Foxhole Friday: Vol. 7

Finding Balance: Lessons from Europe on Work, Life, and Mental Health

Living in Spain this summer taught me something Americans desperately need to understand: the critical importance of balance and quality of life. While our grind culture has its merits, it comes with devastating downsides that manifest in widespread burnout and mental health struggles. We’ve created a society that never allows us to unplug, to give ourselves the mental space needed to think, reflect, digest our experiences, and heal from the very wounds that constant grinding creates. The European approach offers a different path—one where people prioritize time for family, friends, and themselves without apology.

The key to breaking free from this destructive cycle lies in knowing two fundamental things: your “why” and your “number.” Your why is the deeper purpose driving your efforts. For me, it’s building my company to a point where I can be mostly hands-off, allowing me to focus on being the best possible father and husband I can be. Because at the end of the day, if you don’t have family, you have nothing. Your “number” is that financial target that, with proper investment returns, allows you to live comfortably off interest alone without touching the principal. These two anchors provide both meaning and a concrete endpoint to the hustle.

The practical application is simple but revolutionary: Set hard boundaries and honor them. Choose a time each day to be completely done with work,whether that’s 5 p.m. or another time that works for you. Put down your phone, pour that glass of wine, go for that run, and spend time not just with your family, but with yourself. 

From an American perspective, Europeans might appear to work less, but perhaps the real question isn’t whether they’re working enough - it’s whether we’re living enough?

John J. Radzwilla
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Guest Excerpt
from Talon Smith
Chief Fleet Marine Force Hospital Corpsman, Owner L3 HYROX

During my deployment in 2011 and2012, I was beyond excited. That might sound strange to some, but I wanted this experience more than anything. Ever since I watched the 9/11 attacks unfold while sitting in my middle school social studies class, I felt a calling. Going to fight became my sole focus.

When I arrived in Afghanistan, I imagined a constant flow of combat. I was ready, eager, and prepared for action. But the reality was different from what I’d imagined.

In the first 30 days, I conducted over 70 patrols and participated in two major operations. Yet, I hadn’t been in a single firefight. I witnessed one, came very close in some situations, but nothing major ever happened. It left me with this sinking feeling that all my training and preparation had been for nothing. I was disappointed, almost lost in the monotony of waiting for something to happen.

Then came the moment when we operated behind enemy lines, and that’s when things got interesting. The waiting was over, and everything changed. My training kicked in, and I quickly realized that when I did engage in combat, I was beyond prepared. My actions came naturally. I didn’t hesitate, didn’t overthink; I just did my job, and I did it well. The countless hours of preparation, drills, and discipline all paid off. It felt almost effortless, because I was ready.

Oddly enough, I found I preferred being in actual combat. Why? Because the waiting—the in-between time—was far worse. While waiting, my mind would race, imagining scenarios and outcomes that never happened. But in the moment of action, I was calm, focused, and fully present.

That realization taught me a valuable lesson: When we are actively engaged in life—working toward a goal or purpose—we don’t have time to get stuck in overthinking. We are too focused on the task at hand, and that focus brings a sense of clarity and peace. But when we are stagnant, when nothing is happening, our thoughts can spiral, making us feel lost or unfulfilled.

Here are the key takeaways:

1. Sometimes, what you work so hard for may not be what you expected. That doesn’t mean your effort or passion is wasted. The purpose is still there, you just have to find it.

2. Preparation makes all the difference. When the moment came for me to do my job, I was ready. Hard work and dedication to your craft will always pay off when it matters most.

3. Staying active and engaged in life is crucial. Stagnation, whether physical or mental, can lead us to question our direction or lose our sense of purpose. Keep moving forward, even when it’s hard, and stay focused on living with intention.

As I reflect on this experience, I realize life is much like combat: it’s unpredictable and often not what we expect, but it’s the moments of action, of pushing forward, that bring us clarity and fulfillment.

'Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.' – Helen Keller

What are we reading?

Choose Your Enemies Wisely by Patrick Bet-David

Patrick Bet-David's Choose Your Enemies Wisely guides entrepreneurs to harness emotional drive against doubters to fuel business success. Through 12 Business Building Blocks, it blends logic and emotion, emphasizing long-term vision, strong culture, and strategic enemy selection for exponential growth. Ideal for visionaries.