Ben White. 'Dark Decade' After $800M Exit: Addiction. Divorce & Financial Losses

Jul 31, 2024

Ben White, a successful entrepreneur who sold his last business for $800M, shares his tumultuous journey through addiction and divorce following his exit. He discusses the emotional void left by stepping away from business and the poor investments made in that time. Despite a dark decade, Ben reveals how he emerged happier than ever by focusing on personal relationships and authenticity. He reflects on the value of genuine friendships and the importance of staying grounded as he returns to entrepreneurship with renewed vision.

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Intro

00:00 • 2min

Navigating the Dark Decade

01:42 • 11min

The Journey Through Parenting and Addiction

12:35 • 7min

Embracing Simplicity and Authenticity

19:45 • 9min

Simplifying Life: The Importance of Boredom and Authenticity

28:46 • 2min

Reflections on Success and Wealth

30:40 • 21min

The Power of Kindness

52:04 • 4min

The Joys of Nature and Personal Impact

56:06 • 2min

Inspiration vs. Pressure in Leadership

57:41 • 10min

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. _____________________________________________________ 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