“No great mind ever existed without a touch of madness” Aristotle – 384-322 BC
The above quote from the revered ancient Greek philosopher is as true today as ever, with 72% of entrepreneurs reporting being affected by mental health issues.
A few months ago, I received a LinkedIn email from a man asking if I knew anyone who had built a business while struggling with mental health issues. Even though I didn’t know anyone personally, I was, and am, acutely aware that any entrepreneurial journey, in fact any journey of great success or success, involves overcoming failure and facing many challenges.
However, rather than simply responding by saying I didn’t know of any examples, I wanted to find out more and began researching mental health among entrepreneurs. As I began my research, it became clear that mental health was a huge problem in the world of business and entrepreneurship.
The more I think about it, the more I suppose it’s less surprising than I initially thought – after all, entrepreneurs are known for working harder, taking more risks, going against norms and challenging question the status quo in their chosen fields…
A quote that sums up an entrepreneur in a humorous way but makes the point is: “An entrepreneur is someone who jumps off a cliff and builds a plane on the way down”…
Although I prefer the more reasoned quote from Richard Branson: “An entrepreneur is an innovator, a job creator, a revolutionary, a business leader, a disruptor, an adventurer. »
But even Branson’s quote, in reference to leadership, job creation, innovation, disruption, challenging/changing norms, etc., you can begin to understand why it may be about a stressful career choice, filled with anxiety and risk – therefore exponentially increasing the likelihood. mental health issues – certainly not for the faint of heart or those looking for a stable role offering security, routine and/or balance.
The researchers highlighted that 72% of entrepreneurs had been affected by mental health problems. The research also found that 49% of entrepreneurs surveyed suffered from at least one mental illness (such as ADD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, addiction, depression or anxiety) and that around a third of entrepreneurs were struggling with 2 or more mental illnesses! – more than 50% higher than population norms.
A Forbes study of 2,000 UK start-ups/early stage businesses found: “People often idealize the idea of being an entrepreneur, but starting and growing a business is never an easy path – the more often, the path to success is strewn with pitfalls. “,
“Entrepreneurs often put themselves under enormous pressure to succeed”
Psychologists have found that some of the genetic/behavioral traits that mean a person may be predisposed or susceptible to mental health problems are also common traits found in many entrepreneurs…. Fearlessness, risk taking, unlimited ambition, unrealistic work ethic, strong emotional drive, etc.
This is clearly a fine line that needs to be better/more understood, and requires a level of self-monitoring and awareness – what makes one person great can push another over the edge.
The research mentioned in this blog requires more attention and focus, but the reality is that none of us are perfect – in the words of Shoma Morita (1874-1938), a famous and world-renowned Japanese psychologist ( influenced by the principles of Zen Buddhism). ):
“Give up. Start taking action now, while being neurotic or imperfect or procrastinating or unhealthy or lazy or any other label by which you inaccurately describe yourself. Go ahead, be the best imperfect person you can be and start the things you want to accomplish before you die.
The Japanese have long understood and accepted that sometimes things (and people) break… but instead of throwing them away, or seeing them as no longer having value or use, they see the flaws and challenges as part of the story, which adds to an object. beauty, which makes the object or person special, individual and unique… to be repaired and cherished with love, not to be thrown away, hidden or shamed. A beautiful manifestation of this belief/principle is the art of Kintsugi.
Kintsugi (or kintsukuroi) is a Japanese method of repairing broken ceramics with a special lacquer mixed with gold, silver or platinum. The philosophy behind this technique is to recognize the history of the object and visibly incorporate the repair into the new piece instead of disguising it. The process usually results in something more beautiful and infinitely more valuable than the original.
“In a world that reveres youth, perfection, and the new, the art of Kintsugi contains a special wisdom as applicable to our own lives as it is to pots. The care and love devoted to broken pieces should also encourage us to respect what is damaged and scarred, vulnerable and imperfect, starting with ourselves and those around us.
Having grown up in relative poverty, experiencing bankruptcy in my 20s and losing my home shortly after, not to mention my fair share of challenges, stresses and failures on my journey to the life I enjoy today , I believe without a doubt that our problems, our pain, failures and weaknesses can, with the right direction and support, transform us into a stronger and more successful version of ourselves in the future.
And with that, since I started with a quote, I will end in the same vein.
“There is a beauty even in broken things – and when they are repaired with such attention and care, they become even more beautiful… We are all broken, that’s how the light comes in,” Ernest Hemingway, 1899 – 1961.
