For Subscribers

When My Cofounder Died, It Showed Me How to Run My Company He left me the book 'Life Is Short,' and its lessons became a guiding principle for everything I do.

By Tracy Young

This story appears in the March 2023 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »

Image Credit: Courtesy of Tracy Young

In the early days of my first startup, PlanGrid, our cofounder Antoine Hersen — who was only 29 at the time — died of cancer. We lived and worked from a house in Sunnyvale together, and he programmed until his last days.

Before he passed, Antoine gave me his copy of On the Shortness of Life by Seneca, and inside he included his last letter to me: "Life is short. Take care of Ralphie. Don't be afraid to try new things. Never do anything that makes you unhappy."

Related: The Ultimate Guide To Achieving Work-Life Balance

There is a balance to everything in life. Although this terrible thing happened to my good friend, and I would give anything for him to still be with us today, the fact is that his death and this book completely changed my life. The quote I think about most often is, "It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it."

Time is the only resource we'll never be given more of, so I try my hardest not to let anyone — including myself — waste any of it. I keep On the Shortness of Life in my library to remind me to ruthlessly prune bullshit every day. Gradually, this practice sharpened into a guiding principle. I call it being "wholehearted." It is the belief that we make the most of our time when our focus is undivided and we are truly present — whether it's for our loved ones or the work we've set out to do. And to expect this kind of presence from my employees, I must offer them true flexibility, so they can be present for other aspects of their lives as well.

Related: Why Life Is Too Short to Work Somewhere You Don't Care About

As PlanGrid grew from a few people to several hundred across the globe, we worked while grieving — first Antoine, and then other life crises. Teammates coped with loved ones dying, children getting sick. Everyone's situation was different and ever-changing. Our employees were given the flexibility to handle whatever life threw at them.

Back then, however, we did not write wholeheartedness into our company policies. I fixed that with my new company, TigerEye, where it is our first and most important core value, and documented in our employee handbook accordingly. Teammates can structure their time as they see fit; we just ask that they communicate any unexpected changes in their schedule. We recognize that being present in both life and work is challenging, but we prioritize being wholehearted and not feeling guilty about it. Not a day goes by that I don't think about On the Shortness of Life, and Antoine's advice to me. It's helped me become who I am today: a woman who protects her time.

Related: 5 Priceless Lessons For First-Time Entrepreneurs

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

These Friends Quit Their Corporate Jobs to Combine 2 Things They Loved. Now, Their Classes Are Offered in 12 Cities: 'Fully Bootstrapped'

How the founders of Puppy Sphere built a business that taps into mental and physical wellness — and lots of tail-wagging.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Leadership

Jon Taffer Teamed Up With This $300 Million Franchise Company to Build Something Bigger Than Restaurants

Taffer, known for his role in 'Bar Rescue,' teamed up with Craveworthy Brands to expand his concept, Taffer's Tavern.

Business News

Meta Poaches Top Apple Executive With Compensation Offer Reportedly in the Tens of Millions

Meta's latest hire for its superintelligence group is a former manager who led a 100-person team at Apple.

Health & Wellness

How to Stop Burnout From Torching Your Business

Get lessons in work-life balance from renowned health expert Dr. Drew Pinsky and serial investor Kim Perell on this episode of Entrepreneur Therapy.