Where Did the Time Go?

Sitting in front of the fire, I quietly sip my port, cuddling the dog. Dusting off my Nintendo Switch, I load up Mario Kart. Now seems like a good time to restart my virtual racing career. You can’t beat the drama of throwing shells and bananas at unsuspecting victims. Across from me, my wife Sophia is deep into ‘The Housemaid’, a thriller she started over the Christmas period and hasn’t been able to put down.

There was a time when mid-life loomed over the horizon, like a distant, hazy worry. But somehow, it crept up on me whilst I was looking the other way. Mid-life is no longer the distant mirage that it once was. Gone are the late night parties and cheap drinks in dive bars. Last Christmas I received a pair of binoculars so that I could birdwatch in the garden. I also got some nice socks. Both great presents. I even took up triathlon. I recognise that at this point, I am a living meme of a modern, middle aged man.

But amidst the birdwatching and the cycling, I can’t help but ask, where did the time go?

I write this not as a cry for help, but as an observation. Life is fleeting. One moment you are wishing away your childhood to gain independence. The next, you’re wondering how two decades slipped through your fingers.

I’ve spent my whole life being impatient. I have achieved so much, yet it never feels enough. I am always looking for the next challenge, pushing myself towards the uncomfortable. These challenges help me grow as a person, but more than that, they give me purpose.

But what happens when the passion for the challenge fades? For a long time, I thought climbing the corporate career ladder was the ultimate goal. However, after my time as a CTO, I realised I didn't just want to climb, I wanted to build the ladder myself. The impatience I felt wasn’t just about speed, it was about direction.

That shift in perspective is what led me to Simon Squibb’s work, and his argument that we should carve our own paths using the skills we already have. It was the confirmation I needed.

It’s why I’m now pouring that impatience and energy into Creu Labs. Building a venture studio to put Welsh tech on the map isn’t just a job, it’s the antidote to the mid-life drift.

As I reflect on the year gone by and the one ahead, I realise the binoculars and the nice socks are great, but they aren’t enough. I need to build something that lasts.

So, once I finish this glass of port and absolutely ruin my wife’s evening with a well-timed blue shell, it’s time to get to work.