Time off or the top of TechCrunch?

Why there’s more to life than dominating the tech news

Originally published on JOTFORM.COM

Nearly two decades of entrepreneurship have taught me many lessons, including this one:

All thoughts of startup growth or conversion rates slip away when you’re picking olives.

View from the top of an olive tree on my family’s hometown in Turkey.

Every year, I take at least a full week off from my company, JotForm, and head back to my hometown to help with the olive harvest.

I know that olive picking won’t land me at the top of TechCrunch, but it’s a personal measure of success.

I wouldn’t miss it for anything — and I’ve structured my business to ensure that I can be there. There’s nothing like standing high on a ladder, toiling next to people you love, to help you remember what matters most.

It’s meditative and calming. And it’s surprisingly hard work.