Moneywise 15 Years Doing What I Hated… 8-Figure Exit. Worth It?
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Jul 14, 2025 
Ronan Berder, a founder who built an 8-figure consulting agency, shares his unexpected journey from burnout to passion projects in open source. He reflects on the obligations that kept him in a business he didn’t love, the anticlimactic nature of his sale, and how true fulfillment often lies beyond monetary success. Ronan also dives into his investment strategies, the lessons learned about discipline and grit, and how minimalism shapes his work-life balance today.
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Accidental 8-Figure Consulting Exit
- Ronan Berder accidentally founded and scaled a consulting agency to eight figures despite never planning or wanting to run such a business.
- He never enjoyed the work but eventually achieved a comfortable exit and lifestyle.
Post-Exit Coding Revival
- After exiting, Ronan spent six to seven months coding, reigniting his passion for product building and technology.
- This return to hands-on work improved his mental health and allowed faster feedback loops than managing a large company.
Turning Down US Startup Path
- Ronan declined a Techstars offer and investment to move to the US because his product lacked traction.
- He chose to focus on methodical growth of the consulting business instead, even though he initially disliked it.