The Cost Of Chasing Unicorn Dreams

As an early-stage founder, I set out to build a unicorn startup. That dream, however, never materialized.

Not achieving the venture capital definition of success made me feel like a failure.

I thought I was missing out on:

• A spot on the Forbes 40 under 40 list.
• Getting featured on TechCrunch.
• Funding from top-tier investors.
• Getting into Y Combinator.
• Living in the Bay Area.

But guess what? These were just vanity metrics, glorified in startup culture.

It was only when I stepped back from the chase that I understood the real cost of pursuing this dream. The emotional toll was heavier than any missed achievement.

Here's what I truly lost during my journey:

• Missing my wife's 30th birthday.
• Skipping our own wedding celebrations.
• Being mentally absent around my loved ones.
• Failing to provide financial stability for my family.
• Losing 187 precious days with my newborn twins in their first year.

If you're on a similar journey, pause and ask yourself:

Will what you're stressing over today matter in a decade?

I doubt it.

There's a healthier, more fulfilling way to build a business. I just wish I had realized that from the start.