Life update: I’ve taken THE leap.

Some thoughts from standing on the edge, getting the courage to soar.

I’m now a full-time entrepreneur building Apex Cool Labs with Ariel Paul!

Thermoregulation, and specifically palm cooling, is the next frontier in human performance and we’re here to lead the charge.

But first let’s talk about *taking the leap*, because WOW was it a mental roller coaster!

You could say my process started a year ago when we began dreaming up Apex Cool Labs, but I actually think it’s been 42 years in the making.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to build a company. As a kid, I would pretend to be a CEO, giving presentations in my mom’s boardroom.

But as my career began, I felt lost.

I can’t count the number of times I sat down to “figure out my passion”. Yet, nothing came to me. The frustration was painful.

Despite this dilemma—and via the most atypical path—I became the CMO of a software company. And I was darn good at it.

So when the opportunity to cofound a company materialized, it felt like I had so much to lose…

What if I fail? What if I can’t make money? What if I have to “go back”? What if I can’t get back? Shouldn’t I wait until I am more successful?

Last December, I was hiking up a snow covered mountain, a brutal wind trying to blow me over, and I had an epiphany.

“I would rather try and fail than not try at all.”

As this not-so-deep thought took shape in my mind, I couldn’t stop smiling. Despite being quite cold.

It would be another 6 months before I would take the leap—I had work to finish at Traackr and milestones to hit at Apex Cool Labs—but my fear of taking the leap had been swept away.

Along the way, there were people who helped me process my leap. They met for coffee, went for walks, and got on Zooms. They shared advice, helped me see my own strengths, and made me laugh at my fears. To all of you, thank you!

I am also forever grateful to Pierre-Loïc Assayag and Emily DeMelo, CEO and CFO of Traackr, who created a company and culture where I could grow so much over the last 6 years. And to the marketing team, the Tigers, it was an honor to work alongside you. I’m leaving well equipped to take on this new chapter.

Do the fears still bubble up? Sure.

But they have very little power over me. In part, because I constantly remind myself of Arnold Schwarzenegger's rules of success. Among my favorites: trust yourself, don’t be afraid to fail, and work like hell.

It’s a dream come true to dedicate myself 100% to Apex Cool Labs.

The last 6 months have been extraordinary! We're blown away by the caliber of our customers: NHL coaches and players, D1 athletes, competitive climbers, youth athletes, elite fire departments, and—near and dear to my heart—the everyday athlete who trains like their life depends on it (because it does).

If you’re curious about our palm cooling devices, fondly called the Narwhals, or if you’re considering taking a leap and want to talk it through—hit me up!

This post was originally published on LinkedIn.