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I wanted to be Mark Zuckerberg, but I became Mark FATkerberg instead.

I wanted to be rich. I believed that If I had money, people would love me. So, I worked hard.

That was around 2012 after watching The Social Network and reading Lean Startup and ReWork.

I knew how to code. I had ideas. I was ready.

A friend of mine told me about an idea he had at that time. It was cool. He was super excited. He managed to get $100K from investors, and then I was excited.

I left my job and started working right away on it. We were ready to dominate the world selling photos printed on canvases —I’m not joking.

We were making big plans and thinking about negotiating with IKEA when they found our idea.

We were scared because we needed to create the best online shop in the world to handle the massive amount of orders that we thought we would get.

He was a designer —I hope he is still alive, we didn’t talk anymore after this— and all the technical stuff was on me.

I created a website where you could design a canvas. Change the colors, upload your photos, add effects, select the size, and send it to the printer. It was pretty cool. It took me around six months to build…

And my health.

But I didn’t care. I thought: that’s fine, as soon as I finish this, I will take care of the other things.

So I worked. And Worked. And Worked… and I ate chocolate croissants while working. Four or five in the morning, four or five in the afternoon, and who knows how many in the evening. I was stress. I worked for 16h a day. Every day.

I didn’t walk. I didn’t exercise. I ate garbage.

But, It was ok. I was about to be rich. Printing photos on canvas was about to make me rich. So rich that I wouldn’t have to work ever again.

I remember that we were having conversations about being the best startup in the world. We were really expecting calls from Mark Zuckerberg: Guys, stop everything you are doing. Move NOW to San Francisco and bring those canvases here. Here is some cash, rent a mansion. Bring everyone!

We were talking about moving to San Francisco, for real. I remember checking the houses. “20K per month” NO PROBLEM. We have a startup about printing photos on canvases. We will be fine.

What happened with that project? It’s so sad that I don’t have the energy to tell you now. But, have you seen printing canvas on-demand on IKEA?

Now > Tomorrow

After this, I had some money saved and went on a trip around southeast Asia.

Well, I don’t really know who went on that trip, but not me.

Fat José went. I hope he had fun.

When I check my photos from those days, I feel anxious. I can’t recognize myself.

I want to share 3 lessons from those days that I take very serious now:

Be around people who don’t let you eat 15 croissants a day.

My coworkers, my ex-girlfriend, and my friends from those days never said anything to me.

I was getting fat, and they didn’t say anything.

It’s was my fault. It’s always your fault.

But sometimes we have weak moments, and if you can be around people who tell you the truth, even if it hurts, you will be better in the future.

Don’t postpone your current happiness for your future happiness.

It doesn’t make sense to work 16h a day for six months.

You can do the same working 6h a day for 2 years, and that’s fine.

Do not try to do everything in a couple of months. There is no rush. Don’t work hard, at least not extra hard. It’s never worth it.

Never stop moving or eating well to work.

I didn’t move.

Now I walk 10K steps every day. I do weights four times a week. I eat healthily. I am a different person.

Do not make your day from your desk to your couch, from pizza to croissants. If you are doing that now, don’t. Believe me…Or when you are ready to go for an adventure Fat José is going to go instead of you, and you will regret it.

  1. 7

    Where is the photo of the FATkerberg?

    1. 1

      Because do you think I wasn't fat enough?

      EDIT: I put the before and after on my Twitter.

      1. 1

        Is that a trick question?

        1. 1

          Nope, I thought yours was. My apologies.

  2. 6

    IH is about helping each other and lifting each other up, not tearing each other down. This applies even when speaking about ourselves. I would argue, ESPECIALLY when talking about ourselves. It's ok to vent and discuss our struggles. But would you say these things about someone else? What purpose would it serve? IMO this is a post that was intended to be about personal growth ("I learned that physical health is important to my mental health and not worth sacrificing for your business.") but instead it's about shaming yourself and subsequently anyone else in a similar situation.

    I don't know if this post violates the community guidelines, but just throwing it out there that I don't think this kind of content belongs on IHs.

    1. 5

      A community guideline against advising not to eat 10 chocolate croissants a day? Yeah sure ... This is real life you know? You can get pretty ill from that and die. But let's not put people off, IH is all about support and encouragement. Sometimes it's also good to take the pink glasses off and get real, because when you meet real challenges you won't be ready for it. This post didn't feel like shaming to me, maybe someone will actually stop for a second and do some exercise after that. Maybe me.

    2. 3

      No offense meant, but it seems like you're shaming @jrleonr for sharing how he felt about himself, in the manner which he feels best represents (or represented) his feelings at the time.

      Why would he need to put a positive "spin" on it if he didn't truly feel that way?

      There is no right or wrong way to express yourself. There are ways that some people prefer, but that doesn't make it right or wrong.

      The idea that his post violates some community guideline is absurd to me.

      That said, I equally respect your right to provide your pov/opinion in the manner in which you presented it.

      @jrleonr - I support what you're doing.

    3. 1

      Do you know how many times people say: you have to do this and this and this?

      But they say it because they read it somewhere. Find an audience, stay healthy, walk more, validate your idea!

      Those are empty statements without stories.

      This is real. It happened to me. And there is a lot of humor and laughing about myself here.

      It would be best if you laugh about yourself, or there is no progress.

      Other people maybe are in the same situation, but at the beginning and this post can make them reflect and take care of themselves.

      Do you prefer posts like: hey! This is Jose. I have a new project you need to check out. This is the URL. Thanks!

      There are many of those. I don't see how a post like that is lifting you.

      "violates the community guidelines" feels a bit strong statement to say.

      .

      1. 2

        Totally, those are valid points, and I'm sure there are folks that will appreciate and be able to relate to your story. I think what @allison is saying though, and I could be wrong, is that we can still share these same stories, but without feeling like we need to punish ourselves, or be disappointed in ourselves, and we can instead frame these stories around a positive change we made.

        We don't always need to talk about good things, and we should feel comfortable in discussing the hard parts of life, but we can make sure we do that in a healthy way, and not a way that is centered around shame. Just my 2¢!

        1. 1

          I find it hard to find any of that in my essay.

          I called myself fat a couple of o times. That's pretty much it.

          The rest was a mix of stories about ourselves, thinking that we were about to be rich from today's perspective, and it makes me laugh really hard.

          Looking for houses in SF? It makes me laugh.

          I don't really see where is the hard or negative part of the essay. It was hard. And we were fools.

          And I just told 10% of the story. The reality is much worse.

          PS. I was fat.

          1. 1

            Yeah I hear you, I don't necessarily think that the stuff you were saying was too negative, or unhealthy. I was just suggesting what the other poster had meant, which I also agree with. Either way, I appreciate your perspective that you brought to the post. I think it's important to be comfortable looking back on how silly we can be when we get ahead of ourselves, and I'm glad you found it in yourself to make such healthy changes. Im v jealous of some of the habits you've cultivated!

            1. 1

              Thanks! I appreciate your thoughts and honesty.

              I also understand the other comments, but since I was the one writing, I should tell my story my way!

              Have a beautiful day!

  3. 3

    I don't believe when people say they work for 16 hours a day. People on WakaTime leaderboard max out 14 hours and that's a LOT. So I don't know what is the need to exaggerate. I worked for 10-12 hours one week straight and then I was burnt out and couldn't even look at the PC.

  4. 2

    Damn if you call that guy in the picture fat, you should call me Mark XXLckerberg

    1. 1

      Hey! Well, I put 25Kg in 6 months. I think that's a very, very bad thing to do.

      I was really skinny. You only have to compare yourself with yourself and try to be your best version.

      I hope this post helps you to think if you should change anything!

  5. 1

    I'm almost certain I've heard/read this story before.

  6. 1

    @jrleonr Every time I see your headline on IH it grabs me in and I read your whole article. Keep up the good work in writing.

    1. 1

      Thanks! I am glad to hear it!

  7. 6

    This comment was deleted a year ago.

    1. 1

      It has a bit of everything.

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