My dear friend Sarah Douglass sold her incredibly successful e-commerce business three years ago, achieving the financial freedom she had always dreamed of.
But soon after, she found herself grappling with a new challenge: balancing her newfound success with an ever-deepening desire for contentment and a powerful drive to create impact.
In today’s conversation, Sarah shares her journey with disarming authenticity, opening up about her deepest struggles.
We explore the unexpected void left by success, the difficulty of resisting the urge to immediately start something new just to feel productive, and her shift from chasing external milestones to embracing intentional living—rediscovering who she is as a whole being, not just as an entrepreneur.
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TIME STAMPS:
00:00:00: Introduction and greetings
00:01:04: Sarah's business journey beginnings (Music school)
00:01:39: Transition to selling online (Discovery at dinner)
00:02:04: Starting with camping gear (Wise Owl Outfitters)
00:02:56: Challenges and operations (Traveling to China)
00:03:40: Balancing family and business (Moving and kids)
00:04:23: Working with her husband
00:05:21: Husband's role and career shift (Becoming a painter)
00:04:37: Decision to sell the business
00:05:00: Influences and reasons for selling
00:07:01: Financial freedom and exiting strategy
00:08:16: The selling process (Timeline and logistics)
00:09:56: Reflections on the buyer's bankruptcy
00:11:06: Emotional impact of selling
00:12:10: Post-sale challenges and burnout
00:13:23: Realizations and health impact
00:14:40: Personal and existential reflections
00:16:55: Seeking and understanding contentment
00:18:37: Advice on spirituality and life direction
00:19:06: Initial thoughts on spirituality and personal development
00:19:23: Exploring different avenues for growth
00:19:46: Impact of personal coaching and physical health
00:20:36: Reflection on life's purpose post-exit
00:21:32: Evaluating new opportunities and the allure of starting new businesses
00:25:00: Importance of being helpful to others
00:27:18: Finding balance in life and prioritizing oneself
00:27:50: Balancing motherhood and business
00:32:17: Handling wealth and teaching children about money
00:34:42: Shifts in business motivation without the need for money
00:38:17: Importance of having a supportive team
00:39:08: Pursuing new, exciting projects
00:40:02: Balancing current business with new ventures
00:40:26: Benefits of taking extended trips
00:42:04: Discovering oneself through new experiences
00:46:04: Reflections on legacy and impact on others
00:48:02: Interpretation of "Stay hungry, stay foolish"
00:51:03: Struggles of balancing business and family as a woman
00:56:06: Comparison of post-exit life to athletes' career transitions
00:56:38: Feeling lonely during the process
00:56:52: Searching for information online
00:57:15: Conclusion and thank you
