The Cost of Building (And Why I'm Still Figuring Out How to Talk About It)

It's really annoying.

I've been trying to figure out how to talk about this, and whichever way I write it, it feels cringe. Talking about the cost of building shouldn't feel cringe, right?

But here we are.

What I Left Out of the Last Post

The other day, I said I shed 99% of my belongings when I left Perth.

Well, some of those belongings were actually a lot of tears.

At the time, I had no idea what was happening. And let me tell you, once the tears started, they didn't stop for weeks. It got worse before it got better.

The Years Before

Looking back, it's no surprise.

I was working 70-80+ hour weeks for years. It was the cost of building. It impacted my health, my relationships, and my mental state.

Going around talking to friends, family, and founders, it turns out I'm not alone—a lot of people in high-impact roles are going through burnout in one way, shape, or form.

The Advice That Doesn't Work

For people that are not in these situations, they talk about "work-life balance" or say "you just need a regular holiday."

I sincerely don't think a 2-week trip to Bali (as nice as it is) is a fix. It's a band-aid.

What I Actually Believe

I sincerely believe that any competitive human endeavor requires sacrifice. Whether it's athletics, arts, or entrepreneurship. Raw talent is not enough. You have to hustle.

Wanting work-life balance is OK.

Wanting to build a breakthrough startup is OK.

But you shouldn't expect both.

Why This Feels Uncomfortable to Write

There's no neat bow on this one. No "here's what I learned" or "5 tips to avoid burnout."

Because I haven't figured it out. I'm still in the middle of it.

What I do know is this: if you're building something that matters, there's a cost. The question isn't whether you'll pay it—it's whether you're paying it consciously, or letting it extract itself from you without your consent.

I'm still working on the answer.