Ben White. He's sold three businesses so far for $80M, $88M and $800M. It was the last exit 16 years ago that hit him hard. What followed was a dark decade filled with divorce, addiction and significant financial losses. However, today Ben is the happiest he's ever been.
In this episode we discuss his hard-earned lessons on happiness, why he started his fourth business now and walked away from running his VC firm.
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TIME STAMPS:
00:00 - Introduction
01:33 - The impact of the 2008 exit and the dark decade
03:10 - Initial feelings and challenges post-exit
05:32 - Divorce and addiction struggles
07:51 - The sudden change in life without a business to run
09:55 - Coping mechanisms and poor investment decisions
11:57 - The importance of grounding oneself after a major life change
14:02 - Reflections on making poor decisions and facing addiction
16:10 - The importance of dealing with significant life events
18:08 - Advice to the younger self: taking time off and dealing with addictions
19:53 - The impact of personal struggles on family
21:54 - Strategies for being present and engaging with children
24:02 - The role of family in finding happiness
26:02 - Recognizing the importance of real friends and authentic relationships
28:20 - The danger of wealth changing social dynamics
30:25 - The importance of staying grounded and real
32:23 - Transition from VC firm back to entrepreneurship
34:20 - The creation of UP and its vision
36:19 - The importance of having a clear purpose and passion for work
38:21 - Changes in views on wealth and financial freedom
40:35 - The role of money in achieving happiness
42:22 - Learning to appreciate simple pleasures in life
44:12 - Finding happiness in nature and everyday moments
46:26 - Teaching kindness and empathy to children
48:29 - The role of nature in achieving a balanced and happy life
50:25 - The desire to leave a meaningful legacy
52:26 - The importance of helping others and making a positive impact
54:33 - Reflections on how to be remembered
56:29 - Parenting strategies and guiding children towards real values
58:28 - The importance of independence and real-world experiences for children
01:01:04 - Balancing drive and contentment in personal and professional life
01:03:26 - The journey to finding personal happiness
01:05:20 - Combining contentment with entrepreneurial drive
01:07:30 - Final thoughts on balancing life, work, and happiness
