Entrepreneurs have been romanticized by the world with them being treated akin to celebrities. Their world appears glamourous to us as they set their own rules, schedules and answer to no one but themselves. This luxury comes with a price unknown to the majority. The stress of running a company, maintaining and improving the financial status of the company along with providing for the employees combined with varying other factors lead to several health issues faced by this elite group.
Entrepreneurs’ experience isolation as they hold the position where it’s hard to come across someone who can understand and share their worries which aids depression to take form. Moreover, the “Time is Money” mentality leads them to devote more time to building their company and less time to take care of themselves and indulge in stress-relieving activities. The next well-known issue faced by entrepreneurs is the tie between their opinion of themselves and their net worth. They assess their self worth with the amount of net worth their business produces which affects their self-esteem and causes low confidence in themselves. This affects its overall performance and hence directly affects the company.
Entrepreneurs are compulsively driven and have the passion which keeps them going and helps them in getting back up. But the same obsession may lead to various other issues. A 2014 study published in the Journal of Business Venturing, found that habitual entrepreneurs display symptoms of behavioral addictions, such as obsessive thoughts, withdrawal-engagement cycles, and negative emotional outcomes. Similar to other behavioral addictions – like gambling or internet usage – serial entrepreneurs are likely to experience negative consequences that stem
from their need to keep going.
Stress is an integral part of human life and has to be dealt with by everyone across all age groups. The entrepreneurs perhaps face a higher level of stress. The responsibility of the company lies with them and the next deal or signing might be the notch they need in the right direction. The stress to always be prepared and on their toes leads to anxiety. Though on paper they give the impression of being easily identifiable, as the quote goes, “The prettiest smiles hide the deepest secrets. The brightest eyes have cried the most tears. The kindest hearts have felt the most pain.” Nothing is as it seems.