Your success in the world is essentially determined by your ability to use your mind and energy effectively.
Yes?…Think about it….
As entrepreneurs, we’re essentially creating something from nothing. Or, more precisely, we’re taking a vision in our mind and a passion in our heart and transmuting that into a physical reality. So if we want to be successful, we must invest in the inner dimensions of our wellbeing because that’s the seed from which all else is sprouts. It’s our core operating system.
Day to day, it’s easy to become lost in the fog of responsibility, technology overstimulation, and chronic stress. Especially as an entrepreneur, your lifestyle can become intense, unbalanced, and can even feel brutal emotionally at times.
Especially as an entrepreneur, your lifestyle can become intense, unbalanced, and can even feel brutal emotionally at times.
On the one hand, entrepreneurship can offer a professional experience like no other as you watch your own creation grow, succeed, and make an impact in the world. This creates a sense of euphoric joy and pride unmatched in any other sphere of professional life. This spirit of playful creation is likely a major reason why you have chosen the path of entrepreneurship.
But for many entrepreneurs, somewhere along this journey of transforming your dreams into reality, stress, negativity, or fear have subdued your initial exuberance. Whereas the highs of entrepreneurship are extremely high, the lows can be crushing, and they feel deeply personal because of how intimately you’re involved with your business. It can be extremely lonely in moments when it feels like the walls are caving in and you’re exhausting yourself just treading water to stay afloat.
It can be extremely lonely in moments when it feels like the walls are caving in and you’re exhausting yourself just frantically treading water to stay afloat.
Even if you are feeling relatively well balanced mentally, often it seems like there’s some invisible force holding you back from your reaching your peak performance level and, ultimately, your peak potential in life and business.
It also doesn’t help that across various forms of media we’re ceaselessly bombarded with the highlight reels of other entrepreneurs succeeding. It’s so easy to get caught up in the destructive thought loops of jealousy and self-doubt. Why does it seem so easy for them? What am I doing wrong? Is there something wrong with me?
Social media highlights or Tech Crunch funding articles seldom tell the complete story. If you’re in the trenches of building a business you know the realities of the day to day grind are far less glamorous than the curated images others often present to the world.
As an entrepreneur, if you don’t have proper tools and understanding to manage your own inner equilibrium, the daily battles of life and business can slowly grind you down and debilitate your physical health, self-belief, and effectiveness as a leader.
As an entrepreneur, if you don’t have proper tools and understanding to manage your own inner equilibrium, the daily battles of life and business can slowly grind you down and debilitate your physical health, self-belief, and effectiveness as a leader. Over time, this can take a costly toll on your personal life and the success of your business.
Wouldn’t it be empowering to maintain a sense of balance, ease, and healthfulness throughout the inevitable highs and lows of the entrepreneurial journey? How much more would you accomplish if you could show up every day with a sharp, refreshed mind, vibrant energy, and a natural sense of joy and confidence in your work?
How much more would you accomplish if you could show up every day with a sharp, refreshed mind, vibrant energy, and a natural sense of joy and confidence in your work?
If you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed in your entrepreneurial journey, you’re not alone. According to the Gallup Wellbeing Index, 45% of entrepreneurs report feeling stressed out, and, according to the latest research from UC Berkeley, entrepreneurs are more than TWICE as likely than the general population to suffer from mental health related ailments such as depression, addiction, ADHD, and bipolar diagnosis. That’s remarkable and, perhaps, unexpected. (INC.com: The Psychological Price of Entrepreneurship)
So taking a deep dive into your own wellbeing as an entrepreneur is not something you can afford to put off until later. It’s not something you can solve simply by taking a yoga class once a month or eating a salad every now and then. Inner wellbeing is a fundamental issue that must be looked at with at least as much involvement and urgency as you’re devoting to building your business.
Inner wellbeing is a fundamental issue that must be looked at with at least as much involvement and urgency as you’re devoting to building your business.
Because, when it comes to physical and mental wellbeing, the stakes are truly of the highest order. Unfortunately, we’re all aware of the tragic consequences of mental health issues in our society today. (even within our own entrepreneurial community) But even something as seemingly mundane as chronic stress has severe consequences. In fact, emotional stress is a major contributing factor to the six leading causes of death in the United States.
I’m not trying to paint a morbid picture, but I am trying to be honest about what the stakes really are. This is a topic that our society is often afraid to discuss directly. Mental health is the elephant in the room that so many entrepreneurs struggle with, but no one talks openly about for fear of the social or business consequences.
Mental health is the elephant in the room that so many entrepreneurs struggle with, but no one talks openly about for fear of the social or business consequences.
Because it’s one thing for our business to fail, of course, we don’t want that to happen. But, it’s another level altogether when we look at ourselves holistically and honestly as human beings. There’s a tremendous cost to neglecting our health not just to ourselves, but to our personal relationships and very directly to our business success as well. So really taking a serious look at our health and wellness RIGHT NOW, is the most important thing we can do. Because our inner wellness is the fundamental lever that impacts our life in all areas. It’s the ultimate meta-skill that raises our game in every other facet of life.
Because our inner wellness is the fundamental lever that impacts our life in all areas. It’s the ultimate meta-skill that raises our game in every other facet of life.
In fact, the science now supports this insight. The field of positive psychology studies the world’s best performers to glean insights on how humans can live happier, healthier, more vibrant, and more successful lives. Researchers at Harvard have found that only 25% of your professional success is determined by IQ, while 75% is determined by your optimism levels, social support, and the ability to experience stress as a challenge rather than a threat. They’ve also documented that your intelligence, creativity, and energy levels rise significantly when you are happy versus when you are neutral, negative, or stressed. People are 31% more productive and 37% better at sales when they are happy, and company revenues can improve by 50% when employees are happy. Imagine if you could be 30% more productive and successful this year simply by taking care of your inner wellbeing. Imagine those gains compounded over 5 years or 10 years. This shift would completely rewrite your destiny. (Happiness Makes Your Brain Work Better)
Researchers at Harvard have found that only 25% of your professional success is determined by IQ, while 75% is determined by your optimism levels, social support, and the ability to experience stress as a challenge rather than a threat.
Much of western culture is built around the unconscious belief system that “If I work harder, I’ll be more successful. If I become more successful, then I’ll be happier.” That is, happiness is always on the other side of success. But this cultural gospel has the formula completely backward. Inner wellbeing is the preeminent quality that’s required in order to be successful in life.
You’ve likely noticed that whenever you achieve a goal or attain to a certain level of success, your mind immediately moves the goalposts of “success” to a higher place that you haven’t attained yet. You set a new goal, time passes, and again you reach a new level of success only to realize that the fulfillment you seek is still elusive. So you set another goal. Again and again. This is an endless game that will never end because the problem is not about the external success, the problem is about your deep internal belief systems and compulsive needs for external validation.
It’s not that we don’t intend to achieve external goals and make an impact on the world. It’s just that we want to go about it with wisdom, wellness, and consciousness. In life, the journey is the reward. In fact, clarity and consciousness are the most important qualities if we want to make a sustained positive impact on the world.
In life, the journey is the reward.
Imagine waking up in the morning. You feel refreshed and well rested. As you move through your morning routine, you’re present and peaceful in what you’re doing. There’s a simple joy and ease in the acts of taking a shower and preparing a nourishing breakfast for yourself. You open up your calendar and email to start the workday. Yes, there are many things to do, but it’s exciting, it’s not stressful. Life has become a game for you. You’re energized and motivated to face the day’s challenges and you view them as growth opportunities. Of course, there is uncertainty in how certain projects will turn out. There always is. But, internally you are absolutely balanced and confident because you are secure in who you are and the team of allies you have around you. Also, because you’ve been taking care of yourself, you have more energy and clarity to support those who depend on you with care and involvement. Your employees respond to you with increasing respect and enthusiasm because they know you’re there to genuinely support their growth, and they respect your leadership. You’re secure in your identity, worthiness, and inner wellbeing, so whatever may happen on the outside, you remain rock solid.
Now is the time to turn within.
You’re already investing so much in the external resources and technology to run your business. You’ve invested in powerful hardware and cutting-edge software so your team can work efficiently and effectively. You’ve invested in hiring the best people, and in an office space conducive to teamwork and collaboration. You’ve invested so much in the external resources, but something still feels likes its missing….
Have you thought about your inner technology?
You can have the best resources in the universe are your fingertips, but if you’re not balanced, thinking clearly, and energized with belief in your vision, then your efforts will ultimately prove impotent. Wellbeing is not only about our own health and enjoyment of life, which of course is extremely important, but it’s also most fundamental to the success of our business.
Because you can only perform at your best when you have a certain ease in your system and clarity in your mind. As a leader, you can only plan properly and react to situations wisely from a state of inner balance and confidence. You are only at your most creative when you can tap in the dynamic energy within yourself in its fullest vibrancy. You’re only you’re most persuasive and influential when you can really connect and empathize with people and be genuinely excited about what you have to offer. Because, ultimately, our capabilities in any moment are just a reflection of our capability to use our own mind and energy.
You can have the best resources in the universe are your fingertips, but if you’re not balanced, thinking clearly, and energized with belief in your vision, then your efforts will ultimately prove impotent.
If your mind, your emotions, and your health are problems in and of themselves, how do you have any hope of creating something that will impact the world successfully? How will you be able to touch others’ lives positively? And when adversity inevitably comes, will you have to tools to react consciously rather than compulsively or defensively?
Because adversity is inevitable. In fact, the more successful you become and the more you become responsible for, the more people will depend on you and the more potential there will be for random things to go wrong or to not meet your expectations on any given day. Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are two entrepreneurs we idolize in our culture as the pinnacle of innovation and success. Has success made their lives less stressful or less challenging? I would say no. (15 Months of Fresh Hell Inside Facebook, Elon Musk Removed as Chairman of Tesla, Fined $20M)
Adversity is inevitable.
You may be thinking, ok so I know that investing in my mental wellbeing, emotional strength, and overall health is important, but where do I start? This idea of pursuing a joyful and balanced inner life sounds good, Alex, but I can’t quit my job and move to a mountainside monastery to meditate with monks in caves. I also don’t want to fool with this hippie dippie woowoo spiritual stuff I see on Instagram. Also, I tried a meditation app once, but I didn’t feel results so I stopped using it. I live in the real world. I need results that impact my life in the real world so I can be a more effective leader and happier human being.
My background is in business, entrepreneurship, and technology, so I can speak your language.
I hear you, and that’s why I’m here. My background is in business, entrepreneurship, and technology (I attended NYU Stern and studied finance, I worked at LinkedIn in California, I worked at several startups doing things from digital media to artificial intelligence), so I can speak your language. I understand the unique pressures of the business environment and the uncertainty of the startup lifestyle. I understand what tools and tactics in terms of health, wellness, and developing confidence can work for you, and what won’t. In fact, I’ve played the business game in some of the most dynamic environments in the world, so I calibrate my solutions to work within the context of any type of professional or entrepreneurial lifestyle.
I’ve traveled literally to the ends of the earth in search of the best tools, technologies, and knowledge for self-transformation.
Also, I don’t just talk the talk, I’ve walked the walk of self-transformation. I’ve traveled literally to the ends of the earth in search of the best tools, technologies, and knowledge for self-transformation. My journey has taken me to the Amazon jungle of South America to train with shamans in the science of plant-based healing. My journey has taken me to India where I spent time in ashrams in the Himalayas, absorbed wisdom from swamis & yogis in the ancient city of Varanasi, and ultimately trained with a guru in meditation and yoga in a tradition that’s over 5,000 years old and became an 1800 hour certified classical hatha yoga teacher. I’m also a certified life coach by The Academy of Modern Applied Psychology.
I’ve transformed myself from a suicidally depressed, anxiety-ridden, extremely insecure young man imprisoned by my toxic emotions and negative beliefs, to a vibrantly joyful and extremely confident person who enduringly experiences inner states of love, peacefulness, health, and equanimity beyond anything I could have imagined just a few years ago. =
I am sharing all of this not to boast, but to inspire. I want to shed light that experiencing a life of balance and joy in midst of a demanding world is not a pipe dream. This is a human possibility, in fact, it’s a human necessity. Because it’s not that peace and joy is the only goal in our life or even the highest goal in our life. It’s recognizing that inner pleasantness and balance is the most fundamental prerequisite to living life with effectiveness, wisdom, and inspired creativity. We should be looking at inner wellbeing first, not last.
It’s not that peace and joy is the only goal in our life or even the highest goal in our life. It’s recognizing that inner pleasantness and balance is the most fundamental prerequisite to living life with effectiveness, wisdom, end inspired creativity.
I believe entrepreneurship is a beautiful expression of the spiritual yearning of every human being to grow, to expand, and to create. Only if you can tap in that creative center deep within yourself, that dynamic intelligence which is beyond the thinking mind but is the source of all true innovation, only then do you have the possibility of manifesting your dreams into reality. Awareness, wellbeing, and a sense of zest for life are the most fundamental seeds from which all else sprouts.
I believe entrepreneurship is a beautiful expression of the spiritual yearning of every human being to grow, to expand, and to create.
It’s my passion to help dynamic and motivated entrepreneurs like you generate the wellbeing and balance within themselves to consistently perform at their peak and to enjoy the process of being an entrepreneur. If taking control of your inner wellbeing and achieving your external goals successfully (and joyfully) is a serious priority for you, then I invited you to book a free 60-minute discovery session with me.
In my work, I incorporate the principles of deep psychology, unconscious belief systems, yoga, meditation, physical wellness, as well as some more traditional business coaching frameworks so we can achieve results both within yourself and within the context of your business goals.
I am taking only a very limited number of new clients for the rest of 2019, so if you’re motivated to take next steps of self-transformation in your life, now is the time to book the call with me.