Michael Gilmour was working long days trying to save a struggling business. At home, his young son set the dinner table and asked whether Dad would be joining them. Eventually, his wife told him something that changed his perspective: his son had stopped asking.
In this episode of The Complete Entrepreneur, Michael and Colin C. Campbell discussed the personal cost of building a business. Following a heart attack at 56, Colin was reconsidering how he approached his health and the pressure of entrepreneurship. Together, they explored what happens when work occupies every available hour—and how founders can begin to make room for life again.
“There’s something about the luxury of thinking for an entrepreneur.” — Michael Gilmour
Define What You Want Your Business to Give You
For Michael, the realization about his son led to a major change. He closed that business and later worked from home, making it possible to see his children when they returned from school.
His story raised a question that can get lost in discussions about growth: what is the business supposed to make possible for you?
The answer might be financial independence, meaningful work, more time with family, or the freedom to choose your schedule. It is worth checking whether the way you operate today is moving you toward that life. A goal that keeps requiring you to sacrifice what matters most deserves another look.
Give Your Health a Place on the Calendar
Colin described waking with upper-back pain that spread toward his chest. Although the discomfort was relatively mild, he sought hospital care and learned he had suffered a heart attack. The experience prompted him to reconsider years of putting work and wealth creation at the center of his attention.
That experience carries a practical reminder: health concerns cannot always wait until the calendar clears. The American Heart Association notes that some heart attacks begin with mild discomfort and advises calling 911 for warning signs, even when you are unsure. Heart attack warning signs.
Colin also shared how he was organizing information about sleep, activity, and blood pressure into a personal health dashboard. His approach was about paying more consistent attention to his health alongside care from his doctors. For founders accustomed to reviewing business performance every week, setting aside regular time for health is a useful place to start.
Recognize When Pressure Has Become Your Default
Both hosts acknowledged that challenges can be energizing. The concern was the relentlessness: thinking about problems at three in the morning, carrying them into family time, and feeling unable to switch off.
Michael said disrupted sleep sometimes prompted him to examine what was worrying him, even when he did not consciously feel overwhelmed. For him, talking things through helped identify decisions he had been putting off.
The American Heart Association describes how stress can affect sleep, energy, and everyday health behaviors. Looking at your own patterns can help you decide where you need support or a change in routine. Stress and heart health.
Let AI Reduce Work Without Setting Your Pace
AI introduced a tension both entrepreneurs recognized. Michael described using it to complete development work far faster than he had expected. Yet the pace of new tools also created pressure to keep learning and avoid falling behind.
Colin admitted that even while hospitalized, he was thinking about the technology he might be missing.
That is a useful moment of recognition for any founder. If a tool saves you time, consider where that time goes. Does it create room for recovery, or does it immediately become space for more work? Choose applications that solve real problems in your business, and give yourself permission to be selective about the rest.
Create a Transition Out of Work Mode
Ending the workday can take more intention when the business is always accessible. Colin discussed using familiar routines, including changing into comfortable clothes and spending time with his dog, to shift out of his work mindset.
A transition can be simple: a walk, putting your phone away during dinner, or making time for an activity that has nothing to do with the company. Choose something you can repeat and protect it in your schedule.
Michael also described taking time away to think. He first writes down the concerns and frustrations occupying his attention. Then he gives himself space to reflect before turning those thoughts into decisions. His sequence—write, pause, then plan—offers a starting point even if you only have a quiet hour available.
Make Room for Other People
One of the strongest points in the conversation was the importance of having someone to talk to. Michael described the role his wife plays in helping him work through concerns. Colin spoke about meeting with a psychologist after his health scare.
That support might come from a partner, a trusted peer, a mentor, or a mental health professional. Having a place to speak honestly matters, especially when you feel responsible for keeping everyone else confident.
You can start with one change: schedule the appointment, protect an evening with your family, or make time to talk through a concern you have been carrying alone. Entrepreneurship offers the possibility of shaping your own life. It is worth regularly checking that you are giving yourself space to live it.
Watch or listen to the full conversation with Colin C. Campbell and Michael Gilmour for more on the personal side of entrepreneurship. You can also read Colin’s six lessons following his heart attack.