I am going through an annoying dental crisis following an implant that has somehow developed an infection. Having worked at or with startups all my life I have on several occasions pushed forward even at times when it was detrimental to my health. I know many entrepreneurs who do the same – including some recent instances in our portfolio. It is a reflection of the will to create something from nothing and one of the reasons why entrepreneurs often succeed where big companies fail. But it is easy to take it too far. At the end of the day, you only have this one body and your health is not something to play games with. As I have gotten older and have (not so little) kids at home I have definitely become more aware just how precious health is. So this time around I have postponed meetings and I am even considering canceling a trip to San Francisco this week. As a board member too, I am increasingly finding myself telling entrepreneurs and others working there to back off a bit if I get the sense they are running themselves ragged. Hoping that this longer term perspective will benefit everyone in the end!

I am going through an annoying dental crisis following an implant that has somehow developed an infection. Having worked at or with startups all my life I have on several occasions pushed forward even at times when it was detrimental to my health. I know many entrepreneurs who do the same – including some recent instances in our portfolio. It is a reflection of the will to create something from nothing and one of the reasons why entrepreneurs often succeed where big companies fail. But it is easy to take it too far. At the end of the day, you only have this one body and your health is not something to play games with. As I have gotten older and have (not so little) kids at home I have definitely become more aware just how precious health is. So this time around I have postponed meetings and I am even considering canceling a trip to San Francisco this week. As a board member too, I am increasingly finding myself telling entrepreneurs and others working there to back off a bit if I get the sense they are running themselves ragged. Hoping that this longer term perspective will benefit everyone in the end!