One of my favorite sayings these days is:
“You’re not an entrepreneur until you’ve had a mental breakdown.”
I say it jokingly, but there is a big truth behind it. After being a business owner for 10+ years, I have had to go through some trying times. I have also talked with hundreds of other business owners and learned from them that it is very common for founders to experience extremely stressful situations that can affect both their mental and physical health.
I have met founders who had to be put into hospitals due to stress or anxiety.
Founders who have permanent physical and mental problems.
Founders who couldn’t take the pressure and walked away from their companies.
Founders who felt the experience was so drastic that they would never again try to start a new business.
So if you are a founder or thinking of becoming one, you must realize the importance of health in the process. You are responsible for taking care of your own mental and physical health. Even though you are working 12–15 hours a day, 7 days a week, you must find a way to eat healthily and exercise once in a while. Being a founder is a long-term commitment, and you must be able to stay energetic for the next 10, 20, or 30 years, so make sure you don’t overdo it.
Take some time for yourself once in a while, read up on health, exercise, eat healthy, and when you have been working too hard or are too stressed out, be aware of it and react to it.
Your health and energy are necessary ingredients in making your company successful!
Frumkvöðull í meira en 20 ár. Stofnandi 7 fyrirtækja og Frumkvöðlar-samfélagsins. Skrifar um ferðalagið — gott og illt.
Meira um Hauk →