How do you cope with stress and uncertainty as a start-up founder?

Eat well, sleep well and exercise... this is a basic need for a startup founder. If you are not feeling good about yourself, no connections and network can make you feel better... Once this is out of the way, accept that things will go wrong and you will deal with it when it does go wrong. Next is to have a core group of your friends, family and supporters who can help you bounce ideas, build on your network and keep you in the mental game.

Managing stress and uncertainty as a startup founder involves adopting strategies like setting realistic goals, staying organized with project management tools, building a support network, and prioritizing a healthy lifestyle. Adapting to change, learning from failures, and celebrating small victories are crucial. Delegating tasks, efficient time management, and financial planning contribute to a more stable business environment. Taking breaks, seeking continuous learning, and, if needed, professional help also play roles in maintaining mental well-being. Finding a personalized balance between these strategies is key, as every founder's journey is unique.

During the initial months, I experienced significant stress. So, I brought some changes to my routine. I prioritized getting sufficient sleep by adjusting my bedtime and waking up early in the morning. I added regular exercise into my schedule. Upon waking up, I dedicated time to reflect on matters rather than immediately diving into work on my laptop. This practice helped me to manage my thoughts more effectively and reduce stress. When tasks/problems arose, instead of attempting to tackle everything simultaneously and becoming overwhelmed, I allocated specific time slots in my personal calendar to address those. This approach allowed me to focus on one issue at a time and clear my mind, knowing that I have a dedicated time for each task.

Accept the fact that you will be working at 100 miles an hour in the early days . Undoubtedly you will probably be the type of person that will have the confidence and the drive to get through the early days . However listen to the people that have done this before, stress has a habit of building up over time , so build in that free time for your self in the early days . Go for walks in fresh air , exercise well , eat well and sleep well. Send less emails and do more direct talking . Its amazing how many time you will be waiting for responses only to find it was never received or it went into spam or into a really busy inbox . Whatever you do smile and stay happy .

Whenever you feel fear or rejection, whether it’s about fundraising, a customer churning or not signing or a key employee leaving - learn to navigate this fear into learning, conclusions, change and action. This helps moving from feeling anxious and powerless to being in control and on a positive trajectory. Other than that the basics are very important. Have a close circle of people you can trust and share everything with, sleep well, eat well and work out. It helps controlling your emotions and navigating them to a productive or pragmatic approach.

A support network needs to include fellow founders, your management team, key employees, shareholders, close family members and friends. They all perform different roles but it is essential to nurture these relationships. I learned an incredibly painful lesson when it was clear that my cofounder, a large investor and I were all on different journeys. I found myself in a highly toxic and destructive environment which impacted on growth and the entire company as well as my own wellbeing. My relationships outside of the company have helped me enormously. Prioritise your support network inside and outside of your business.

Your health is going to suffer, your hours will be long, and for 99% of entrepreneurs the 'fancy' methods that we all read about in business articles about life balance, and 5am workouts etc, just ignore it, its column inches. A sensible approach to eating healthy stuff as often as you can is always a good start. Trying to get some quality sleep is important and tearing yourself away from the computer/Phone is a habit you need to try and get into. One thing that life has taught me, is that texting clients at 10pm in the evening doesn't matter, and that email you need to send so they have it 1st thing next morning also isn't important. 'Packing up' for the day physically and mentally IS VERY important to produce good quality work

Reducing alcohol consumption. Alcohol impacts each person differently from both a mental and physical standpoint. Alcohol will impact your sleep, promote negative eating habits, and steals your energy or ability to recharge.

As a leader, business owner, entrepreneur it can all become incredibly consuming. A strategy that I implemented for myself was upon waking up, I spend the first hour of my day exercising (religiously). I do not look at screens (my phone) until an hour and a half (minimum) after waking up. I focus on my health by lifting, running, stretching, meditating and only after I’ve prepared myself for the day do I then let the day attack me. I’m hyper focused on my health because without it I can’t do what I do. Reflecting on the last few years, this daily practice has kept my mind and body in the venture and enabled me to build resilience.

One of the biggest challenges for entrepreneurs, is to have a healthy balance. Yes, we have to put in the long days and the hours, but it should not be the norm. The risk of making bad calls on the back of long weeks, is real. Get enough sleep, excercise and healhy diet are key contributors for setting yourself up for success. A reminder, the entrepreneurial journey is not a sprint..!

Don’t necessarily add good habits but rather focus on removing the bad ones (80/20). Stop smoking if you do. Reduce any other negatively impactful substances (alcohol, coffee, drug, sugar, grass, porn, short term video etc) and implement a good and balanced diet and sleep routine. And don’t forget to have fun with your friends, family and partner. This will help you last.

Staying consistent and showing up each day will you put you pretty far ahead of the competition. Resiliency is the greatest differentiator

In my experience, the best way to cope with stress and uncertainty as a start-up founder is to work on personal growth. Personal goals are more important stressors than business goals. Personal uncertainty is more damaging than business uncertainty. Many entrepreneurs have sky-high personal goals and then set unrealistic goals in business. Many entrepreneurs try to solve personal uncertainty with gambling in business. Set realistic personal goals, and set realistic business goals. Be certain in your private life and you will deal with any uncertainty in business like a champ.

Celebrate small wins. Yes… actually stop, smile and make a mental note that this is a sign of progress. Because the start up phase will be characterised by plenty of errors and problems to resolve - which can sometimes overwhelm. The errors are just valuable learning and new knowledge - not to be feared. Keep your eye on the prize (goal) but enjoy the small wins and the new knowledge (growth) along the way.

Setting SMART goals sounds like a corporate recommendation and it actually is much harder to put it in place in a startup. Small trick: use an accountable budy/friend/mentor outside of your company to help you commit ;)

Das halte ich für so wichtig. Wenn man 2 oder 3 Jahre in Folge die Ziele nicht erreicht, weil sie viel zu hoch gesetzt sind, dann frustriert das meistens. Manchaml vergisst man auch, dass man Vieles erstmal alleine macht, wo andere ein Team haben. Natürlich k?nnen die andere Ziele anpeilen. Ich bin dazu übergegangen, mich selbst als Mensch mit mir selbst von vor einem Jahr zu vergleichen und zu schauen, wie ich gewachsen bin. Was ich in dem Jahr erreicht habe. Und das macht mich viel glücklicher und gibt mir Energie für das n?chste Jahr.

Uncertainty will always be there. Learn to live with it, and enjoy it! Remember the reason you became an entrepreneur and founder. The reason and impact is solving a problem and building something for a greater good = empowering your users. So, it is not about you and your ambitions per se ?? Second, as Adam Grant says, ‘You’re not a machine. Your “best” will look different each day.’ Some days I work at 150% and others 30%-50%. That’s ok! Third, be kind to yourself. Naysayers will always be there. Get inspiration from your intrinsic motivation - it will keep you going

This is very important. Be able to change, aka pivot. It's important to be realistic with the market. If what you are building is changing, due to economy, uncertainty or whatever it may be, talk to your customers to see what else you might be able to pivot to. Thing I heard; "fail fast, but adapt faster." For example: don't trip on your original monetization plan. If the market isn't adopting, keep changing until you see it stick.

Be comfortable with people saying "no/not now/wait first" and never taking it personally It's important to remember to only worry about things we can control - products, pricing, people we want to work/collaborate with Uncertainty is inevitable but doing a few things help to provide calmness amid the chaos: 1. Secure an anchor client - one that loves your startup and is patient as you get it right 2. Get the right co-founders that believe in the mission 3. Have enough funds and operate on a shoe-string budget to have stamina 4. Pivot and capture opportunities as they come, but don't lose sight of original vision Most importantly, life goes ob. Have fun and be passionate, cos it's a journey not a destination

Remember to keep committed to your vision, not be wedded to the ‘how’ (specific technology, specific, target market, or monetisation plan). Your job as a founder is to listen to the market and help articulate a solution where your vision and their challenges collide. This means that, for such a large part of your journey, you’re going to be living in inherent uncertainty, but with uncertainty also comes flexibility and opportunities.

As a startup founder, I recognize that stress and uncertainty are inherent parts of the entrepreneurial journey. To cope with these challenges, I employ a multifaceted approach that encompasses both personal and professional strategies.

The hormone cortisol is released when we are under stress. To offset this hormone and be at our best we need to consider three areas of mental wellness: 1. Professional Care - Therapy/Counseling. 2. Self-Care - Looking inward and naming emotions and practicing mindfulness. 3. Supportive Care - The most critical is having close bonds with those most critical to us in our lives, releasing the human bonding hormone oxytocin overpowers cortisol. Being in a start-up adds a whole lot of cortisol to your system. Be intentional in all areas of your mental wellness, but especially building a team that is open, authentic, and supports each other.

You are a mind athlete – don't fall for the recovery paradox! Startup Snapshot found in their latest report that 75% of all founders don't consider professional help. Why would you do that? Every serious athlete out there gets every help they can get to stay healthy and perform better. While you may not rely on physical peak-performance, you do rely on mental peak-performance every day! Don't be like the other 75% be smart, get help, and thrive ??

If stress and uncertainty become overwhelming, don't hesitate to seek professional help. A therapist or counselor can provide you with tools and techniques to manage your mental health effectively.

We are in the midst of an important, long-awaited and much-needed generational shift in which relatively younger founders who have grown up without the same stigma associated with needing help expect to have coaches or therapists (or both, as they can serve different needs). This impacts how they support their teams and create cultures that value wellbeing.

Holen Sie sich professionelle Hilfe, bevor Sie es unbedingt brauchen. Jeder geht zum Zahnarzt, l?sst seine Blutwerte checken, kontrolliert das Gewicht,.... Wer geht schon regelm??ig zum Psychotherapeuten um seine "Emotionswerte" zu analysieren ? Wie in den meisten gesundheitlichen Themen, ist der Vorbeugung, gegenüber der Reparatur der Vorzug zu geben. Eine stressbedingte, gest?rte Schlafarchitektur beispielsweise, entwickelt sich über Monate - und braucht doppelt so lange zum Normalisieren. take care before the breakdown

I love the saying: Bend like bamboo I don’t think you ever really “enjoy it”. You just get better over time if dusting yourself off and getting back on your feet. Remember, this isn’t for everyone. There’s no shame in giving it a go and deciding you want to do something else. But if it is for you, embrace it with both hands and go for it!!!

I try to live by: “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast”. It goes against every fibre of my being but it means I focus on the right things at the right time, I make better decisions, I take the time to consult and think and rest when I need it. So far it’s working ??

For first-time founders, everything can be a source of stress. Whether it's overwhelming responsibilities, setbacks or failures, or even minor conflicts with your family due to work commitments, it can all add up. One strategy I've found effective for managing stress is continuous learning. Explore various stress management techniques and strategies relevant to your business. Strive to become slightly wiser each day, even if it's just by 1%. You never know when that newfound knowledge might come to your rescue.

The suggestions above are helpful, but the reality is that it is tough to get started as a founder when you are stuck beneath a crushing mortgage with several financial dependents. We can’t all choose our circumstances but it helps to adopt a reasonable amount of financial prudence in the years prior to starting a business.

I believe: 1- Self-care: Prioritize exercise, sleep, and a balanced. 2- Seek support: Build a network of fellow entrepreneurs for advice and empathy. 3- Practice mindfulness: Engage in meditation or deep breathing for a calm mindset. 4- Break tasks: Divide overwhelming tasks into manageable steps. 5- Embrace adaptability: Be flexible and ready to adjust plans. 6- Set realistic expectations: Celebrate small wins and learn from setbacks. 7- Master time management: Prioritize tasks and create a balanced schedule. 8- Delegate and outsource: Don't be afraid to ask for help. 9- Celebrate achievements: Acknowledge milestones and progress. 10- Take breaks and disconnect: Engage in hobbies and spend time with loved ones.