The Hustle Nearly Broke Me—Here's What Healed Me

Aug 19, 2025
3 min read

Mathew Blades

There are some truths about having a successful modern entrepreneurship. One of them is that you have to put in the work. Long hours, loose boundaries, and doing your best to keep it all together. The problem with that is that it only works til it doesn’t. Let’s put that another way, it's a terrible long term strategy.

After hustling for 28 years as a radio and television personality my body and mind were about to give up completely. After my third nocturnal panic attack I found myself in the ER looking for answers. Why? Because my father died from sudden cardiac death at just 47 and I am always concerned that his fate will be mine. After all the cardiac tests you can imagine, the doctor walked into my room at 2:37 pm to say the words that changed my life.

He said, “You’re fine, there is nothing physically wrong with you.” Sure didn’t feel like it.

I knew in my heart it was time for me to get to work on myself mentally and spiritually ASAP.

Five days later I took a leave from my morning radio show and checked into a mental and spiritual retreat, which caught the attention of Howard Stern, saying “Maybe I should take a play from his book.” I give it up to Howard, he was very kind and supportive of my decision. It meant a lot to me that he said those things.

In the spirit of time, allow me to skip ahead to the good stuff from that life giving retreat.

The retreat completely changed my operating system. It was like one of the massive upgrades from your favorite app that just makes the experience SO much better. My “AHA” moment was when I learned about something called the Transitional Character. The idea of the TC is this: It's someone who was sent here to end dysfunction in themselves to make life better for everyone that comes after you with your last name. If that sounds heavy, I get it. Try to reframe it to a super power - one that becomes your guiding light. That is how I live my life now.

The one essential component of the TC is that he/she/they has to take care of THEMSELVES.

I'm not talking about mani/pedis or wings and beer with the guys, I'm talking about taking care of your health (physically, mentally and spiritually) as well as setting down old stories and grudges that are holding you back. Get to the doctor, take that test, go see a therapist or opt into a mental retreat and make sure you check in with yourself spiritually. I’ve checked every box since that retreat and I have not had a single panic attack since July 12, 2021. My back pain is non-existent and I’m locked in physically, mentally and spiritually. It feels so good. It feels like freedom. I want this feeling for every person I meet.

Look, modern entrepreneurship has the capacity for you to take a day off to take care of yourself. I love when I see the email auto-reply that says, "I'm taking a mental health day, get back to you tomorrow." If I’m honest, it makes me want to do business with that person even more. I want to be around people who understand the value of taking a break when they really need to. Self-care in business is a positive, not a negative, and that is a modern concept. There is still room for the hustle, the busy calendar and the go go go mentality, but there is also plenty of room for you to just be be be.

A path of remembrance, of reconnection, of real healing.

Reach out below, and let’s begin this journey together.

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