2024 was a year of contradictions. Professionally, it was the most challenging year of my 15-year career — a year of setbacks, hard lessons, and humbling experiences. But on a personal level, it was nothing short of extraordinary, and I am deeply grateful.
My family and I welcomed our beautiful third baby. My kids thrived, and I leaned into dad life with all I had (spoiler alert: I am crushing dad life). My wife is killing it at work and has remained my steadfast rock. Spiritually, I remained consistent throughout the year. Somehow, I managed to read over 20 books, reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and even make time for a hunting trip with grad school buddies.
Reflecting now, I see how this personal foundation — built on faith, family, and discipline — carried me through one of the most difficult professional storms of my life.
The professional challenge
This post started with a long list of my professional setbacks saga, and I am really resisting the temptation to go into the soap opera of it all. To paint the reader a picture, here is a short version of the backstory:
In 2021, I raised capital with a business school friend to acquire a mass SMS texting business. While my instincts told me to walk away, I moved forward, driven by the feedback of investors and peers. What followed was a series of challenges: near-bankruptcy, an FBI subpoena in early 2024 for actions predating our ownership, a tough refinancing that resulted in a 50% pay cut for me and my partner, only for my partner to leave the business and for me to be demoted and subordinated to the prior owner.
Every day, I dreaded work and had to navigate a very delicate business dynamic with the remaining people, as well as the bank and the shareholders. I convinced myself to push forward out of duty — at the expense of my family’s financial well-being and my own mental health.
While the business did quite well in 2024, unsurprisingly, it ultimately resulted in me transitioning out. Being invited to transition out was something I never thought would happen to me (I work hard, am decently smart, and I am also super charming 🤣).
In all seriousness, the experience was humbling, painful, and a stark reminder of the importance of trusting my gut and setting clear boundaries for the sacrifices I’m willing to make.
The Personal Wins:
Despite the professional chaos, I had a tremendous personal year — one that gave me the strength to persevere. Here are a few ‘habits’ or practices I followed throughout the year that, honestly, made this sour experience and professional setback much more digestible and manageable:
1. I stayed consistent with my spirituality. Faith has always been a cornerstone for me, and in 2024 it became my lifeline. Even when I stumbled (very often), I leaned into prayer and confession, which brought me clarity and peace.
2. Prioritized physical strength. I made it to the gym consistently, lifting heavy and building muscle. While my nutrition wasn’t perfect, staying physically strong helped me with dad duties and significantly reduced back pain.
3. I spent quality time with my kids, and doubled the time when I had the luxury. I walked them to school, holding their little hands whenever they allowed me. I took them to the park, taught them how to ride a bike, and had them join me on errands. I love being their dad.
4. Stayed disciplined (mostly). Early mornings became sacred time for reading, journaling, and personal projects. While dad life didn’t always allow for consistency, I made the most of the morning moments I had.
5. Made new friends. Building friendships in your late 30s isn’t easy, but I was graced with new friendships, which included older and wiser guys at the gym, parents my age sharing my struggles, and younger people that I stumbled upon here and there. The connections I built this year enriched my life in unexpected ways.
6. Reconnected with my professional network. Shoutout to the Seale team. It reminded me that there are a lot of people that appreciate me as a person and as a professional. I very much enjoyed seeing them at their 25th anniversary and am proud I was part of their story for half of its journey.
7. Reminded myself of the positives. When everything seemed to fall apart, I was overwhelmed by fear and self-doubt. I made a list of all the personal and professional wins I have had since I can recall and placed it somewhere I could see often. I wrote things such as having an amazing spouse and family, graduating top of my class, spending time as a missionary, pursuing my MBA, working in investment banking, and being gifted with strong faith and God’s favoritism since I was very little. Maybe one day I’ll share the full list, but the message is that this practice helped balance the weight of setbacks with gratitude for the good in my life.
What I learned:
2024 taught me that setbacks, while painful, are survivable — and even transformative — when you have the right foundation:
• A supportive spouse who stands by you through life’s ups and downs. To quote Alexander Hamilton when referring to his wife Eliza: “Best of wives and best of women.” My wife encapsulates this concept.
• The grace of God, which I am endlessly grateful for.
• A strong network of friends and colleagues who lifted me up.
• A commitment to caring for myself, physically and spiritually.
While I’m still figuring out my next professional step, I feel ready for whatever comes next. 2024 was tough, but I ended it with gratitude and hope. Here’s to embracing the rollercoaster, trusting in God, and welcoming a brighter 2025 — one lesson at a time.