Dear Wholegrain Wisdom Community,
What happens when you achieve everything you thought you wanted, and realize you've lost yourself in the process?
In this powerful episode, I sit down with Yuli Ziv, who survived anti-Semitism in communist Russia, built one of the first influencer marketing platforms, and sold it for millions. But the most profound part isn't her impressive exit—it's what happened next.
After selling her company, Yuli shocked everyone by walking away from Manhattan's high-achieving lifestyle to live in the mountains. What she discovered there about success, family, and true fulfillment challenges everything we've been told about the founder journey.
Key Highlights from Our Conversation:
Control as Survival
Yuli's drive came from necessity, not ambition. "The only way I can control my destiny is if I became an entrepreneur," she explains. Having immigrated twice and faced deportation threats, she understood that true freedom isn't about money—it's about autonomy over your life. This survival mindset created urgency and focus that many "comfortable" entrepreneurs lack.
While building her multi-million dollar company, Yuli simultaneously navigated fertility struggles and miscarriages. All while maintaining the "unstoppable founder" facade. "None of my employees can know I'm going through hormonal treatments," she admits. Her experience reveals how startup culture particularly penalizes women, forcing them to compartmentalize their humanity for professional credibility.
The Weekend That Changed Everything
One meditation retreat became the catalyst for completely reimagining her life. "Something just clicked and I couldn't go back," she reflects. Within months, she left Manhattan for the mountains. Her decision to take a two-year career break at 45 demonstrates the courage required to prioritize well-being over external validation.
Redefining Founder Priorities
Yuli made a controversial choice: "I'm first, then my family, then my company." This isn't selfishness, it's systems thinking. She realized sustainable businesses require sustainable founders. Her approach challenges startup culture's martyrdom narrative, proving that taking care of yourself benefits everyone who depends on your leadership.
The Meditation ROI
Yuli's daily hour-long meditation might sound indulgent, but she frames it differently: "It's not because I can afford it—I can't afford NOT to do it." After incorporating Dr. Joe Dispenza's practices, she experienced "the hockey stick in my performance." This challenges the false dichotomy between self-care and business success.
The Trinity System
Yuli's peak performance centers on "mind, body, spirit"—daily meditation, movement, spiritual practices, and religious attention to sleep. Using tools like the Oura ring, she tracks tangible impacts, making data-driven decisions like quitting alcohol based on its effect on her HRV. This integration of ancient wisdom with modern biohacking proves the most advanced performance system might be the oldest one.
My Personal Reflections:
As you will hear in the video episode, this chat with Yuli was the second time I sat down with her. The first was on her podcast (here link), while this time I had the chance to ask her all sorts of questions about her personal story. Yuli is not just a “survivor”, she is a thriving woman, mother and entrepreneur who went through hell and came back stronger than ever. I love how she now dismisses the idea of being “humble” and rather leverages her years of experience and achievements to become a much stronger voice for what she believes in.
We do really have few role models when it comes to “successful entrepreneurship without toxic hustle culture.” This was the main reason for starting the Founder bible for Resilience. And I feel this is THE story that finally shows it! Ok, so now I can stop the interviews, right?!