Am I psychologically suited to be an entrepreneur?
The question of burn-out an mental health at work is super important and often sushed ?? down. Couple of thoughts in the context of entrepreneurship/ start-ups, which make this stress-burnout risk 10x if not 100x :
1- Entrepreneurs (and start-up teams) ups are subject to continuous stresses that are extreme. It is not for everyone, and certainly not for people who seek 'work life balance'. Large parts of the journey is about relentless ambiguity, inadequate resources, doing things you may not be the best at, defeat after defeat, humiliation, getting up and re-starting, often staring down a scary abyss, and yet seeing possibility and continuing. This impacts not just you but those around you. These risks are known and well documented. However, I do wish they were shared more widely and openly especially more amongst young people - who perhaps see more of the rosy upside/glory of 'successful start-ups' glossed over by the media.
2 - There is a need for self-awareness and education amongst the young on the psychological & emotional consequences of various work choices, and not just the functional and cognitive skills required. (I had zero idea!). There should be wide research and dissemination. I hope the gender slant of this Finnish study below?? is discredited already (and if not I am sure it will be in the future), but the reason I share it to illustrate that it is important and okay to say some people are suited to an area of work and some are not. Of course its a different matter that crazy ones like me may have gone down the path in spite of being warned... and would perhaps still do it again, all the hardship notwithstanding. But someone else may have made a diffrent choice with the information.
Here's hoping more and more youth end up doing what they are meant to do, being the best version of themselves. And this is not meant as a discouragement to budding entrepreneurs - the world needs many! - but only a reminder to step in with eyes-wide-open.
[I was writing a response to the post below and ran over the word limit - hence it became an unintended 'article'. Of course all the practices to better manage one's work life - in the mail thread and broader literature - are very important, but I thought the point of (relative) suitability of people for a given type of work is important too.]
HR Consultant, Employability Skills, Trainer
3 年Ashish, what you said resonates deeply. In Kolkata and Bengal where I live now, Entrepreneurship as a means of revitalizing the economy is crucial. But the path breaking entrepreneurs of high integrity lived a century ago! Few live role models are there to learn from. Would Stories of Failures - and lessons therefrom - be as useful as stories of successes be included as part of Entrepreneurship Education in such circumstances?
Regional Head-B2B- India's 1st SL & IL Tech innovator in Higher Education, Deemed University,Autonomus Colleges, Private University
4 年Good Article sir, it was nice know your experience
Advisor/Coach/Certified Independent Director
4 年Excellent article Ashish. This point is equally valid for those who end up rising up the corporate ladder faster than normal. If one gets the top job before one is emotionally ready for it, the resultant costs could be counted over the rest of the life-time. This holds not just for high-fliers but even for others whose pace was more moderate. A study of PTSD incidence among corporate leaders and its lingering effects is now long overdue- a taboo topic though.
Innovative hands-on Math lab for schools
4 年Why so hue and cry Ashish? The entire business community right from chai wala to taxi driver to shop owners to all the agriculturists. are all entrepreneurs by nature. One tend to identify the want across and try to satisfy it with their value addition. It is the basic nature of all human being. Situation will prepare you.
Communication Designer
4 年I’d love to read more about this in depth. As a co founder myself, I can’t stress enough about how important it is to be mentally strong. The psychological and emotional stakes are at an all time high. I’ve had to read a lot of books, hear a lot of talks, to get myself headstrong and I’m still learning new things about everything, everyday.. whether it’s legal, finance, managing a remote team.. I’m a graphic designer by education.. little did I know what it meant to steer your own ship!