Last week I completed 2 years of entrepreneurship.
And my biggest learning will actually shock many startup founders and entrepreneurs.

I used to believe that hard work is the key. And felt a sense of pride in calling myself a hustler.

What did I get being a hustler?

I had no ME time. On any day, sleeping little more than 4-5 hours would easily take me on the guilt trip.

Weekends or holidays, I was always glued to my laptop. My wife had taken full charge of the house and kids.

My son kept asking me “Papa, when you will have some time?” And that question would hit me hard, making me realise “where is the freedom I always wanted?”

I hardly recalled a day when I sat freely and listened to my wife in the last 2-3 years.

If at all I sat with her, I mostly talked about what is happening on the work front, what new ideas I have, how I’m going to make it successful.

Then the second wave started. All of us got COVID. She reached to a point of no return. I remember when doctor said they can’t do anything now.

I regretted not spending any time with her in the last 2-3 years. All I wanted was her to come back, but for what? So she can support me in fulfilling my dreams?

After sometime, I dealt with post covid complications and developed some cardiac issues and underlying fibrosis.

I realised how vulnerable we are as a human. How limited time we all have here, and no one knows when his or her time is up.

Despite being a hustler, working 20 x 7, my venture failed. Whatever the reason may be.
The discovery- we don’t control anything at all.

Not even our breath is in our control.

(I knew this already, but it was in the knowledge domain)

All the Law Of Attraction say “Create Your Destiny” and that statement is grossly misunderstood.

How it looks like : Hustling + Superficial spirituality = Success/outcome

Because when one is BEING spiritual, there is ABSOLUTELY NO need to be a hustler.

Post recovery, I’ve resumed work and now working around 4-5 hours a day, and sunday is a pure holiday.

Surprisingly, the output is the same. There is no impact on the productivity.

Just the methods of working have changed. The mindset has shifted.

Btw, the goals have not altered, but the desire to control the outcome of everything has shifted.

I learned to Let Go.

I have started to listen to my body and started to be an observer of my thoughts and emotions. Which brought so much of ease.

Started to smile and laugh more.
Meditation is no longer an item in checklist.

Stated to shift from doing to being.

In nutshell - The issue is never the TIME MANAGEMENT. The key is in management of ATTENTION and Balancing The Energy.

So my questions to all the startup founders -

What has been your biggest learning?

What satisfaction you get when you proudly call yourself a Hustler?

Have you ever noticed the price your family has paid for you being the hustler?

What is opening up for you?