Everything I’ve Learned (So Far) About Building in Alignment

Learning and Living in Alignment

Earlier this week, I joined Evan Lee from Motion for an episode of Thumbstop Live. We had a deep, engaging conversation about how to stay curious in an industry that can often feel overwhelming, and how to learn and live in alignment with core values. 

I explained how it’s been twelve years of running Foxwell Digital. Four years of managing Foxwell Founders. Dozens of coaching conversations, hundreds of clients, thousands of DMs, and dare I say millions of Slack messages. 

I’ve learned countless lessons from scaling a business with my life/business partner. Others from becoming a dad during a global pandemic. Some from burnout, or from biking uphill. 

But most lessons came from slowing down long enough to actually pay attention. Here are a few big ones I shared with Evan: 

Believe your body when it tells you no. 

Alignment is not an idea. It’s something you feel. You may feel it in your stomach, in your chest, or in how drained or how alive you feel. I’ve coached many founders who spend their days doing tasks that slowly wear them down. They don’t realize how much it’s costing them because they’ve learned to ignore the signals their body is giving them. But the signals are there. Once you notice them, you can’t unsee them. And that awareness is the beginning of changing how you work. 

You don’t need to be miserable to be successful.

There’s a myth that misery is the price of growth. I don’t buy it. I believe that entrepreneurs should be able to build something that matters, make enough money to support themselves and their families, and still have a life rich in meaning. You do not have to wait until you are 65 to start enjoying yourself. What actually fills you up, brings you joy, helps you feel motivated and inspired? 

A calendar audit can change your business.

Here’s the most efficient business tool I know: Print out your calendar. In hard copy. As you go through the week, score each meeting or task from zero to ten. Zero means it drained you. Ten means you loved it and felt truly alive and inspired. Anything under a six is something you need to find a way to get off your plate. You can delegate it, systematize it, or eliminate it. But you should not keep doing it long-term. Pay attention to what energizes you, what you look forward to, and what you feel most proud of. When you build your business around those feelings, everything gets lighter.

Slow down to move forward.

Grind culture told us to move fast. To stay ahead. To launch before we’re ready. But my biggest breakthroughs happen when I step away from my laptop. Long bike rides, quiet mornings having coffee with Gracie, walks without my phone. That’s when the genuinely creative ideas arrive. When you slow down, your brain stops racing and your intuition finally has space to be heard.

Fear will keep you working on the wrong thing.

You’ll keep grinding on something that’s not working because fear convinces you it might still pay off. You’ll convince yourself the answer is just around the corner if you keep pushing (sunk cost bias). But often, fear is the thing that keeps us from changing direction when we know deep down that we should pivot. Let your curiosity guide you, notice and name your fears, and then try something new anyway. 

Build your business around your life, not the other way around.

This has been our mission from the beginning. Gracie and I didn’t want to build a business we had to escape from. We wanted to build a business that let us live the life we knew we wanted. It’s not easy, but it is possible. 

Success compounds when you stop pretending.

I used to be proud of being a chameleon. I could fit in anywhere. But a few years ago, I realized I didn’t want to keep shifting who I was depending on the room I was in. I wanted to be the same person everywhere. The moment I started being truly me in all situations, our business grew. Our Founders community grew. Our business felt more aligned to our true selves. 

Lead with care and generosity, always.

Every member of our team is empowered to spend up to $500 on any member for any reason. We’ve sent members flowers, books, gifts, and notes. It’s not about scale; it’s about care. Caring compounds because people remember how you showed up for them when they were having a hard time or when they were celebrating a milestone. Instead of just responding to a message quickly, try to respond and reach out thoughtfully. 

Every founder thinks their challenges are unique.

When we face challenges in our businesses, just like in our personal lives, we often have an inner dialogue that sends us spiraling. But we truly aren’t alone. If we come together with other founders and share our struggles, we can learn and grow from one another. While leaning on each other and listening, we can realize our hardships aren’t as unique as we originally thought. Vulnerability is key. 

Have an honest relationship with your ego. 

Especially if you’ve been rewarded for your confidence and audacity thus far. You may feel invincible or like you will never fail. But when you’re struggling, an unchecked ego will prevent you from asking for help, or make you feel desperately inadequate. I wish someone had told me this when I was 25. And then again when I was 35. 

You won’t feel aligned if your basic needs aren’t met.

Maslow was right. If you’re not getting necessary rest, food, shelter, and connections with others, then you can’t be at the helm of a business and have long-term success. You’ve got to care for yourself before you can lead others and grow your business. 

Cultivate a beginner’s mindset. 

The older I get, the more curious I become. I used to think I knew everything. Now I believe I truly know nothing. I’m no expert; I’m learning, growing, and trying to do my best as a husband, father, and business owner. I’m living with awareness of my actions and striving to work in alignment with my values. 

Alright, I’ll leave it there for now. I’d love to hear some of the most important lessons you’ve learned while running your business or while trying to live out your values. 

Thank you for being here,

Andrew