How I Stopped Burning Out (Twice) & Took Back Control of My Life

The Moment Everything Almost Crashed

A few years ago, I was running on fumes. On paper, I had it all—2 kids, a wife, a fast-growing startup, and a rock band. From the outside, it looked like I was thriving. But inside? I was barely holding it together.

I convinced myself I could do it all if I just worked harder. Late nights, jam-packed schedules, sneaking in family time between work calls. “Just push through—things will calm down soon,” I told myself.

But they never did.

Then, I crashed—twice.

The first time, I recognized the signs early. I pulled back, made adjustments, and thought I had it under control. For a while, things felt manageable. But as soon as life felt easier, I slipped right back into the old patterns—overcommitting, stretching myself too thin, putting everything before my own well-being.

Then, it happened again. This time, I knew I couldn’t afford another false fix. I needed a system that worked—not just for a few weeks, but for life.

The Trap of Productivity Hacks

Like most high-achievers, I thought the answer was better time management.

If I could just optimize my schedule…
If I could squeeze in a little more…
If I could just be more disciplined…

But the truth hit me hard: It wasn’t about time. It was about how I was approaching everything.

I kept adding more strategies, more tools, more ‘hacks,’ but none of them actually changed the way I operated. I was rearranging the pieces without changing the game.

The Shift That Changed Everything

I finally stopped looking for more and started stripping things away.

I had spent years building businesses—solving problems, prioritizing what mattered, and cutting the fluff. But I had never applied those same principles to my own life.

So, I started running my life like I would a business.

Here’s what I did:

1️⃣ Working in Cycles, Not Chaos

I stopped letting my days be dictated by endless lists and instead broke my time into structured, focused cycles. I set clear targets, tackled what mattered most, and ignored the noise.

2️⃣ Cutting the Dead Weight

Instead of piling on more, I asked myself:

🔹 Does this really need to be done? 🔹 Is there a simpler way? 🔹 What would happen if I let this go?

Turns out, a lot of things don’t actually need your energy.

3️⃣ Making Reflection a Habit

I used to power through without stopping to see if what I was doing was even working. Now, I check in regularly:

• What’s actually moving the needle? 🔥
• What’s just noise? ❌
• What needs to change? 🔄

It sounds simple, but these small shifts changed everything.

The Results? More Control, Less Stress, and a Life That Finally Feels Like Mine

Since making these changes, I’ve:

✅ Stopped feeling like I was constantly behind.
✅ Focused on what actually matters—in work and life.
✅ Had more time for family, hobbies, and real rest.

And here’s the crazy part: Now, even with 3 kids, an early stage startup, a hobby rock band, a volunteer role at opensource.construction, and a freelance coaching and advisory, I feel more balanced than ever.

Because now, instead of trying to do everything, I know exactly what’s worth doing.

If You’re Stuck in the Same Cycle…

I built Agile for Life Bootcamp because I know there are others out there like me—people who refuse to slow down but also refuse to keep burning out.

🚀 Agile for Life Bootcamp: High-Performers & Dads Edition
A high-impact system to help you take control, execute with purpose, and finally find balance.

If you’re tired of spinning your wheels and ready to take back control, check it out here.

Let’s make this happen. 🔥