Omar Shaker

Ten years ago, my dear friend Angela Quach was broke, sleeping on my couch in San Francisco, and surviving by splitting Trader Joe’s sandwiches in half. She was clinging to her ego, refusing to settle for anything less than a six-figure director role, even as her bank a ccount drained to its last $100. Today, she is the CEO of The Destiny Lab, a multi-million dollar tech company that recently closed its first round of financing. What changed?

What do Maradona, Whitney Houston, Charlie Sheen, Jerry Garcia and Andre Agassi all have in common? Today we will be discussing the uncomfortable topic of addictive behaviors, and — as always — I will share a part of my own struggles with you, alongside the research, what it says, and how to implement it towards higher levels of gumption. The blockbuster names I mentioned above are amongst a long list of wildly ambitious people who suffered from addiction at the zenith of their success.

“You choose one of two pains: The pain of suppressing who you are to gain acceptance, or the pain of rejection that comes with being who you truly are.” Gabor Mate [he said it more eloquently than that] Spring is blossoming again with wild flowers on the hills. The pond outside the yurt is blooming with lillipads standing up straight with dignity towards the sun. The goats roam freely on the hill after Destry built the gate. People are out again, hosting events, and filling out the parks.