⛰️ Trail & Error: Not Opting Out

Welcome to Trail & Error—on building a resilient, meaningful life and career, especially if you’re stepping off the traditional path. Sometimes it’s coaching insights. Sometimes personal stories. Always honest, always a little unfinished.

This one’s for the ones who “made it” but aren’t sure they want to keep climbing.
The dads who still want to win—just not at the cost of their health, family, or identity.
We’re not opting out of ambition. We’re opting out of pretending this system still works for us.

Let’s get into it 👏

The Real Reason Dads Are Leaving Corporate Roles

Fewer men are working full-time jobs than ever.

That’s not speculation—it’s data.
A new Brookings study looked at why male labor force participation is at historic lows. The assumption was: we must be staying home to care for kids. But that’s not it.

In fact, when men have partners who work, they’re more likely to stay in the labor force.

So what are we stepping away from?

I’ve been sitting with that question since a friend from my Pinterest days brought it up last week. She’s now a mom at a rocketship startup, and she told me:

Truth is, I barely did.

After I left, I took a year off. I did a lot of dadding. A lot of running.

And I was lucky: I didn’t just take time off—I used that time to run toward a new kind of work. One that fits the life I actually want to be living.

And the deeper I go into this work—coaching other high-performing professionals through this same transition—the more I see it:

We’re not opting out of ambition.
We’re opting out of the old rules.

What we’re choosing instead:

• Careers with space—to think, to rest, to pick up our kids from school

• Income that feels earned and aligned, not just extracted from our time

• A life we actually get to live, not just support

We're not done working.
We’re just done pretending that work is all we are.

If this hits close to home, I’d love to hear from you.

👉 What’s the real question you’ve been sitting with lately about work, identity, or what’s next?

Seriously—reply to this email and send it my way. I’ll personally read and respond to every single one.

Let’s talk soon.
– Sean

P.S. If you’re ready to move, I can do a few 45 minute sessions this week, book yours here. A recent client had this to say 👇