Who I am
Hi, I’m Chase Garbarino. I am:
Married to Jess and Dad to Dash, Gray and Frankie.
Cofounder and CEO of HqO, a tech company on a mission to transform commercial real estate into an experiential platform for economics growth.
Previously the cofounder of AmericanInno and a few other indefinitely paused projects including: CampusWord, Pinyadda, and VentureApp.
Addicted to reading lots of random things, never in order.
An Extreme Moderate.
Prone to retelling the same stories.
An introverted extrovert.
Scared of what comes after death.
Extremely lucky to be an American.
A fierce believer in people.
A Boston sports fan.
Imperfect and here to learn.
How I Try to Live
A good friend of my wife, and now a good friend of mine, introduced me to the book Arete. The word comes from ancient Greece and is the idea of living up to your highest potential. Not in a single moment, but through how you show up consistently over time. It’s not about perfection. It’s about closing the gap between who you are today and who you’re capable of becoming.
That idea is the foundation of how I try to live my life and run my company. At HqO, we built a Personal Operating System around it. The short version is that you start with your identity statement - who are you if you show up as your best self consistently every day. Mine is:
I am a disciplined builder who shows up with calm intensity, tells the truth, and takes ownership — especially when conditions are hard. I build for the long term, invest deeply in people and relationships as a husband, father, and leader, and commit to the daily habits that compound over time. I endure and adapt, knowing that growth comes from staying in the work and honoring the journey.
That statement sits on top of three pillars the Arete framework helps you balance (side note: the term work-life balance is stupid - unless you are medically dead at work, work is a part of life, not something that should be in tension to being alive). I try to balance every day:
Energy — Taking care of my health (mental, physical, emotional) so that effort is sustainable, not heroic.
Work — Doing meaningful work with clarity and discipline so results compound over time.
Love — Showing up for the people who matter most so that success strengthens relationships instead of replacing them.
These pillars are the foundation for what the framework calls your virtues, or values.
My Values: LET’S GO
At HqO, we run the company on a set of values we call LET’S GO. They started as company values, but I’ve found they hold up just as well as a personal framework. And by aligning the two, I find more balance between my work life and personal life.
Learning + Love — I love to learn, which is funny because I hated school. Curiosity requires humility, and I think learning about things and one another can lead to a lot more love in the world.
Energy + Excellence — I admire nothing more than people who pursue excellence. It’s not about the results — it’s the work put in day after day which requires the right balanced energy. Excellence requires grit, adaptability, consistency, and imagination.
Truth + Toughness — It took me a while to understand “the truth will set you free,” but the more I pursue it, the more I believe it leads to real freedom. Truth requires courage, critical thinking, thick skin, and an open mind. Bottom line, Truth requires and creates Toughness.
Service + Stewardship — The happiest people I know find joy in doing things for others and being part of something bigger than themselves. Serving others and ultimately Stewarding this mindset can make the world a better place.
Gratitude + Generosity — I’ve found that most of my problems can be solved, or at least improved, when I step back and take stock of everything I have to be grateful for. If you have a foundation of Gratitude, it is far easier to be Generous with others which reinforces living in Service to others. I’ve never been formally religious, but I increasingly believe there’s something bigger going on in this world than we can comprehend. Some people call it God. I like to think of it as a mindset of Gratitude and Generosity.
Ownership — Too many people spend too much time on things they can’t control. Taking ownership of what you can control is the surest path to the outcomes you want.
What I’m Building Toward
At HqO: I’m committed to building a category-defining company that endures well beyond a single product, cycle, or management team. I believe deeply in the responsibility that comes with the opportunity to build — and that when people reach the end of their lives feeling fulfilled, they often point to the thing they dedicated themselves to over time, through difficulty and persistence. That’s what HqO is for me.
Personally: I want to become a better husband, father, leader, and thinker. I’m working on the daily habits that compound — morning routines, exercise, nutrition, gratitude, learning. I believe the version of yourself that shows up at home and the version that shows up at work are the same person, and both deserve serious investment.
For the country: I care about the future of America and believe we’re at our best when people take ownership of their communities, engage in good-faith debate, and build things that matter. I want to contribute to that — even if it’s just through writing and conversation.
Who I Want to Meet and Learn From
I’m always looking to connect with people who are:
Builders — Founders, operators, and leaders building something they believe in, at any stage.
Challenging thinkers — People who read widely, think critically, and aren’t afraid to hold unpopular views with intellectual honesty.
People who care about Arete — Anyone working intentionally on becoming the best version of themselves — physically, mentally, spiritually, professionally.
CRE leaders and innovators — People who see the potential in transforming how buildings and spaces create value for people and communities.
Good-faith people — People who resist blind tribalism, think independently, and believe in engaging across differences with curiosity instead of contempt.
If any of that resonates, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out anytime.
Should You Subscribe?
I’d be somewhat bullshitting you if I just said yes without knowing you. But if any of the below are true, you might get something out of my writing:
You’re interested in what it’s actually like to build something from scratch — the real version, not the highlight reel.
You enjoy mostly non-sensational but occasionally unpopular takes on current events.
You care about the future of the US and want to contribute to its success.
You believe no one — including yourself — is always right, and you’re willing to challenge your own views.
You’re interested in frameworks for personal growth, leadership, and living with more intention.
You don’t take things on the internet too seriously, since it’s not really real life.
