The $800M Deal That Taught Cruz Gamboa About Presence

In a recent LinkedIn post, Cruz Gamboa discusses the profound disconnect he experienced after closing an $800 million deal, highlighting a critical lesson about presence and the true cost of unresolved issues for founders. The post, which gained significant traction, details Gamboa’s realization that professional success did not equate to personal fulfillment or a sense of accomplishment beyond sheer exhaustion.

Gamboa shares his initial bewilderment at the lack of emotional response to a career-defining achievement:

“The biggest deal of my career closed, and I felt nothing. $800M. Years of work. I drove home the same person I’d left as that morning, just more tired. That was the alarm, not the win.”

The Illusion of Achievement Without Presence

As Cruz Gamboa elaborates, the disconnect stemmed from a long-standing pattern of prioritizing professional tasks at the expense of personal engagement. He points out that for many leaders, especially founders, the concept of being truly present is elusive, often overshadowed by pressing financial and operational concerns that don’t appear on any calendar but consistently follow them home.

Gamboa argues that this lack of presence is not a matter of summoning a feeling, but rather the consequence of unresolved burdens. He states:

“Being present isn’t a feeling you summon. It’s what’s left over when nothing unresolved is pulling at you. And for founders, a lot of what pulls at you is financial.”

This observation resonates deeply within the business community, where the demands on founders and senior executives are notoriously high. Gamboa suggests that the constant undercurrent of financial anxieties – decisions postponed, numbers suspected to be incorrect but not reviewed – creates a persistent mental load that prevents genuine presence in other areas of life.

Reclaiming Presence Through Honesty

The turning point for Cruz Gamboa, as he describes it, came not from achieving another milestone, but from a shift in his internal approach. He emphasizes that true progress in being a better leader, friend, and father began when he stopped chasing the fleeting feeling of success and instead focused on confronting his reality.

Gamboa reflects on the ongoing nature of this work, particularly in the context of familial relationships:

“It’s Father’s Day. I’m still working on being a better dad, a better friend, a better partner. It doesn’t end.”

This sentiment underscores his belief that achieving genuine presence is an active, continuous process rather than a destination. The resolution of internal conflicts and the honest assessment of one’s situation, he implies, are the foundations upon which authentic presence is built. The post concludes with a powerful statement on how this internal shift made the demanding work of scaling easier.

Key Takeaways from Gamboa’s Reflection

Cruz Gamboa’s candid reflection offers several key insights for business leaders:

• The Emptiness of Unattended Success: Large professional achievements can feel hollow if not accompanied by personal presence and fulfillment.
• Unresolved Issues as Barriers: Financial and operational anxieties that are not addressed create a significant mental burden, hindering presence in all aspects of life.
• Presence is a Practice, Not a Feeling: True presence is cultivated by resolving internal conflicts and honestly facing one’s circumstances, not by seeking an emotional high.
• Continuous Personal Development: Being a better leader, partner, or parent is an ongoing journey that requires consistent effort and self-awareness.

Gamboa’s experience serves as a potent reminder that true leadership and success involve not only closing deals but also being fully present for the life that unfolds beyond the boardroom.