I was sitting in my sauna, crying like a baby.

I wasn’t prepared for what was happening.

Missy and I had just returned from Hawaii, where we dropped our daughter off for a year-long discipleship training program (a year ago).

I didn’t realize kids leaving can cause grief and sadness like this. 😭

I talked to a multi-seven-figure owner this week, and he was like…

“Yeah, we’re trying to figure out if we should just push the peddle to the metal and take on more (stress, time requirement, etc.) and if it will be worth it?”

My answer? No.

Why?

That was me when my daughter (Liberty) was growing up.

More-more-more.

I’m not opposed to more.

“More” has to be built through constraints

More should be measured!

Greed will say YES to everything unhealthy.
More for more’s sake ain’t good.

Part of my grieving was the realization that I’d NEVER get that time back with Liberty. Her leaving marks the transition in life. She’s becoming a legit adult. That time IS GONE. Why??

I said yes to unintentional more and would change that if I could go back.

Thank God she’s back (for now). But this perspective has changed a lot about my life.

I’m not willing to sacrifice my family (or time with them) to chase more that doesn’t add substantially to my life.

What about you?

Are there things that you might be sacrificing in the name of more?

-Important relationships
-Emotional and physical health
-Relationship with God
-Getting into a new hobby (I recommend fly fishing!)
-Passion project
-Contributing time to a great cause

Don’t delay living! We’re not promised tomorrow.

Here are things to consider in scaling from a place of joy and giving versus anxiety and greed:

1. Why Do I Want More?
   1. If it’s genuinely what I want, why? (go layers deep)
   2. Will it make me look good, give me status, etc.?
   3. Is it aligned with an identity with little (or very little) to do with “success”? 

      Healthy identity builds from…

      Intentionality: Provision / Transformational / Contribution / Meaning and Fulfillment

      If you were to draw your wants on paper, would they fall under one of these areas? If not, I’d examine

      Unhealthy identity builds from…

      Unintentionally: Greed (never enough) / Transactional / Taking / Low Meaning or Fulfillment

2. Scaling FROM Constraints?
   1. To hit X revenue/targets, it has to be within 30 hours per week
   2. To hit X revenue/targets, it has to from peace, not stress
   3. To hit X revenue/targets, it’s 10% growth, not 40% 😂
   4. To hit X revenue/target, it’s from a 30% profit margin
   5. To hit X revenue/target, I’m having dinner with the fam five nights a week
   6. To hit X revenue/target, my phone is off every night at 7 pm

Constraints are life-giving, but very few of us honor them. Constraint is another word for boundary. Install them!

3. Considering The Other FourWhen we figure out how to make money as entrepreneurs, we usually stay in that vein to accumulate as much as possible.

   In the process, we neglect the other essential parts of us, which has negative consequences.

   In pursuing more, are you neglecting the other four essential aspects of your life?

   1. Emotional / Mental health
   2. Physical health
   3. Relational health
   4. Spiritual health

TRUST ME. I LOVE growth and scale. Love it. I just got tired of it being my master, and I see that’s the case with many others.

That’s it. If you know someone who would like to read this, feel free to forward it!

Peace,

C