Friends,

Do you ever get whiplash from going 100 miles per hour to zero in a short space of time?

That’s where you find me now. The 31st of July was the culmination of months of intense work resulting in what was the inaugural Startup People Summit (PS: it was amazing).

Then just a few short days after, I had my wisdom teeth removed… yep, talk about a celebration.

But what it did do, is force me to take the whole week off after the big event to recover.

Aside from being semi-zonked on painkillers, the break has actually been kinda nice. Forced downtime is always hard (I get complacent easily) but now that I'm nearing the end of it, I can tell how much I needed it.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned this year, it’s that I’ve been letting my work routine get the better of me. It’s always hard when you’re trying to build something new. Doubly so when you enjoy it.

But now I realise that I need to focus more on building a lifestyle I can enjoy for the long term. I’m definitely thinking about how I can adjust my work hours in 2026 in an attempt to balance a successful business with a lifestyle I enjoy.

Something like 6 hours per day, 4 days per week feels feels good for me personally.

I had a part time job once (4 days per week) and it was honestly the best. Nothing beats 3 day weekends. It's the perfect amount of time to get through those boring adult chores, do something fun, and enjoy some decent downtime to recover.

Have you ever worked a pattern like that before? If you have, I'd love to know how it worked for you.

Ok, over to this week's edition, with some of the best stories and articles I've come across this past month.

Matt

Welcome to The Wrap Up, a monthly digest of interesting news in and around startup compensation, and what it means for you.