Entrepreneurs and founders are great at building businesses, but often struggle with rebuilding themselves. I know, because for years I was the guy running on fumes, hiding behind accomplishments, and pretending I had it together while my life quietly fell apart.
This isn’t just a story about burnout or a midlife crisis. It’s about men rebuilding their lives – starting with radical self-acceptance, moving into radical self-care, and ultimately stepping into radical self-actualization.
I shared the full story in this YouTube episode, but today I want to lay it bare in writing. Because if you’re a man who looks successful on paper but feels empty in real life, this is for you.
My Old Script: From Self-Loathing to Burnout
For decades, my inner compass was broken. Instead of self-acceptance, I lived with deep self-loathing. No matter how much I achieved—building a church, coaching leaders, raising a family—it was never enough.
Instead of self-care, I lived on fumes. I gave what little I had away, trying to prove my worth to everyone else, while silently bleeding out inside.
Instead of self-actualization, I managed partial activation at best. I could turn it on for a stage, a coaching session, or a podcast-but behind the curtain, I felt like a fraud.
Entrepreneurs and founders know this grind: success at the expense of self. Money in the bank, but nothing left in the tank.
The Crash: When Pretending Doesn’t Work Anymore
I burned out. More than once. My marriages collapsed. Panic attacks knocked me to the floor. On the outside, I looked like a leader. On the inside, I was crumbling.
And like many men, I told no one. Silence felt safer than shame. I believed the lie that vulnerability was weakness, so I hid behind work, achievements, and a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.
But hiding has a cost. And eventually, you can’t pay the bill anymore.
The Shift: Radical Self-Acceptance
Everything changed the day I realized I deserved a great life. Not because I’d earned it. Not because I was perfect. But simply because I was human.
That’s where men rebuilding their lives must begin: radical self-acceptance.
For me, that meant facing my failures without letting them define me. Naming my shame instead of burying it. Looking in the mirror and saying: I am enough. I am worthy. I don’t have to pretend anymore.
Self-acceptance isn’t a finish line; it’s a starting point. And it’s the foundation for everything that came next.
The Next Step: Radical Self-Care
When you’ve spent most of your life in self-loathing, caring for yourself feels selfish. But it’s not. It’s survival.
I began practicing what I now call radical self-care:
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Setting boundaries around my time and energy.
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Fueling my body with rest, movement, and better food.
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Learning to say “no” to things that drained me.
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Allowing joy without guilt.
This wasn’t surface-level self-care. It was rebuilding from the ground up. It was about learning to fill my tank so I could stop running on empty.
Entrepreneurs, founders, men – we are terrible at this. We’ll protect the business at all costs, but when it comes to protecting ourselves, we often shrug it off until it’s too late.
From Surviving to Thriving: Radical Self-Actualization
Self-acceptance lit the spark. Self-care gave me fuel. But the real transformation came in what I call radical self-actualization: becoming the fullest version of myself.
For me, that looked like:
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Rebuilding my life around service and joy.
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Speaking openly about my failures instead of hiding them.
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Leading men through The Foundry: a community where we stop pretending and start rebuilding together.
This stage isn’t about perfection. It’s about integration. I no longer have to split my life into public and private selves. I get to show up whole.
Why This Matters: Men Rebuilding Their Lives Together
The stats are brutal: men over 40 face rising rates of depression, heart disease, and suicide. Founders and entrepreneurs top the charts for burnout and broken relationships.
And yet we suffer in silence.
That’s why The Foundry exists. Not as therapy, not as a quick fix, but as a band of brothers committed to rebuilding our lives together.
When men rebuild their lives with radical honesty, self-care, and brotherhood, we don’t just save ourselves. We change the trajectory for our families, businesses, and communities.
Call to Action
If you’re tired of running on empty…
If you’re done pretending you’re fine when you’re not…
If you know it’s time to stop self-destructing and start rebuilding your life…
👉 Check out The Foundry: foundry4men.com.
👉 Watch the full story on YouTube.
👉 Or start with one small step: practice radical self-acceptance today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is The Foundry therapy?
A: No. It’s a community of men committed to honest conversation, practical tools, and real accountability. Therapy can complement the work-we’re pro-help.
Q: Can men outside Ottawa join?
A: Absolutely. We’re building for men globally with digital experiences plus selective in-person gatherings.
Q: What if I’ve tried opening up before and got burned?
A: There are no guarantees, but this space is led by men who go first, tell the truth, and protect the room.
Q: How much time does this take?
A: Start small: read, listen, join a call, meet a few men. The right next step is the one you’ll actually take.
Eric Deschamps
Creator of The Foundry and Master Coach at rhapsodystrategies.com
Eric Deschamps helps high-performing men rebuild their lives from the inside out. The Foundry isn’t for every man. It’s for the ones ready to get honest, go deep, and do the work. If that’s you, join us here.