The company I founded, CarEdge, turns five years old in July. This milestone has me feeling sentimental. For posterity’s sake (and to the benefit of other early-stage entrepreneurs), here are a few things I have learned from this journey.
Take the first step
When I reflect on starting CarEdge, I feel so proud that I took the plunge and started building it when I did. The original pitch deck is nearly identical to the one we have today. Taking the first step allowed us to get momentum and continue growing. Just do it!
I remember that it took me about a year to gain the courage and strength to quit my job to pursue CarEdge full-time. I am glad that I took that year to get clarity on the business and gain confidence, however, in retrospect, I think I would have likely ended up in a similar situation as to where I am today if I had started even sooner. This conjecture is pointless, however the principle is valid: take the first step. Stop waiting around for someone or something to give you the signal. If you feel the pull to start your company and pursue the work, do it.
My identity is more than my company
This was a fucking big one. Wow. I had the realization that my identity is more than my company during the Summer of 2024. My girlfriend and I had broken up a few months before and I was in California at a founder’s retreat when it happened.
“What do you do to relax, Zach?” I still remember when Rob Go asked me this in 2022 after a board meeting. I replied with something to the effect of, “I don’t, I am addicted to building this business.”
He was visibly put off by my answer. He had genuine concern.
Well, fast forward to 2024, thousands of miles away from home in beautiful and sunny California, and heartbroken Zach had an epiphany.
“My identity is more than my company,” I said to Rob, and about 50 other founders and investors at the end of the retreat. We were in a big circle sharing our takeaways from the retreat. I felt strong, powerful, and confident with the words coming out of my mouth.
Rob came over to me and gave me a hug afterwards.
What I realized during those days at the retreat is that the value I bring to the world is measured by more than the P&L of the business I founded. It always was, and always will be. I did not believe that in the past, and, fortunately, I fully embrace this reality now and into the future.
What allowed me to have this breakthrough was strikingly simple, yet deceptively challenging to do. I was in a very emotional state, still processing the end of my previous relationship, and at the retreat I didn’t work for three straight days. Instead, I played tennis, golf, and went swimming. For the first time in four years, I took a few days entirely off. I didn’t work, I didn’t think about my company, I just played some sports, felt my feelings, and hung out. (Side note: I went on a few vacations during those prior four years. Sadly, I never took a break from working. I feel regret, sadness, and frustration when I reflect on those times. Lesson learned.)
And you know what happened? CarEdge still existed when I came back. My team was shocked I wasn’t there and found ways to push ahead. This allowed me to have my identity epiphany.
This was a huge moment, and one that I continue to cherish. I grew up that day, and my approach to building my company and my personal relationships became more sustainable and thoughtful as a result. I feel more whole and complete today thanks to this experience.
It is hard to be happy or satisfied
“Success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. Only the paranoid survive”
This quote, from Andy Grove, makes me sick. Why? Because it so perfectly encapsulates my existence as CEO of CarEdge, and shocker: being paranoid for five years straight is not the most pleasant experience!
Founding and growing CarEdge has reinforced for me something I knew existed within me, yet I never named. I have struggled with happiness. Swap “happiness” in that quote above for “success” and the meaning stays the same.
“Happiness breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. Only the paranoid survive”
This hits on a concept I am actively working on with my coach, the notion of doing versus being. Doing is about action and accomplishment, while being is about presence and mindfulness. Doing is future-oriented and goal-directed, while being is present-oriented and focused in the moment.
For me, I have learned that it is hard for me to “be,” and it is much more comfortable for me to “do.”
I think about the next milestone and struggle to sit in gratitude for what I/we have accomplished.
I feel sad when I acknowledge this affliction, and I also feel excited that I have this disposition, because it is what propels me and motivates me to continue to do hard things. It sucks that having a mental model of “I am not good enough” drives me to push harder, and it also serves as a damn good motivator.
I hope that over the next five years I can find a more peaceful balance between doing versus being and experience more happiness and satisfaction.
There will be a lot of noise
I think there is a correlation between a company’s material success and how many people give you their opinion on how you should be operating it. Seriously, the more our team has accomplished, the more we hear from people who either:
- Tell us all the things we are doing wrong and how we should change;
- Attack us for reasons that don’t always feel logical or coherent; or
- Sabotage our progress by instilling their ego in the process.
Whether it be competitors, the wrong hires, investors … Everyone will have an opinion. Listening, learning, and making decisions amidst this noise is a skill I continue to hone.
Building in public is the way
Founding and growing CarEdge has taught me a crucial lesson: I can only lead with transparency and authenticity. Over the past five years, there have been moments when I felt misaligned with my own values. When those moments arose, I learned to lean into the criticism and use it as a catalyst for change. Every misstep, every tough critique, became an opportunity to realign our mission and build a stronger, more resilient company culture.
It’s all about delivering, nothing else matters
Winning teams deliver shit. Plain and simple.
Making mistakes is the fun part (it’s about the journey, not the destination)
I have fucked up so many things building CarEdge. Easily we’ve lost $1-2m because of wrong decisions I have made. AND you know what? We wouldn’t be where we are today without those lessons learned. Mistakes are the fun part. What a privilege it is to go through tough shit and come out stronger and better off on the other side.
Work with people you like
Gamechanger: work can be FUN and you can surround yourself with people you enjoy spending time with. I am not saying you should hire “yes” people … Far from it. You should hire people you want to actually spend time with. When your company is less fairly small (say less than 100 people) you have the privilege of knowing everyone. Work with people who make showing up at the office fun and engaging!
Looking ahead
Reflecting on CarEdge’s growth from $0 to $10M in annual revenue over these five years fills me with gratitude. Every challenge, every mistake, and every hard-won victory has helped shape who I am as an entrepreneur, a leader, and a person.
For all the early-stage entrepreneurs out there: take that first step, stay true to yourself, and remember that your value goes far beyond what any balance sheet can capture. Embrace the noise, build in public, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes—they are the building blocks of success.
Thank you for being a part of this journey with CarEdge. Here’s to the next five years of growth, learning, and becoming more than we ever imagined.