Success has a way of rewriting expectations. From the outside, building and selling a seven-figure agency looks like the finish line. Financial freedom. Validation. Proof that the effort was worth it.
For Chris TzitzisIt wasn’t that easy.
Chris talks about selling his SEO and link building agency and why the decision came with emotions he didn’t expect. What he shares is not a business case study. It is a personal reckoning.
The cost of building something big
Chris spent years building an agency that many people in the industry admired. Customers trusted his work. Sales grew. The business worked.
But behind the scenes, the demands of running and scaling an agency were quietly taking their toll. Long hours. Constant responsibility. There was little mental space for anything else.
Like many founders, Chris assumed this was temporary. Sacrifice now, enjoy life later.
Later came and clarity did not come.
Success without presence
One of the most striking moments in the conversation is when Chris talks about his family, particularly his mother. As he focused on growth and achievement, time continued to pass. Moments passed that could no longer be recovered.
Selling the company forced him to come to terms with this reality.
Money solved practical problems, but it did not undo lost time or emotional distance. The sale didn’t feel like an end. It felt like a mirror.
Redefine what winning looks like
Chris doesn’t frame his decision as regret. He formulates it as consciousness.
He succeeded in what he set out to do. But the experience changed the way he defines success today, not in terms of sales milestones or business size, but in balancing work and home life.
This change is uncomfortable to talk about, especially in industries that glorify uninterrupted growth. Still, it’s a conversation that more founders are having quietly once the noise dies down.
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A message for builders and founders
This story resonates because it is honest. Not everyone will sell their company. Not everyone should do that. But almost everyone building something intense will experience a moment where they have to ask themselves:
What am I optimizing for?
Chris’ experience is a reminder that ambition doesn’t have to go away. All it takes is one direction. And sometimes the bravest move isn’t to push harder, but to step back and make a different choice.
