Simcha Hyman, the founder and CEO of an investment firm specializing in healthcare, has a truly remarkable story. Growing up in a household led by a single mother, Simcha witnessed firsthand the unwavering work ethic and determination that allowed his mother to provide for him and his two brothers. These experiences shaped Simcha’s outlook on life and instilled in him a deep-rooted motivation to overcome challenges and set ambitious goals.
With a passion for improving patient outcomes and advancing healthcare practices, Simcha has consistently demonstrated his ability to navigate the complexities of the healthcare landscape. Drawing upon the skills and knowledge amassed during the growth of his healthcare portfolio, he has established an organization that excels at creating and operating new businesses throughout the healthcare industry and beyond. Simcha understands the value of teamwork and the importance of empowering others to reach their full potential, which is why he thoroughly enjoys working with highly skilled individuals who share a common focus.
Simcha Hyman’s dedication to giving back goes well beyond his professional accomplishments. With a relaxed and compassionate approach, he finds immense joy in actively volunteering and collaborating with charitable organizations to make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals and families in need. Simcha’s unwavering focus lies in helping the underdog, those who face adversity and challenges. He passionately advocates for access to essential resources, educational opportunities, and quality healthcare services, aiming to uplift and empower underserved populations. Simcha’s philanthropic endeavors reflect his deep-rooted commitment to compassion, empathy, and social responsibility, as he strives to create initiatives that allow employees, colleagues and all those who benefit from his philanthropy to thrive and succeed.
When Simcha is not immersed in his professional pursuits, he finds solace and inspiration in spending quality time with his wife and sons. Simcha understands the importance of family and the power of personal connections. Together, they create cherished memories through travel, exploration, and engaging in activities that promote their collective well-being. Additionally, Simcha maintains an active lifestyle and prioritizes his physical health by participating in various types of fitness activities. Whether it’s hitting the gym, going for a run, or trying out new sports, Simcha e
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I wake up at 6 a.m. usually, then read and pray before everyone wakes up. I don’t think mornings should be about maximizing productivity, they’re for quality family time. If there’s a typical version, I’d say sharing a coffee with my wife while the kids get ready for school. I try to exercise a couple of times a week and will fit this in either before work or right before lunch. I’ll usually take my first call in the car. That said, I do take productivity quite seriously. At the end of each week, I receive a report of how I spent my time and compare the literal hours spent on a workstream against my perception of it’s progress. I have a good sense of momentum internally. If something is getting 25% of my time and progress there is slower than I’d expect relative to my time there, it’s a problem area to lean into. That being said, all of this starts after the kids are at school.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I carry a notebook everywhere. I have to write something down to remember it, but when I do, I usually don’t forget it. Sometimes, I’ll write ideas or goals I have in mind about 10 pages ahead in the notebook, and when I get to it, it’s a good check-in with myself if I was able to move this idea along by the time I wanted.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Artificial Intelligence. I come from healthcare and the technology is 20 years behind and the biggest problem (meaning, the most expensive part of it) is the documentation. This is what AI has proven to be specifically good at and early. We’re seeing prior authorization, note-taking, coding, decision support, and call centers – all starting to get help from AI solutions. This is going to transform our industry. I saw this a year ago and was so convinced I stepped down as CEO from my previous company to start a new company dedicated to investing and building new technologies that will help bring down the administrative cost associated with healthcare and improve patient outcomes using AI. To me, this isn’t just a trend. This is a revolution.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
This will sound counterintuitive to my previous comments about AI, but the most helpful habit I started is switching from a digital productivity tool to using the notebook I mentioned. In the larger workforce, digital is key because it needs to be shared in real-time with others. But when it comes to productivity for myself, meaning keeping myself focused on the things that matter, this is more about private internal nudges and I find a notebook to be the fastest and most effective way of doing this.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Embrace the full spectrum of life’s experiences and maintain a balanced perspective. I have found there to be many more ways of life than I once thought, and see friends go down each road. There’s an art to being open to alternative paths but maintaining a sense of balance between newness and your own true values. As we accumulate experiences, hopefully, we refine this decision-making. I suppose the advice I’d give is that this process never ends and requires continuous reflection to maintain this balance.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
Most people overestimate their fortitude to work hard at something for a long time. I hear all sorts of intentions, and yes, all great journeys start with intent, but I don’t think most people understand how hard it is to truly exhaust yourself over a sustained period. You have to deeply care about what you’re doing.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Stay outside the box. The details and day-to-day are important, but they should never come at the cost of tunnel vision. Stay outside the box in your thinking so you can see what’s ahead and not get too caught up in the day-to-day bumps.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Exercise. Sweat will heal you.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Honesty. Being transparent in all interactions builds trust, and nothing happens without trust. Trust is to business, and credit is to finance. It allows you to set up operations beyond the scope of what you can do today on the premise that when that future comes, you can handle it. Another way I think about it is that trust removes friction. The Navy Seals have a saying: “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.” I think that applies here.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I sold my first company in 2014 but experienced significant burnout in the process. I was too involved in everything, so I had to learn to delegate. I learned to hire well to cover for my weaknesses and delegate. This let me double down on what I’m best at and spend more time there.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Ideas are a dime a dozen; the real challenge is execution.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Old-school handwritten notebooks.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Recently, I read “Tearing Down the Walls” and “The Alchemist”. Again, these aren’t productivity books or leadership books. The value I get is satisfying my personal interests. The former for its real-world financial insights, the latter for its philosophical lessons. I also listen to podcasts, which lean more toward business and technology. I regularly listen to “All-In” and Lex Friedman’s show. A good one recently was with Teddy Atlas.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I watched “The Banker” and loved it. I won’t spoil it, so watch it for yourself. What those two characters pulled off was incredible.