Early in my career, I believed that the harder I hustled, the closer I’d get to success. I sacrificed weekends, sleep, and countless moments with my wife in our first years together, convinced that it was the price I had to pay to “make it.” That’s what everyone seemed to do.
But here’s the truth no one told me: The game is rigged.
As entrepreneurs, we’re sold a bill of goods that hard work = success, or at least increases the odds of success. Candidly, that is a lie. Sure, you have to work hard to be successful, but the real secret to success isn’t hours in the office. It isn’t sacrifices or tradeoffs. Those are the lies we’ve been told, mostly by people who made tradeoffs themselves (and often regret quite a few of them).
This realization didn’t come overnight. It took selling businesses, stumbling through burnout, and missing moments that mattered.
But it led me to something extraordinary— not accepting the tradeoffs that everyone told me I had to make, but choosing a third option that was built on the principles of Intentional Entrepreneurship.
Choosing Option 3 isn’t just about running a business. It’s about living a life that aligns with your passion, purpose, and priorities. I personally defied the odds that are stacked against entrepreneurs, and I have spent many years helping entrepreneurs just like you rewrite the rules and live a bigger, better life.
Balance Isn’t Enough
We’ve all heard the phrase “work-life balance,” but let’s be honest: it’s a myth. Trying to balance two opposing forces only leaves you stressed, exhausted, and constantly juggling priorities.
It’s not about balance. It’s about alignment or, more appropriately, what I call “work-life domination.” When you live with intention, your business and your life aren’t in competition; they’re part of the same, beautifully designed system.
Here’s how you can start redefining success on your terms:
Clarify Your Vision
Understand what success really means to you—not society’s definition, not your peers’, but yours. For me, success isn’t just about building a thriving business. It’s about the freedom to travel with my family, mentor incredible entrepreneurs, and live with purpose. What does success look like for you?
Build Systems That Scale Your Life
In our ExitDNA program, I coach entrepreneurs on maximizing business value while minimizing complexity. Those same principles apply to life. What systems can you create to free up time and energy? Automate workflows, delegate effectively, and say no to distractions.
Shift from Hustle to Strategy
Hustle isn’t a long-term strategy; it’s a shortcut to burnout. Choosing Option 3 is about making strategic moves that deliver impact without draining you.
The Birth of OPTION 3
After I sold my second company, I had a startling realization: I’d had tremendous financial success building and exiting my companies, but I hadn’t built a life that I loved. I didn’t have a life that would give me TIME, time I wanted to spend with my soon-to-be-born daughter. That moment was the wake-up call I needed to design a new approach to entrepreneurship—one based on intention .
From that moment on, I started, scaled, and exited four more companies, but I was also home for dinner every night.
This is what drives me every day: showing entrepreneurs like you that there’s a better way.
Your Roadmap to Intentional Entrepreneurship
I’ve created an exclusive guide to help you get started:
The Work-Life Domination Framework
Inside, you’ll find:
- A simple process to align your goals with your values.
- The systems I use to scale my business and create space for what matters most.
- Actionable tips to reclaim your time, energy, and focus today.
[Download the Framework →]
Ready to Build a Life You Love?
Entrepreneurship doesn’t have to mean endless sacrifice. It doesn’t have to mean missing family dinners, burning out, or putting your dreams on hold.
Through ExitDNA, we’ve helped founders unlock the full potential of their businesses, including the option to exit for life-changing money. Through OPTION 3, we’ll show you how to live with intention and purpose. If you are an entrepreneur, the journey is the reward. So, let’s make sure that you are executing with intention.
If you’re ready to stop chasing balance and start building a life you love, let’s take the first step together:
This isn’t just about business; it’s about you. Your goals, your freedom, your legacy. Life’s too short to live on autopilot.
Are you ready to live intentionally?
— Mac
