Balancing ambition and simply family time

Earlier on when my children were younger, it simply meant not getting adequate sleep and neglecting all aspects of my life that weren't my W2 job, children or investing in real estate. That lifestyle was pure hell and having done it for years I wouldn't recommend it.

Over time, you learn the importance of systems and understand that your time does not scale. You get more done with less time as you outsource more and more tasks, removing yourself as a bottleneck. A book that really helped in that aspect is called "Who not How" by Dan Sullivan.

I've also gotten better at recognizing when I need a break. I had to train myself out of the habit that every night when the kids go to sleep I should be working again. I'll have a beer and do whatever instead to rest my brain. I'm more ambitious now than ever before, but now it's a lot more focused and a lot less desperate. I have learned how to make my hours count so I need far fewer of them to move the ball forward.