success
- A Dozen Questions to Consider After Selling Your Business, Yale School of Management
- How to Take Personal Development Off the Backburner—Practical Tips for Leveling Up
- Why You Should Let Go Of 80% Of Your Life, Benjamin Hardy
- From Striving to Calling: A Path to Finding Meaning In Your Work, John Carbrey
- What happens when you get what you want
- From Strength to Strength
- Yale SOM papers on Post-Exit Entrepreneurs
- A different and better way to live
- Jerry Neuman’s Exit letter
- Who shows us how to live — Federer or Ronaldinho?
Books
- To University and Beyond: Launch Your Career in High Gear, by Mandee Heller Adler and David Teten. Focused on early-career acceleration.
- Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
- Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
- The First And Last Freedom by J. Krishnamurti
- Real Happiness by Sharon Salzberg
- Finding Ultra by Rich Roll
Programs and Retreats