From Tech Guru to Lumberjack: Why One Founder Chose the Forest Over the Office

Ryan Courtnage, the cofounder of the donation-management platform Benevity, made a bold move in 2020. He left the high-pressure world of tech startups and bought 22 acres of rugged terrain in Creston, British Columbia. The decision wasn't just a career shift. It was a complete lifestyle overhaul.

Trading Screens for Soil

After years in the tech industry, Courtnage found himself drained by constant team management. It's a feeling many founders know all too well. You're building a startup, but end up buried in endless meetings and emails. So, he traded the boardroom for the great outdoors, embracing the hands-on labor of a lumberjack. It's rewarding work, he's learning about diesel engines, felling trees, and even constructing outbuildings. It's a far cry from his days behind a computer monitor.

"I'm just going to get my hands greasy and go be a lumberjack for a while," he said. And he did.

AI's Enticing Return

But the tech world has a way of pulling you back. Courtnage stayed away from screens for nearly two years until AI coding tools like ChatGPT reignited his passion for technology. He's now up at night, thinking about how fast he can build with AI tools. It seems the tech bug never truly leaves you.

He's not just dabbling in AI for personal gain. Courtnage is passionate about integrating AI into the trades, setting up home assistant systems with cameras and sensors across his property. His OpenClaw system monitors everything from water tanks to unexpected visitors. It's a smart twist on traditional homesteading.

Burning Tokens and Midnight Oil

Of course, there's a cost to all this tech experimentation. Courtnage was surprised when he saw a $10 bill for tokens used by his AI setup in just one chat session. It's a reminder that playing on the cutting edge isn't cheap.

Courtnage isn't building for immediate profit, though. He's getting his hands dirty with tech, staying ahead of the curve, and preparing for whatever comes next. Why should we care? Because his journey poses a question many of us in tech should ask: Are we building something meaningful, or just managing the madness?