And so I felt stuck
All I can remember is a series of shock waves hitting us.
In October 2019, Lebanon was on the verge of an economic collapse. Banks shut down for two weeks, leaving the entire population without access to their accounts, including our customers. Overnight, we had to develop a new payment system in order to keep operating.
Six months later, COVID-19 hit the world, and our entire company went remote. We were still struggling with the financial crisis in our country and figuring out how 250 people would work from home, while simultaneously experiencing a sudden growth spurt and expanding to Iraq.
Another five months down the line, a large amount of chemicals stored at the Port of Beirut caused a massive explosion, hitting our headquarters’ city and leaving us, once again, in shock.
Like many delivery platforms back then, Toters was skyrocketing, so we had “good problems” to solve. But as our revenue and headcount were climbing, so was the pressure. At the same time, the external crises directly affected our balance, stability, and morale.
Some days were very lonely and overwhelming. I found myself becoming reactive and not intentional about what I had to do each day. I had a hard time prioritizing and left many tasks lingering for too long.
Our business was growing, but not necessarily in a sustainable way. I felt unhealthy, gaining weight and losing sight of my well-being. In hindsight, it’s clear that this all happened because those crises, one after another, left me numb, stuck, and frozen. Multiple shockwaves can leave us like a deer caught in the headlights.
I realized I had to find a new approach to scaling myself. Looking for a more balanced life, I went back to reading. I started with Blitzscaling by Reid Hoffman, which then led me to his Masters of Scale podcast. Every day, I listened to two episodes: one on my way to work, the other on my way back. I was originally looking for quick, actionable strategies to apply to Toters. By the end of the summer, I had listened to over 100 episodes. Bit by bit, this turned into a lot of knowledge.
A few months later, I knew more about scaling a company than when I first started. And so, I decided to apply the same daily consistency to other areas of my life.
I began my mornings with 30 minutes of exercise, doing chores around the house, and eating healthier. At first, I fell off the pull-up bar in my home a few times. I think I weighed too much! But eventually, those few minutes evolved into a daily fitness routine.
These morning habits became my armor for the day.
Now, when I get to the office at 8 am, I feel much stronger. This consistency gives me the confidence to know that I can control a big part of my life, even when countless other things are out of my control. If more shock waves come our way — and they always come — I’m ready.
In one of the Masters of Scale episodes, Reid Hoffman says that scaling up a company long-term is not about building a unicorn, but a phoenix. That idea really stuck with me. Growing a company in a place like Lebanon requires the ability to cope with adversity on a consistent basis. The instability in the market comes with the job.
To be resistant to daily challenges, you need to start from within. Building a routine gives us some control — when everything outside is out of our control.
My daily routine is now the armor I can use to fight whatever comes my way.
Sincerely,
Tamim
Untold is a collection of raw, personal stories from Endeavor founders, shedding light on the emotional challenges behind scaling a company, so other founders can better name the battles they’re facing, and find strength in the stories of those who’ve been there too.
The next Untold story will be released on Thursday, July 3rd.