Mind over matter
Stress is lethal for bootstrapping
Mental health
Stress is lethal for bootstrapping
Last week, Gaurav walked into Shack HQ. He ordered a cup of ‘long black’, a better version of Americano. While I pulled his shot, we started chatting. I found out that he has recently turned a bootstrapper. He started Devotus, a mental health service upstart. He has spent more than ten years in the health care sector. While holding health workshops online, he discovered that more people are eager to seek help for mental health than the physical health. He also saw a gap. It is difficult to take the first step towards mental well-being.
Mental health is still a taboo for the Indian society. Countless bootstrappers and founders endure stress and anxiety, while they build or run the business. When stress and anxiety build up over a period of time, it may lead to disorders such as depression. One does not have to be suffering with a disorder to seek help from mental health professionals. It can even affect the successful people.
Professor Michael Freeman found a shocking correlation between entrepreneurship and mental health. He found that entrepreneurs are twice as likely to suffer from depression, three times more likely to indulge in substance abuse, twice as likely to have suicidal thoughts, 10 times more likely to suffer from bipolar disorder, and six times more likely to have ADHD. Link
Any Dunn was CEO of Bonobos, an online apparel brand. Walmart bought it for more than $300 mn. He recently revealed that he was suffering from a mental health disorder. Thanks to timely help, he has recovered.
Dig more: stories about other founders and their mental health Link
Learning to deal and manage daily stress and anxiety has three key benefits.
Learning to deal with one’s emotions and feelings, such as anger.
Better decision-making on a day-to-day basis.
Longevity of the business, as it benefits from your stable state of mental health.
Worth your time: This man makes founders cry Link
Gaurav of Devotus is hosting a meet up at Shack HQ. The aim is to discuss the mental health myths and how it affects bootstrappers. A mental health professional will join Gaurav to explore. Bootstrappers can ask and discuss their queries.
Know the basics of well-being.
Know the early signs of distress and anxiety.
Learn how to seek help if you feel like getting one.
The meet up is on Saturday of 21st January 2023. Venue is Shack Coffee Co. If you are interested, just mail it to me at abhishek@shack.co.in with few details. I will mail you with the invite.
Bootstrapper of the week: Tanmoy
Tanmoy worked as a business reporter. He started facing mental health issues. He did not just address it, he chucked his job to start a publication for mental health issues in India. Furthermore, he founded Sanity My Tanmoy in 2021. You can subscribe to it.
Worth your time: A long twitter thread about insights about depression and anxiety Link