Building Mental Wealth: 6 Tips to Nurture a Founder’s Mind
The journey of a startup can be one of the most frustrating feats. It definitely does not go amiss that while the pursuit of creating social or environmental change is fulfilling, it can also be greatly challenging for a founder’s mental health and wealth.
With long hours, budget restraints and the weight of necessary change, it feels like the whole world is depending on you; we understand!
Below are some cues to follow to keep your mind in check during stressful and successful times.
Tip 1: Never stop learning
As they say, if you develop a passion for learning, you will never cease to grow. Education is a constant at every stage and age, soaking up new information gives you and your team a competitive advantage. If there’s something that isn’t working or clicking in your business then read, research, and learn everything you possibly can on that topic in order to find a solution because more often than not, there is always a solution.
Tip 2: Speak to your circle
During your startup journey, a strong support system is essential. Reaching out to the people around you, your family, friends and team, and expressing your dreams, your vision as well as your struggles and worries helps light the load. Building a business can be a very isolating experience, but it doesn’t have to be. Using the people around you as shoulders to lean on, as well as soundboards, can offer and inspire solutions you may have not even thought of - trust your circle.
Tip 3: Communities
In recent years, there are an increasing amount of startup, entrepreneur and impact forums to join. There are physical and virtual societies across regions with the sole purpose of networking and engaging with like-minded change-makers and business leaders. It can often work as therapy to be around others who can relate to your journey. A few examples include The Conduit, The Bloom (online), BizWarriors (online), The Hive (online), Ellevate Network (online), and of course, C3!
Tip 4: Celebrate yourself
As humans, we are hardwired to focus on the negative experiences in life which tend to always influence our motivation to complete a task. BUT celebrating the wins needs more attention; appreciating the victories, no matter how big or small, is key to your development. Once a month, reflecting on your successes with yourself, a friend or journalling can boost your spirit quickly and allow you to think more productively.
Tip 5: Set boundaries
When you build something from scratch, you are prone to take every opportunity that comes your way without thinking about long-term repercussions. This definitely tends to be the case when fundraising; early-stage founders agree to illogical and unreasonable terms for capital and to avoid this working against you further down the line, it’s important to know your boundaries before speaking to potential investors, partners and sponsors.
Tip 6: Slow down and meditate
Take a breath. Sometimes that’s all it takes to gain perspective and approach the task differently. During the startup cycle, it tends to feel like every single moment is critical and that there’s no time for a break, but, taking time out for yourself in the long run feeds your mental health more than you know. Sometimes, it’s as simple as taking a deep breath in, holding it for 3 seconds and exhaling the anxiety away.
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Many of us are aware of the importance of mental health, however we often choose not to prioritise it. When our mind is balanced, our ability to focus sharpens, our productivity rises and our overall wellbeing is amplified. When developing your startup, it's common to lose sight of your original intention but by implementing some of the tips above, you can start to regain control and refuel our mind. It's crucial to integrate small healthy habits into your routine to nurture your mind and body during this journey.
