The last few days have been pretty brutal. I think I’m having a mid-life crisis, if that’s possible at 28.
It feels like my life choices are being cut off, one by one. Two nights ago I decided that I could not commit my time to a startup, and am now acting in an advisory role. It was painful. My partners are two extremely bright guys and we have an idea that gets me very excited, but I have $130,000 in debt and a baby on the way.
On the face of it, I should be ecstatic about my post-Tuck plans. I am moving to New York and joining arguably the top consulting firm in the world. I’ll be making more than 3 times my pre-Tuck salary. I am about to start a family with the woman of my dreams (she’ll love that this came fourth in my list). The world is my oyster, right?
Instead, I feel my options getting choked off. This startup project is exciting and I have the highest respect for the people involved in it, but I can’t commit. Will I ever be able to commit? Realistically, once this debt is paid off I’ll be saving for my childrens’ educations (plural?), and then for a summer home, and then for retirement. I’m joining the rat race. Correction: I’ve joined the rat race.
A few weeks ago I had a discussion with an old high school friend who is now a successful entrepreneur. I told him about our idea. He seemed to like it, although he had a few questions about its stickiness. But what struck me the most was that he didn’t seem to buy my commitment. He asked me: why wait until your thirties to start a company?
That really got me thinking about my life choices….do I really have what it takes to risk everything and follow a dream?
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