The Chair

Years ago, I remember my Dad giving me a piece of advice that I’ve followed ever since my 20’s. A fan of modern design and good products, Dad would preach gospels about the Herman Miller Aeron Chair.

I feel like the “C” ought to be capitalized…

Dad would tell me: “If a chair helps you work even 10% better or more comfortably during the day, it’ll pay for itself.”

I won’t ever forget the day I bought my first Aeron. In my 20’s, I tasted my first sliver of success; largely due to the guidance (and referrals) from my friend, Dave Lopez (https://youtu.be/trX1lTyIfRE?si=31l58ZlzJEzw8f5N) who meticulously mentored me and flooded my books with exceptional clients. In a lot of ways, Dave picked up the slack in guidance after the passing of my Dad.

Due to the influx of business and cash-on-hand, I decided it was finally time to treat myself to an Aeron Chair. At that time, I had my dream home office; a 27-inch iMac, flanked by two Fluval Edge aquariums and Edifier Exclaim speakers which lived on a desk I built with my own hands.

As soon as I wheeled it into its new home, I remember taking a seat and finally having the “ah ha” moment that connected to the words my Dad gave me. The chair really was incredible, and I felt weightless when I sat cradled in its ergonomic, adjustable arms.

For nearly a year, I worked in that chair through all hours of the night; grinding away in endless all-nighter sessions in which I learned the necessary skills to level-up and maintain the demands of my clients, which seemed to grow by the month on account of Dave.

During one meeting with a client, I remember asking them if they were running any Facebook/Google ads. They weren’t. I didn’t know how to run a campaign, but knew pay-per-click advertising was something they needed to invest in. Within a week, they threw me a $5,000 monthly budget to experiment with. By the end of the year, they were spending over $1M.

That client took off like a rocket, and they were highly interested in having me lead their digital charge through a full-time position. At that time, it didn’t seem like a good fit for me, and I politely maintained my status as a contractor until the fateful day when they terminated my six-figure contract.

I remember sitting in that Chair when I got the email. It hit me like a brick, though it was one that I could see coming from a mile away. Not long after that, I lost several other contracts and went from living a very comfortble life…to having trouble buying groceries…while living in a luxury Turtle Creek apartment in Dallas.

Often, I looked at my ‘dream’ home office and gathered a sense of strength and resiliance; if I could build that desk with my hands, I knew I could rebuild the life that seemed to be hanging by a thread of dental floss.

One night, I prayed a scary prayer. The sort of prayer I woudn’t advise sending up to God unless you’re ready for a radical life change.

“God, give me all new ingredients.”

It wasn’t long before God took a baseball bat and shattered my mixing bowl…

With the stroke of a text message, I liquidated all of the things in my apartment for pennies on the dollars I spent, before moving out to California. In those posessions was my beloved ‘first’ Aeron chair.

In a series of very fortunate events, I remember landing a job at a growing tech firm in the Bay Area, followed by an even better job at a pre-IPO startup. When I walked in the door to their office, the first thing I noticed was a sea of Aeron chairs.

“This feels right” I thought.

In a matter of time, I carved out ‘my’ office amonst their culture of shared office spaces; taking an office with a beautiful skyline view of the Bay Area and making it my own, nearly every day I worked there. As soon as the door shut, I felt right at home in ‘my’ Aeron chair, which I had perfectly positioned for my body.

A little over two years later, I again got a fateful email; letting me know I had been terminated from my position at the company after failing a PIP. Again, it was a season of hearbreak and ache. However, I knew that there was a plan to move forward and rebuild my life…if only I could be dilligent and keep taking steps forward.

For nearly two years, I took a hiatus from working in an Aeron. During that time period, I wasn’t entirely sure when and where my next one would materialize, but I was dead-set on finding myself back in my beloved chair.

That time came during my year-long stay in Tulum, Mexico. Business was booming, I had a full team working for Tripleskinny and a beautiful jungle view that greeted me every morning – along with a private rooftop pool…

Naturally, I managed to find an Aeron. Tucked away in the corner of a penthouse apartment in Tulum, I again set up my ‘dream’ home office and proceeded to pound away on my iMac…

Months later, I found myself moving back to the states. This time, as a Dad. I said goodbye to the morning strolls in the jungle, rides on my motorcycle and long hours working on my beloved Aeron.

That’s when God started to reveal to me the ‘new ingredients’ I had prayed for years ago.

My journey as a Dad had very humble origins. I was back to working late hours to finish client projects, which were few and far in-between. For the second time in my life, I remember reaching out to friends/family on social media, asking if they had any leads for work. It was a difficult chapter.

Eventually, the storm passed and I developed a strong client roster; a roster that has stayed with me to this present day. Again, I built my ‘dream office’ and adorned it with an Aeron. This time, I bought a size C, which was the correct size for my height/weight.

Until last week, that Chair has carried me through my most recent years in business – and in life. I’ve settled in a beautiful home, have solidified a beautiful relationship with Atlas, and have grown in all facets of my life; mind, body and spirit.

Last week, when I was working with Atlas on AtlasKicks.com, I leaned into the chair and one of the arms snapped off. It had been dangerously loose for years and I knew the chair was in need of a full overhaul by a professional (not me).

When I got the bill for the chair, I was shocked at how much it was going to cost to replace the arms and several other parts that were in need of replacement. Similar to a car, a good chair is something you take to the shop to fix…and with an equally large price tag.

Rather than spend $XXX to fix the chair, I scoured Marketplace until I found a 2025 model for less than the cost of the repair, and happily drove to meet the seller to pick it up. For the first time in my life, I finally sat in the latest model of Aeron Chairs – and the latest model is remarkable.

When Atlas saw the ‘new’ chair at home, he excitedly ran over to sit in it. This time, there were no squeaky parts of broken armrests. As he sat on the chair, I told him about how my Dad always encouraged me to get a chair like the one sat on, because it would help him work better…and pay for itself.

This afternoon, Atlas and I went on an adventure to outfit his room with new furniture; namely, a new desk and bookshelves for his treasures. While driving to IKEA, I asked him what kind of chair he wanted to get.

“One like yours” he said.

With great joy, I tracked down an Aeron size A chair. After spending the day buying and assembling his new furniture, we drove to pick up his Aeron; a like-new Size A for 20% of the price as a brand new one. While chatting with the buyer, I picked out a Size B – for the guest room….because I want every guest in this house to have the experience of sitting in the world’s best chair.

As we drove home, he excitedly talked with his Mom and Grandparents, telling them about his ‘new room’ and chair:

“Dad got me an Aeron!” he shouted, beaming with pride.

The day took me back to the day where my Dad painstakingly built my desk, set up my computer and gave me one of his old office chairs (not an Aeron). Now a tthe end of the day, I write this with a sore back from hours spent assembling furniture, moving furniture and loading/unloading not one, but two more Aerons for our home.

Before powering off for the night, I went into his room one last time to look at the fruits of our labor. At five years-old, Atlas has the best chair in the world…and so do I.

Thanks, Dad. This one is for you.