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Entrepreneurial Depression – 8 Ways To Combat

Entrepreneurial DepressionDo you ever feel defeated, unmotivated, stuck or frustrated in your business, feel you’re doing the right things but just don’t feel right? You may be feeling entrepreneurial depression.  

You could be starting a business, have one already, or be wildly successful, entrepreneurial depression does not discriminate, it can happen to anyone.

In today’s video and article we will talk about a leading cause of business failure today, and give you eight great ways to beat this very common problem.

Entrepreneurial Depression Video Tutorial

1. How To Avoid Obsessive Entrepreneurial Depression

Cash FlowAllot of us can get obsessed with every detail of our business. Looking at the cash flow by the hour, minute, or daily basis. Checking texts, emails, likes, constantly fixed on incremental changes.

If this is how you’re measuring success you’re going to have a lot of swings and burnout. One day you make a ton of sales and feel rich, the next day you don’t and feel low.

Don’t look at your business at incremental levels. Look at it on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis. There’s more peace and security when not judging your business second-by-second.

2. Get Outside Of Entrepreneurial Depression

Oftentimes (especially early in a business) we start building a self-identity that’s completely interwoven with the business itself.

How is the business financially? Are the employees happy? What am I forgetting? All the sudden we start feeling broke, unhappy and forgetful. But are we?

Why Your Job Needs A Hobby

Entrepreneurial DepressionThis is the perfect time to take a break and get out. Get a hobby, hang out with friends and family, play a sport or take a class you enjoy. You need to build a concept of self outside of your business. 

Trust me, I’m one of those guys who could work 70, 80 hours a week. I enjoy working, but it also leads to severe burnout. We need other things in our life.

3. Put Your Entrepreneurial Depression To Bed

Are you getting at least seven hours of sleep per-night? Well, NEWSFLASH, businesses caused stress and our bodies needs time to recuperate. Sleep is the best way to reset.

Entrepreneurial DepressionYou might say, “I have so much work to do, I’m going to get 3-4 hours of sleep tonight.” I’ve been there. You finish, but the next day is a mental marathon.

We try to save time by sacrificing sleep, only to lose more time the following days in the funk we get stuck with. Think ahead, be smart.

4. How To Avoid Entrepreneurial Depression Body

Allot of comedians make fun of people going to the gym. That’s because so many people wear their stress and business on their sleeve like a badge, representing their total lack of self care.

Trust me, all but a few of those comedians (successful ones) are going to the gym and working with professionals to maintain their busy schedule and stay mentally and physically fit.

HealthWhat Does Success Really Look Like?

Success is not based on the amount of money you have, it’s based on the quality of life you are living. Success is happy, healthy, wealthy, not rich and miserable.

Business can feel like a blood sport. You’re dealing so much stuff. Take care of yourself and eat healthy. When you care of your body, you’re taking care of your mind and emotional being as well.

5. Does Entrepreneurial Depression Want You Alone?

Entrepreneurial DepressionAre you doing all the work by yourself? Are you’re doing way too much because you do it best? That creates stress. You need to build out systems.

Document what you do that is essential. Make it easy to teach. This is where you can be incremental and methodical. Start with jobs that cause you stress.

Everybody is different. A job that causes you stress, brings another joy. Remember stress wants you alone. It can feed your ego and tell you not to get help. Your ego is not your amigo. 

6. When To Turn Entrepreneurial Depression Off

A very powerful strategy to combat entrepreneurial depression is taking time off. You can love your job, feel on it, feel great and keep going and going, but this is short sighted.

Have you heard of dogs that follow their human on a bike ride and keep running until they fall over?  You need to plan time off (ideally) before you hit a wall.

Time Off

The Best Investment You Can Make In Your Business 

I took three days off for my honeymoon and my next day off was 13 years later. Don’t wait until everyone but yourself is telling you to take time off.

That is what happened to me. My friends and family said, “Steve, seriously, take a week off, see how it feels, it’s not forever.” It was the best investment I ever made.

7. How Good Help Stops Entrepreneurial Depression

Entrepreneurial DepressionHow do you know you have the right people? Could you do better? Do you always have to get involved? Are they late on deadlines? Are they solving problems, but creating more problems?

When hiring, find people who are excited about working with you. Ask if the job is a “calling” and make sure they LIKE doing it vs. CAN do it. Ask your current employees the same thing. 

When Is It Time To Move On

If an employee needs constant reminding and is not (independently) solving problems, you can’t trust and delegate. That is a major cause for entrepreneurial depression.

You are not doing them any favors allowing them to operating at this compromised level. Stop enabling and help them move on.

8. Let The Pro’s Beat Entrepreneurial Depression

Entrepreneurial DepressionAllot of people think getting help is a waste of time or  a sign of weakness. They couldn’t be more wrong. Getting help and guidance is a sign of strength, courage and high intelligence.

Working with a professional, whether a therapist, life coach, counselor or even a smart friend is essential. Heavy is the head that wears the crown and every king had an advisor, multiple!

You need help organizing your mind, rewiring, seeing objectively. Some think they can see themselves objectively, it’s never the same as outside help.

How To Take Personal Inventory And Keep It Fresh

Continue to stay grounded. Don’t get too high or too low. Check in with yourself and keep a pace. Entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint. Continue to find joy and do what you do best.

My name is Steve Nixon. Thank you so much for watching and reading. If you enjoyed this video and article, I encourage you to visit us at strategysamurai.com or on YouTube. Thanks, I’ll see you soon