Entrepreneurship and mental health disorders can go hand-in-hand. The truth is that entrepreneurs have a tendency to believe that everyone else is doing just fine and that they are the only ones struggling. But that’s just not true. Mental health conditions affect so many entrepreneurs, their issues can range from ADHD, to anxiety, to depression. Entrepreneur depression can be exacerbated by the isolation that comes with entrepreneurship. If you or someone you know struggles with mental health issues listen to this episode to learn more about how to cope.
Half of entrepreneurs say that they have at least one mental health condition
Many entrepreneurs deal with depression and anxiety. These two conditions can be seen as two sides to the same coin. Anxiety impacts how you focus on the future and depression can have you focused too much on the past. Entrepreneur depression can be exacerbated by the seeming isolation of entrepreneurship. But the truth is that there are so many entrepreneurs dealing with depression and a range of other mental health issues. So if you think you are the only one, please know that you are not alone!
TWEET THIS: HALF OF #ENTREPRENEURS SAY THAT THEY HAVE AT LEAST ONE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, SO IF YOU THINK YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE, PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Many entrepreneurs overcompensate for their weaknesses
After being told your whole life that you are lazy or that your issues are just in your head, many decide to prove to the world just how hard they can work. While having a strong work ethic is a wonderful trait, many with ADHD become workaholics and/or perfectionists to compensate for their perceived laziness. Maelisa ended up turning her weakness of being disorganized into a strength by learning organizational skills. She then took it a step further and created a business out of it. Have you found that you overcompensate for a weakness?
Acknowledge that you have a weakness then learn how to manage it
So you’re no superhero. This is not news. Having a weakness is okay! Take a page from the addiction handbook and first acknowledge that you have a problem. The next step is to figure out how to deal with it. What is it you really need? Do you need time management? A team to delegate tasks to? Do you need to see a therapist? Ask a friend for a recommendation. Should you be managing your condition with medication? Do whatever it is that you need to do to care for yourself. Listen to this episode to help you think about your conditions and discover the best solution that works for you.
If you give your business everything than you won’t have anything left for the rest of your life
Having clear boundaries between work and home life can be tricky for the entrepreneur that works from home, but it is an important step in creating a healthy work/life balance. It is easy to associate your business’s success or failure with your own worth. It’s hard to manage passion and focus while separating yourself from your business’s success or failure. With high achieving personality then you feel like you must do it all. How do you make time for your hobbies, family, and relationships alongside your business? Listen to this episode to get ideas on how to maintain a healthy work/life balance.
In this episode…
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[2:12] Half of entrepreneurs say that they have at least one mental health condition
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[6:20] Many overcompensate for their weaknesses
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[9:53] Admit that you have a problem and that you must care for it
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[12:47] You have to have a safe network to share your vulnerability
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[16:49] Money is our biggest metric to measure success
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[19:36] If you give your business everything than you won’t have anything left for the rest of your life
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[26:58] If you are genuinely struggling with mental health issues see a professional
Resources & People Mentioned
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BOOK – Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Connect With Maelisa and Amber
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And the MBB Facebook Page
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