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RxBar co-founder Peter Rahal on life after becoming a millionaire

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Re: RxBar co-founder Peter Rahal on life after becoming a millionaire

#122

These types of young people have no class, no style and no real dreams to follow - other than making money. Because someone makes money does not make then interesting to read about. This is a perfect example

And what sort of "young people" is that comrade

Re: RxBar co-founder Peter Rahal on life after becoming a millionaire

#123
post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Existing cash goes to the buyer, but it’s fully accounted for, so the seller gets it in the end. I.e. company is worth $600M including $50M cash on hand. Seller gets $600M.

Yes - another way to look at it is that liquid cash in company's bank accounts is an asset of the company and the company valuation "includes" it.

Thanks, guys, appreciate the explanations!

Re: RxBar co-founder Peter Rahal on life after becoming a millionaire

#124

> Before the Kellogg deal was finalized and he was about to suddenly become very rich, Rahal got worried. “Can I seriously find someone who’s going to love me without the money?” This seems like an easy thought exercise to work through. If you're rich enough to worry about being loved for your money, then you're probably rich enough to have a second modest existence to date from (modest apartment, car, etc). So, don'…

You'd also have to go by a pseudonym or a perspective partner might google you and ruin the whole charade. At that point your behavior is fairly duplicitous, which is hardly a solid foundation for one of the most meaningful relationships of your life.

Re: RxBar co-founder Peter Rahal on life after becoming a millionaire

#125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This. The trivial answer to 'reintroducing struggle' isn't even discussed.

Sure, because that's not actually the problem. What he was looking for was self-actualization. He thought he'd find that through building a company. He was wrong. That doesn't mean building a company js a bad thing! It's more like watering your plants when what they actually need is higher nitrate content. It's easy to mock the rich for being at a bit of a loss on how to live life, but in their defense, they have few…

I've heard this alternately stated: "It's better to be poor: you're just as unhappy as a rich person, but you still have hope that money will help."

Re: RxBar co-founder Peter Rahal on life after becoming a millionaire

#126
post #118
post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Keto? Their bars have 22-24g of carbs in a 52g bar. 12g of that is sugar, but still. Keto would be right out of the window after a couple of these.

Ha, I know. I said they sold in 2017 right as the keto trend was taking off in the mainstream, not that the bars are keto. I'm saying there is a unicorn in developing a bar that is keto-friendly. There are a few I've tried, but nothing good yet and nothing that has hit it out of the park like RxBar did in its day.

I believe Land-O-Lakes, Plugra, and Kerrygold have all been making keto bars for decades. They just need to rebrand a bit

Re: RxBar co-founder Peter Rahal on life after becoming a millionaire

#127
post #8

It is interesting that creating a healthy bar with 'No B.S.' seemed to be motivated entirely by money, no idealism, no concern for public health, etc. He was totally willing to sell to a massive corporation that will almost certainly dilute his product to save cash and his main concern around that seemed to be 'but what will I do now?'. Maybe his life doesn't seem empty now that he has money, maybe it has always been…

I was thinking about this as I read the story as well.

I'm not familiar with the product at all, but I suspect it's hardly a "healthy" snack to begin with, and then Kellogg is not exactly a company dedicated to public health.

Similar concerns exist in tech as well, for example, if Facebook wants to buy your startup, would you feel good about selling it to them?

I suspect that people who are not bothered by ethical considerations are much more likely to succeed as entrepreneurs.

I wish I was more like them to be honest.

Re: RxBar co-founder Peter Rahal on life after becoming a millionaire

#128
post #12
post #8

It is interesting that creating a healthy bar with 'No B.S.' seemed to be motivated entirely by money, no idealism, no concern for public health, etc. He was totally willing to sell to a massive corporation that will almost certainly dilute his product to save cash and his main concern around that seemed to be 'but what will I do now?'. Maybe his life doesn't seem empty now that he has money, maybe it has always been…

That seems like a partial mis-characterization - he did insist that the buyer keep the company as an independent unit and retain all the employees, which is about as much as you can do when you’re selling. And he was likely tired and burning out as well - better to sell than run it to the ground or wait till someone else kills you off. That said, he does seem to have been hustling from a young age, so why not? Could…

>Why the negativity for a food company?

Presumably because a food company has direct effect on the health of a person consuming the product.

Re: RxBar co-founder Peter Rahal on life after becoming a millionaire

#129
post #99
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He went from nothing to $600M in 5 years. It isn't "technically" overnight but 5 years is not that long. And the 7-10 grind was probably only true of year 0-1. RxBar got a lot of traction well before they were sold, and so to believe he was grinding for the entire 5 years in the same way he was in the basement when they first started is a bit naive. Worse than "overnight millionaire" porn is "hustle" porn. The truth…

This shouldn't be overlooked either: "son of Lebanese American parents whose families were both in the juice business. His father’s family supplied ingredients, his mother’s sold consumer juice brands, and they met at the funeral of an industry executive. His father worked in the family juice business, too, and Rahal shaped himself after his father’s work ethic" Upbringing and a significant degree of business and ind…

Nice catch. It doesn’t totally invalidate the “self made” narrative but puts it in perspective. A lot of EntrepreneurPorn glosses over the entrepreneur’s pre-existing family wealth and connections and other advantages they started the game with.

Re: RxBar co-founder Peter Rahal on life after becoming a millionaire

#130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, because that's not actually the problem. What he was looking for was self-actualization. He thought he'd find that through building a company. He was wrong. That doesn't mean building a company js a bad thing! It's more like watering your plants when what they actually need is higher nitrate content. It's easy to mock the rich for being at a bit of a loss on how to live life, but in their defense, they have few…

It's very nice to not have to worry about money. I think people tend to downplay the importance of removing this stress from your life. No, money doesn't solve everything, but for me the lack of it created an immense amount of stress.

"Having money's not everything, not having it is"
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