🏆 The Power of Community

This post is dedicated to Artem Tepler’s family — and the beautiful community response his life inspired.

Today’s edition of Local Legends takes a moment to honor a profound loss and the powerful communal response it ignited.

We dedicate this issue to Artem Tepler’s family and to the remarkable solidarity shown by our community in the face of tragedy.

In the days since his loss, our usual exchanges of achievements and success stories on Twitter gave way to a shared experience of mourning and vulnerability. This collective heartbreak has not only brought us closer but has also opened up a much-needed dialogue about the often unspoken struggles behind entrepreneurial success.

As we process this loss together, I am reminded of the true power of community – its ability to unite us in times of sorrow and to foster a space for vulnerability and support.

This edition is a tribute to that power.

Thank you for joining me in this reflection. Regular programming will resume next week.

- Chase

The Power of Community

Last week, an active Twitter community member took his life.

Artem Tepler's passing, announced by Moses Kagan, pierced the heart of our network.

For days, our timelines shared a collective moment of heartbreak.

I didn’t know Artem personally, but his death struck a deep chord.

Hundreds of tweets over several days shed light on the painful, dark place he’d been in.

Artem struggled with depression.

He was a successful real estate developer and general contractor and, like many of us, bore the weight of personally guaranteed debt.

Rising interest rates and a tumultuous commercial real estate market caused some large projects to go sideways.

I don’t know the details. I can only imagine.

He left behind a beautiful wife and a 2-year-old daughter.

Artem’s story felt like a mirror — reflecting a community’s deepest entrepreneurial fears.

His story is a haunting reminder of the 1,000 potential doors we face when we step into the arena of risk and ambition.

Artem’s path ended at the most feared door. The one none of us think it likely, but know is possible — where everything collapses publicly and painfully.

His story resonates because it could have been any of us. We opt into that possibility by stepping into the arena. And in a gut-wrenching way…it happened to a community leader we looked up to. Someone smart, kind, and with a great playbook.

It doesn’t feel fair.

Failure is Normal, Yet Often Unspoken

Our community doesn't often talk about failure.

Especially not on platforms like Twitter, where highlight reels are the norm.

This silence breeds a culture of shame. Shame around a very normal part of the human experience.

Coupled with personal struggles like depression, these pressures can become unbearable.

Artem’s story is a stark illustration of how quickly circumstances can spiral, especially in an unstable economic climate.

Like everyone else, my emotions have been raw. It’s been hard to process.

I feel for his wife and his daughter. I feel for his friends, his family, and his colleagues. No pain should be so excruciating.

My friend Reg put this well: “Suicide is a long-term solution to a short-term problem.”

But the problem is when you’re in the thick of your world collapsing in around you…failure sure doesn’t feel like short-term problem.

It feels existential. Personal.

From a friend, Kory Stevens:

A Community’s Beautiful Response

In response to Artem's passing, our Twitter feeds transformed.

Highlight reels were set aside for story after story of personal struggles, failures, and vulnerabilities.

It was a collective embrace of the often-unspoken aspects of our lives as entrepreneurs. It was a group recognition that it was important to share the vulnerability parts too.

The L’s. The risk. The pressure and the stress.

We owe it to Artem and thousands of others struggling to make sharing our failures and struggle more normal.

I’ll reference my friend Kory again:

The tweets I’ve read have been inspiring — a beautiful silver lining after a somber few days.

My Own Brush With Failure…And Shame

I want to share a chapter from my life, a time of profound and harrowing failure, not just to tell my story, but to connect with anyone who has navigated the tumultuous aftermath of a career setback.

This is about understanding that you're not alone in such experiences and recognizing the light at the end of the tunnel.

This shared narrative is more than just about personal challenges; it's about the disorienting, often irrational journey one undergoes in the face of professional adversity.

It’s a type of experience whose depth and impact are difficult to comprehend unless you've been through it yourself.

In my early twenties, leading a rapidly growing startup, I encountered a crisis that shook the very foundations of my world.

I founded a company that was my everything — it represented blood, sweat, and tears.

We had dozens of employees and were opening new markets in new states. We seemed to be on the brink of something great.

The week before I was fired from my own company, I found myself in Shanghai, facing a manufacturing crisis that threatened everything.

I had my first panic attack I’ve ever had in a hotel in Shanghai. When it hit, I thought I was having a heart attack and stepped into the hallway.

If I collapsed, surely someone would find me. I fell asleep, and hours later I woke up and went into my room to fall asleep.

The next day, I yelled at enough people and worked to solve the problem. I was “leading” like an asshole.

This was maybe the last mistake our company could afford to make.

After patching the problem, I flew home. I drove straight from the airport to the board meeting.

As a young CEO, I found myself at a crossroads: overwhelmed and scarcely equipped with the tools necessary to steer the company through this crucial phase.

When I walked into the board room, everyone was already seated. In front of me was my buyout and severance agreement.

Exhausted and defeated, I signed the paperwork and drove home.

In the wake of my failure, I grappled with a level of confusion and irrationality I'd never known.

My entire sense of self was so deeply entwined with the business that when it fell apart, it felt as though I had lost myself entirely.

The company was more than just a business to me. It embodied my identity, my aspirations, and my life's purpose. I had invested every waking hour, called in every possible favor from my friends, family, and network.

When it all unraveled — it felt like an existential crisis.

It seemed as if my failure was on display for the world to see, amplifying every shred of self-doubt and insecurity I had.

In the throes of this downfall, rational thinking was a casualty.

It becomes a vicious cycle. A downward spiral of irrational thoughts and emotions. If I’m being honest, I felt broken for years.

Guidance for Those in the Arena

My journey from a failed CEO to where I am now has been full of introspection and learning.

While my experience was different, lacking the burden of personally guaranteed debt or the struggle and disease of depression — it taught me lessons that might resonate with you, especially in times of difficulty.

I learned that in the depths of perceived failure, your way out feels insurmountable.

Yet, it's crucial to remember that these moments are deeply personal and unique. My story isn't Artem's, nor is it yours. Each path has its nuances, and every struggle has layers that might not be immediately apparent.

However, there is always hope. The darkest times often lead to unexpected avenues of support and understanding.

Here are some insights that helped me navigate my journey:

  1. Perspective Shifts with Time: Looking back, I now see the value in experiences I once deemed as failures. They were, in fact, essential steps in my growth.

  2. Embracing Life's Dualities: Dr. Richard Carlson's wisdom rings true: "Things are never as good as they seem and never as bad as they seem." Pain is what allows us to feel joy. Failure is what opens the door for success. The highs feel so high and the lows feel so low — what matters is taking that next step ahead.

  3. Work is Not Your Full Identity: This realization brings a profound sense of liberation. When you start to view your work as just one aspect of your life, rather than the entirety of your identity, it changes how you approach your work.

  4. Value in Every Experience: Even the most challenging times have something to teach us. Viewing difficult periods as opportunities for growth can transform our approach to life and work.

If you're navigating similar challenges, know that these insights are shared in the hope they might guide and comfort you. Here are six tactical steps I recommend:

  1. Seek Your Tribe: Leadership can be a lonely road. Find your peer group – those who empathize with your struggles and celebrate your victories. This is about creating a support system where honesty and vulnerability are not just accepted but valued.

  2. Embrace Therapy: Regular therapy has been transformative for me. Consider it an emotional workout, strengthening your resilience and mental agility, not just for crises but for daily challenges.

  3. Find a Coach: My executive coach has been more than just a business guide. She’s helped me navigate personal challenges, offering clarity and unbiased feedback. Such guidance can be invaluable in maintaining balance and perspective.

  4. Cultivate External Friendships: Relationships outside your business sphere are crucial. They keep you grounded, reminding you there’s a world beyond spreadsheets and strategy meetings.

  5. Encourage Vulnerability: Change the narrative. Share your struggles alongside your successes. It’s in our shared vulnerabilities that we forge deeper connections and a more understanding community. I can do better here, and I will.

  6. Don't Over-Identify with Your Work: It's easy to equate self-worth with professional success, but remember, there's more to life than work. You are more than your latest project or your business’s bottom line. Work is just one aspect of who you are, not the entirety.

Reaching Out to Those Struggling

If you feel overwhelmed, know you can reach out to me.

Mental health is not a solo battle. My line is always open at 801-369-6941, along with numerous support systems:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: A national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States.

Phone: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

Crisis Text Line: Offers free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. By texting with a trained Crisis Counselor, individuals can find support and guidance.

Text: HOME to 741741 (USA), 686868 (Canada), 85258 (UK)

BetterHelp: An online platform providing access to licensed therapists for counseling and support. BetterHelp offers a convenient way to receive therapy via messaging, chat, phone, or video.

The Power of Our Community

As we reflect on Artem's story and the outpouring of shared experiences, let's recognize the power we hold as a community. Our stories, our struggles, they aren't just individual battles; they are collective experiences that can bring us together.

Let us take this tragedy not just as a moment of mourning, but as a call to action.

Reach out to those around you, engage in honest conversations, share your failures and fears.

Let’s re-commit to dropping the highlight reel occasionally. In moments of vulnerability, we can find our greatest strength.

The GoFundMe for Artem's family is more than a fundraiser; it's a symbol of our collective empathy and support. It’s a reminder that in our community, no one faces darkness alone.

The fundraiser donations are astounding — and a testament to our community’s strength:

If you feel inclined to donate, click here.

As we move forward, let's do so with a renewed commitment to each other.

Let's build a community where struggle is normalized, and support is unconditional.

Remember to reach out to those around you. Remember to give grace and patience and love. You never know who needs it.

Until next time, and with love and thoughts of resilience,

-Chase

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