Guillaume Baverel

I believe most outstanding accomplishments come from an out-of-proportion focus on one pursuit, often at the expense of everything else.

When I broke into commodity trading, I immersed myself fully. For the first few years, I worked relentlessly to prove myself. Somewhere along the way, I traded weightlifting, proper nutrition, and recovery for long hours and Friday evening drinks (sometimes not limited to Friday) as a release valve.

From the outside, things looked successful. Internally, it felt different. I often felt like an empty shell, uncomfortable with the idea that the only thing I had to show for myself was my corporate identity.

After three years, I had finally gained a degree of success and ownership in my role. I had achieved what I thought I wanted professionally, yet the satisfaction was surprisingly limited.