We give founders superhero status. We put them on pedestals. We idolize the megawatt fame and fortune of people like Elon, Jobs, and Zuckerberg, who built successful companies seemingly overnight.
But many entrepreneurs suffer in secret with near-debilitating fear and anxiety. Often, their cortisol levels are through the roof, and they lay awake at night, worrying about how fast things could crumble.
Being a founder is like riding a dragon. Everybody else is amazed at how courageous and brave you are. “Wow, look at that girl. Isn’t that amazing how she can ride the dragon?” But when you’re sitting on the dragon, the only thing you’re thinking about is, “How did I get here, and how the hell do I keep this thing from burning me to a crisp?”
Did you know
There is a mental health crisis in Entrepreneurship. A recent study suggests entrepreneurs are 50% more likely to report having mental health conditions with certain conditions being prevalent among founders.
Founders are:
- 2x more likely to suffer from depression
- 6x more likely to suffer from ADHD
- 3X more likely to suffer from substance abuse
- 10x more likely to suffer from bipolar disorder
- 2x more likely to have psychiatric hospitalization
There’s something about the pressures of an entrepreneur’s daily life that can put a strain on mental health and wellness. Owning your own business can sometimes feel like you’re driving 200mph down a one-way street, in the dark, with no headlights, and your breaks don’t work.
When a company’s leader is suffering or under constant pressure, the tension can trickle down, affecting the whole company. Among other things, it leads to low employee engagement, which amounts to poor key performance outcomes in the following areas:
- Customer Ratings
- Profitability
- Productivity
- Turnover
- Safety Incidents
- Shrinkage (theft)
- Absenteeism
- Quality (defects)
At BrainWrinkle, we’ve developed a diagnostic tool that takes a deep dive and critical analysis into one’s interpersonal health and emotional well-being. The assessment is a 50+ questionnaire using a 5 pt. Likert scale to evaluate responses to questions that measure areas of behavioral strengths and provide insight into emotional intelligence, leadership, mental balance, and wellness.
Participants receive a detailed report with long-term strategies, evidence-based tools, and resources to improve their interpersonal effectiveness, develop a learning mindset, and enhance their overall professional development. Other teachings from the diagnostic include:
- Building Trust
- Emotional Resiliency
- Fostering Positive Relationships
- Conflict Mediation and Resolution
- Effective Communication and Active Listening
- Identifying Risk Factors and Toxic Environments
Developing these and other interpersonal skills and building healthy, rewarding social connections can have an extremely positive effect on our well-being. They act as power buffers that help us build resiliency against stress, anxiety, and depression.
Michael A. Freeman, a psychiatrist, and entrepreneur, has researched the vulnerabilities of entrepreneurship and mental health. He says, “Executive coaching and self-management resources could also identify, and help to strengthen mental health-related entrepreneurial success factors.”
As a founder who grew a company over 20 years and had a successful exit, I know firsthand what business owners face. I’ve been a business coach for the last ten years and have logged over 1000 coaching hours. I’ve talked to business owners worldwide, from lifestyle business owners with $1M in annual revenues to CEOs of billion-dollar corporations.
I’ve listened to their inner battles, fears, and witnessed the personal chaos, the price they secretly pay, and the brutal toll it takes to run a company. They wear many hats, are called upon to solve countless problems, struggle to make payroll, face constant rejection from investors, endure endless conflict with partners, employees, and juggle staffing issues.
BrainWrinkle’s evidence-based tools and resources provide a solution. We help entrepreneurs shift from a toxic environment of being overwhelmed to prioritizing life and business to prevent problems down the road. Take action now and make a difference in not only your life but for those around you.
PLEASE NOTE:
Business coaching does not involve the diagnosis or treatment of mental disorders as defined by the American Psychiatric Association and coaching is not to be used as a substitute for counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, mental health care, substance abuse treatment, or other professional advice by legal, medical, or other qualified professionals. It is a person’s exclusive responsibility to seek such independent professional guidance as needed.
