Imagine selling your company for $745 million, only to feel… numb. That’s exactly what happened to Buddy Media founders Mike and Kass Lazerow. Their story isn’t just about a massive acquisition; it’s about the unexpected void that can follow immense success and their inspiring journey to redefine purpose. What truly motivates you beyond the bottom line?

The exhilarating journey of entrepreneurship often culminates in the dream scenario: selling a company for an astronomical sum. For Mike and Kass Lazerow, founders of the social media marketing powerhouse Buddy Media, this moment arrived in 2012 when Salesforce acquired their venture for a staggering $745 million. Yet, instead of the anticipated euphoria, the couple found themselves grappling with an unexpected sense of numbness, a profound emotional void that belied their extraordinary financial success and the culmination of years of dedicated work in the competitive world of startups.

This surprising emotional response, articulated by Kass Lazerow in an interview, highlighted the often-overlooked psychological aftermath of monumental business acquisition. Despite achieving a pinnacle of entrepreneurial success, the Lazerows’ immediate post-sale experience was marked by a stark return to mundane reality, a disorienting shift from the intense, purposeful drive that had defined their lives for years. Their narrative offers a compelling look into the complexities of wealth and fulfillment, demonstrating that financial prosperity does not automatically translate to personal contentment.

The genesis of Buddy Media in 2007 was a testament to the Lazerows’ unwavering commitment and remarkable sacrifice. Kass vividly recounts building office desks while nursing her newborn, a stark illustration of the relentless dedication demanded by early-stage entrepreneurship. This period was characterized by immense personal and professional investment, forging a deep connection to their venture that went far beyond mere business strategy, intertwining their lives inextricably with the company’s growth and vision.

Once their innovative business model solidified, Buddy Media experienced a meteoric rise. Within a mere five years of its inception, the social media marketing firm was generating an impressive $50 million in annual recurring revenue. This rapid ascent from a nascent startup to a major industry player underscored their astute leadership and the disruptive potential of their platform, making them a prime target for a significant business acquisition by a tech giant like Salesforce.

Following the sale, Kass Lazerow transitioned from her role as Buddy Media COO to become a full-time stay-at-home parent, a shift that initially felt profoundly unsettling. She described the year-long process of reconciling with her achievements as akin to a “version of PTSD,” emphasizing the psychological toll of processing such a massive life change and the profound identity shift that can accompany stepping away from the intense demands of being a founder. Her journey speaks to the challenges of adapting to a new personal purpose after a defining entrepreneurial chapter.

Mike Lazerow similarly struggled with a loss of identity and purpose, feeling like “the same old schmuck” despite orchestrating a multi-million-dollar deal. The absence of the creative joy derived from building businesses, winning customers, and hiring talent left a significant void. His subsequent role at Salesforce, while prestigious, proved to be an unsustainable path due to demanding hours and constant travel, ultimately impacting his health and reinforcing the need for a re-evaluation of his personal purpose beyond corporate structures.

In their quest to rebuild a sense of meaning and contribute, Mike and Kass have embraced a new, entrepreneurial-adjacent path. They now actively support other founders through personal equity investments, leveraging their invaluable experience and insights to guide the next generation of startups. Furthermore, they share their hard-won wisdom more broadly through their insightful new book, “Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story,” offering a candid look at the realities of wealth and fulfillment in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Despite their continued involvement in the startup world through mentorship and investment, the Lazerows maintain that starting a third standalone company is not in their plans. Having previously launched Golf.com during the dot-com bubble, Kass particularly expressed the immense emotional and physical energy required to lead and nurture a company from the ground up, acknowledging the profound exhaustion that can come from such intense periods of entrepreneurship. Their story is a powerful reminder that true wealth and fulfillment often extend far beyond the balance sheet.