Time to Get My Sh*t Together: Life After a Stent

Let’s face it, I need to get my sh*t together. I’m 57 years old, I run two small businesses—a winery and an advertising agency—but the truth is, I’m a mess. And not in the “I didn’t organize my sock drawer” kind of way. More like, “I had a 99% blocked artery, got a stent, and still haven’t fully woken up to reality.”

Health? What’s that? Working out? I can’t remember the last time I did more than lift a wine bottle or shuffle a stack of papers at my desk. Sugar? Let me just admit I’m fully addicted. I don’t crave a nice balanced meal; I crave sweets like I’m in an unhealthy relationship with donuts. This isn't sustainable.

The Wake-Up Call: Stent Time

I should’ve known better. You hear stories about clogged arteries, but you never really think you’re the guy. Then, bam, one day you’re sitting in a hospital room because you’ve got a 99% blocked artery. Reality smacks you in the face. I get the stent, and yeah, that’s a life-saver. But you know what? That’s supposed to be the wake-up call—the one that has you eating kale salads and doing yoga on a mountaintop the next day.

So, a year has passed, and what did I do? Well, I cut out red meat and stopped drinking. Progress, right? I figured those were the two big culprits. And yeah, I’m sure that’s helped, but I haven’t really tackled the bigger picture.

Sugar: My Toxic Best Friend

If I had to be honest, my real problem is sugar. It's my kryptonite. And I don’t mean I just toss an extra spoonful into my coffee. I mean it’s got a hold on me like a bad Netflix binge—you know it’s not good for you, but once you start, you just keep going. Cookies, cakes, blow pops —you name it, I’m into it.

But sugar’s not just screwing up my health—it’s killing my energy and productivity. I own two businesses that need my full attention, and I feel like I’m running on fumes because of these sugar highs and crashes. Running a winery and an ad agency is no small feat. I need to be sharp, energetic, and focused—and that’s not happening if I’m in a carb coma by 3 PM.

The Fitness Black Hole

Here’s the part where I’m supposed to tell you I’m getting into the gym again. Except, nope, not happening. The last time I had a serious workout, people were still renting movies from Blockbuster. (Well, not exactly, but you get the point) I know I need to change that. It’s just getting started that’s the hardest part. And, sadly, I have a complete gym literally in the room next to my office, just about 3 steps from where I'm currently sitting. But when you run two businesses, every free second gets sucked into the black hole of “I’ll do it later.” Except later never comes, and here I am, wondering why my body feels like an old Chevy that’s overdue for a tune-up.

Finances? Let’s Not Even Go There

Oh, and don’t even get me started on finances. Running two businesses means always playing catch-up, and I’ve realized that “winging it” is not a financial strategy. I need to get more organized, plan for the future, and stop acting like I have an endless supply of cash flow when, spoiler alert: I don’t.

Time to Step It Up

So, here’s the plan. I’m 57 years old, and while getting a stent was a wake-up call, it wasn’t the only one I needed. But's it's been a year, my anniversary of almost dying, now is the time. If I don’t start taking care of my health, cutting sugar, working out, and focusing on my finances, then what’s the point of running these businesses? I need to be at my best—mentally, physically, and financially.

• Cut the sugar: This is going to suck, but it’s non-negotiable.

• Start working out: Even if it’s just a walk on that treadmill that's 5 steps from my office chair, it’s something.

• Focus on finances: No more flying by the seat of my pants.

  
  

It’s time to get my sh*t together. Because if I don’t, who will?

Oh, and I'm writing this to hold myself accountable. Stay tuned.