From Hustle to High Performance: Redefining What Winning Really Means
The Hustle Trap
From as far back as I can remember, I was wired to hustle.
In high school, I loved going to the movies with my friends. But convincing my Indian parents to spend $50 on a movie, popcorn, and a meal? That would have been a marathon debate—with no guarantee of success. If it wasn’t for school or education, every dollar had to be justified. So, rather than endure the interrogation, I did what any resourceful teenager would do: I found a way to make my own money.
That first taste of independence became a full-blown obsession. I’ve started multiple businesses since then, all fueled by the belief that success meant building something I could be proud of—something that would take care of the people I love—and yes, let me buy all the popcorn I wanted, no questions asked.
But somewhere along the way, I fell into the same trap so many of us do. The relentless pursuit of success came with unconscious trade-offs. My health, friendships, and relationships quietly took a backseat as I chased after the next milestone, convincing myself that once I got there, everything would fall into place.
Except… what if it doesn’t?
The Wake-Up Call
“What would they say on my headstone?”
It’s a confronting question. One that forces us to strip away the noise and ask ourselves: What actually matters?
For Daniel Petre, a business and tech leader with a career spanning 35+ years—including being one of Microsoft’s first VPs under Bill Gates and the Co-founder of AirTree Ventures, Netus andECorp—this question became unavoidable after the sudden death of his sister.
“I want it to say successful technology executive, great husband, great father, great member of the community, and great friend,” he reflected. “But it can only say those things if you’ve actually lived them.”
At the time, Daniel was fully immersed in a high-intensity career. Work consumed him. The culture was brutal. But losing his sister was a jarring reminder that life is short, and if you’re not intentional about how you spend your time, you might look up one day and realize you’ve sacrificed the things that matter most.
A clip from my podcast interview with Daniel Petre for Ep180 of The Startup Playbook Podcast is below. You can find links to the full interview here
For me, that moment came not from a tragedy, but from a simple conversation with my mum and sister. I had convinced myself that flying to Canberra to visit them for birthdays and holidays meant I was doing my part. But the truth? I was always half-present—answering emails, taking calls, telling them, “just five more minutes.”
That conversation hit me hard.
It made me realise that if I kept running on autopilot, waiting for someday to prioritise the things that mattered, I would wake up one day and realise I’d missed it all.
Redefining High Performance
Ambition isn’t the enemy. I believe drive, motivation, and the pursuit of excellence are essential to a fulfilling life. But every decision comes with a trade-off. And too often, we don’t stop to think about what we’re actually sacrificing.
For years, we’ve been sold a broken playbook—one that tells us to sacrifice everything in pursuit of business success. But the highest-performing people I know? They aren’t just winning in business.
They’re fit. Their relationships thrive. They’re sharp, resilient, and fully present.
They don’t just win in their companies. They win at life.
And that’s why I started The Komo Club.
What’s Missing for High Achievers?
There’s no shortage of business masterminds, investment groups, and networking dinners. But where’s the space for founders and leaders to focus on what actually makes them better—not just as entrepreneurs, but as people?
More than that, founders, executives, and leaders spend their lives taking care of others—their teams, investors, stakeholders. But who takes care of them?
The Komo Club is designed for those who refuse to choose between success and fulfilment.
It’s an 8-week program built around self-leadership and high performance, focusing on:
🔹 Peak Performance: Optimising your energy, fitness, and mental clarity.
🔹 Relationships & Social Capital: Building deep, meaningful connections beyond transactions.
🔹 Personal Growth: Mastering stress, leadership, and self-discipline.
🔹 Wealth & Giving: Managing success while making an impact.
This isn’t about adding more to your plate. It’s about designing a life that actually works for you.
How The Komo Club Works
The Komo Club is a cohort-based program designed for a curated group of founders, executives, and leaders who want to achieve high performance across all areas of life.
What’s included:
✅ 1:1 Personalised Health Program (DEXA scan, blood test, and specialist doctor consultation)
✅ Weekly Workshops & Mastermind Sessions
✅ Curated Peer Community for accountability and support
✅ World-Class Guest Speakers who have lived experience balancing success with a fulfilling life
Some of our featured speakers include:
🔥 Daniel Petre AO: Former Microsoft VP under Bill Gates, Co-founder of AirTree Ventures
🔥 Cam Falloon: Founder & CEO of BFT, former personal trainer to Princess Diana
🔥 Dr. Steven Lu: Co-founder & Chief Medical Officer at Everlab, preventative health expert
And more incredible speakers to be announced soon!
You can find more details of our program and our speakers here
Cohort #1 of The Komo Club kicks off in April.
If this resonates with you, you can apply for Cohort #1 here.
If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, reply or reach out—I’d love to hear from you.
Let’s build something different and impactful.
Because real success isn’t just about winning the game—it’s about making sure you were playing the right game to begin with.
Welcome to The Peak Performance Playbook. Let’s go. 🚀
Introducing The Peak Performance Playbook
This post marks the first edition of The Peak Performance Playbook—a new newsletter exploring what it really takes to achieve high performance without sacrificing the things that matter most.
At its core, this is about self-leadership—building the habits, mindset, and systems that allow you to excel in business and life. Not just optimising for work, but designing a life where health, relationships, and personal fulfilment aren’t afterthoughts.
Each edition will share hard-earned lessons, real stories, and practical frameworks to help you navigate the trade-offs of ambition, avoid burnout, and redefine success on your own terms.
I’d love to hear your thoughts—what topics, challenges, or questions would you like to see covered? Reply here, drop a comment, or shoot me a message. Let’s build something meaningful together.
If this resonates with you, subscribe below—I’d love for you to be part of this journey.