Presence Over Momentum

Next week, my twins go back to kindergarten. They've been counting down the days for almost 3 weeks and honestly, as parents, so have we. Long summer holidays are a strain for all. Frustration on one side, boredom on the other!

A little context

I worked in corporate finance covering pan-EU FP&A before moving to China (financial crisis 2008, I wanted to learn something for the future!). I spent 15 years in China operating businesses, investing, building my own, learning, drinking, navigating cultural landmines, and understanding that sometimes the smartest decision is knowing when to pivot completely.

When my wife told me we were going to have twins, I made the most strategic decision of my career: I chose to prioritize differently. Not temporarily. Not "I'll figure it out later." I mean fundamentally restructuring everything around what actually mattered.

I'd heard the stories of regret: "I wish I was there more for my kids." I worked with HNWI and UHNWI who would see their children maybe 3-4 times a year. No bond, no presence. I had the luck to be able to choose, and my choice was simple: dedicate 3+ years to my family and kids. Being present was non-negotiable.

Most people thought I was crazy. What they didn't understand was that momentum without direction is just expensive chaos.

In late 2022 we decided to move to Venice (from Shanghai) for the kids. Why Venice is another story, but I wanted the twins to have a childhood. Playing outside, getting dirty, things in their reach, beach in summer, mountains for winter, and fodder for cool stories when they grow up! A carefree childhood. Something that's a luxury today.

In early 2023 an opportunity knocked: Head of Finance and Operations for a YC-backed company. I seized it and have worked tirelessly to make my work revolve around my life and kids. Remote for me is about presence. It gives me the opportunity to be present.

My office became wherever my kids wanted to be. Beaches, mountain cabins, playground benches. I'd take calls during naptime and finish work late after bedtime. My professional life had to bend around their schedules, not the other way around.

But here's what happened during these five years that no business book ever mentions: I learned more about operational efficiency from managing twins while working remotely than I ever did from traditional office environments.

When you're trying to close monthly books while your kids are melting down, you either develop surgical precision or you fail. You learn to prioritize ruthlessly. You discover that most of what we call "urgent" in business is just noise. You understand that time isn't something you manage. It's something you choose.

The hardest part wasn't the logistical juggling but the constant questioning "Have I made the right choice?", "What if I followed the beaten path?", but the results didn't lie. No burnouts, more clarity, more focus, more contentment.

What to expect

This blog isn't work-life-balance tips, parenting advice, or career advice. It's my stories and the lessons I actually learned. Not the sanitized LinkedIn version, not productivity platitudes, not AI slop. Just the messy, vulnerable truth.