Steve Schlafman walked away from his venture fund and returned millions to 50 of his investors. He then went on to coin the idea of a “decelerator” that helped countless ambitious founders find a better way to decide what’s next.
Chris Guillebeau ran a remarkable conference that changed many lives, including mine. And inspired a whole new category of conference. After 10 years, he ended it. And went on to write more books and, most recently, create a special kind of gathering.
Seth Godin, who coined the idea of permission marketing, could have built Mailchimp (which was acquired for $12 billion), but he didn’t.
My mum could’ve made more money, she didn’t and retired at 40.
Each of them walked away from money, fame, and impact. They let go of the perfect to dance with the unknown, to create space for the impossible.
They say, the path appears when we start walking. But it is only when we dare to step away from the familiar can something emerge.
These days, when I come across someone that is calm, prolific, and productive, I wonder, what did they give up?
And I ask myself, what do I need to give up today to live that life?
