Emotionally Unstable, Yet Hilariously Profitable: The Entrepreneur's Guide

“A person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except thoughts. So, he loses touch with reality and lives in a world of illusions. By thoughts I mean specifically chatter in the skull, perpetual and compulsive repetition of words, of reckoning and calculating.” - Alan Watts

Let's address the elephant in the boardroom - the misconception that entrepreneurs are stoic, emotionless beings fueled solely by spreadsheets and coffee. In reality, we're more like caffeinated chameleons, adapting to a constantly changing landscape while occasionally needing a caffeine IV drip.

There's this myth that emotions in business are a sign of weakness, like finding a unicorn in your quarterly report. But let's be honest, even the most composed CEOs have moments when they're convinced their startup is a circus tent in a windstorm.?

We've all heard the advice, 'Don't let your emotions cloud your judgment.' Well, here's a secret: sometimes, those emotions ARE our judgment. Picture this: you're about to sign a crucial deal, and your gut feeling is doing a Cha-Cha dance number. Instead of ignoring it, you embrace it, and suddenly, your dance moves become the secret sauce to sealing the deal. The catch? You never really know if your emotions will lead you to the red carpet of success or a rollercoaster ride.

My interest in this subject stems from prolonged reflection and personal challenge. My upbringing did not frame emotions as a source of strength. On the contrary, I learned to view my intense feelings as an inconvenience, a source of shame, rather than recognizing the wisdom and action they could contribute to my personal development.

What role do emotions play in business?

They are everything.

In discussions about startup empowerment and growth, there’s often an emphasis on business strategies and frameworks, relegating emotions to the back seat. "If I were to launch a B2B SaaS today, here’s the playbook…" How about a playbook on emotional hygiene that will elevate your brand not only in front of investors but also internally with employees, guaranteeing the loyalty that is so needed in the beginning stages of a venture?

Emotions are everything. Diving into entrepreneurship transcends the mere creation of products or appeasing investors; it’s about mastering authentic leadership and ensuring our personal journey echoes within our professional vision. Emotions lie at the core of this adventure, fueling our perseverance, guiding our decisions, and fostering deep connections with others. Scaling your business is all about partnerships and communicating with authenticity. Consciously weaving our emotional wisdom into our leadership not only drives our business forward but also harmonizes our personal growth with our entrepreneurial goals, leading to a path that’s both successful and deeply rewarding.

Yet, acknowledging that emotional resilience and intelligence are cornerstones of effective leadership is crucial. Entrepreneurs are certainly no strangers to the emotional rollercoaster of starting and growing a business, but the dialogue seldom moves toward practical ways to positively channel these emotions. This neglect shortchanges the all-around development of founders, who must juggle their emotional well-being with the pressures of their ventures.

Emotions, far from being ancillary, are pivotal to our existence and the saga of creating and steering a startup. My lifelong bond with music illustrates how emotions can amplify our creative and professional pursuits. Recognizing and tactically navigating through our emotions isn’t merely advantageous; it’s essential for founders aspiring to lead their ventures with foresight and resilience.

Cracking the Shell of Corporate Clownery

Emotions possess a depth of insight that logic alone can't grasp. They're not fleeting feelings; they're my partners in crime, offering a kind of strength no pre-workout supplement can match—and I'm quite the fan of Celsius. Now, don't get me wrong, I am very much human, and as a member of this species, I really don't like rejection and am afraid of looking like a fool. I was also raised in a society that praised the notion, "don't speak until you can improve the silence," and did I suffer throughout my life because of that.

Discovering empowerment in music was transformative, unveiling resilience and strength crucial as I navigate the complex finance world, filled with diverse personalities and challenges. These workplace dynamics, often humorous in hindsight, have highlighted the importance of composure and empathy, teaching me that emotional regulation and positivity are not just personal virtues but essential leadership skills. This experience has reinforced the significance of leading by example, gracefully navigating human emotions, and fostering a healthy company culture, underscoring leadership's role beyond mere business strategy.

I have worked with music throughout my life to resolve challenges within myself, and over the past 5 years, I have started relying on music to summon the emotions I need at any moment, allowing me to present my most authentic self to the world.

Music and emotions are deeply interconnected, impacting both our psychological and physiological states in profound ways. Music influences emotions by providing a powerful means for expression and processing, regulating mood, and fostering social connections. It can evoke strong emotional responses and memories, serving as a catalyst for recalling and experiencing deep feelings.?

Here are a few ways I work with music:

Deliberately Evoking Emotions: Creating music playlists for mental tenacity. Curating playlists that resonate with the emotions I need to channel for focus and resilience.

Meditation: Using music for meditation and spiritual introspection. Allowing melodies to guide me through moments of self-reflection and inner exploration, fostering a deeper understanding of my emotions and aspirations.

Body Movement: The emotional body is connected to the physical body. There is nothing more effective than moving anxious energy through power poses, jumps, and dance. Expressing emotions through music and movement, transcending the constraints of words and logic.?

Listening to your gut feeling is often championed, but if entrenched in fears and anxieties, it can be clouded by these emotions. To counter this, I advocate actions such as selecting a power song and immersing yourself in it to evoke the feelings you strive to embody. It's about creating an emotional anchor that keeps you grounded and connected to your authentic self, especially in the face of challenging decisions and situations.

Resilience: Because Life's Chaos Needs a Hug and a Giggle

True resilience is cultivated not just by overcoming challenges, but also through embracing discomfort, befriending our fears, and understanding that when we feel deeply affected by our experiences, it transcends mere business—it has genuinely touched us. This realization underscores the importance of working with those triggered emotions; otherwise, we are prone to merely react to them, rather than respond thoughtfully. Collaboration, in this light, holds crucial significance in my personal and professional development. I have been deeply influenced by three remarkable women: Ligia Buzan , Pallavi Ridout, MBA, ACC , and Regina Zafonte , who have made an enduring impression on my life. Their wisdom and support have been pivotal in helping me navigate the complex interplay of emotions in life and leadership. They've fostered an environment where vulnerability is not only embraced but also leveraged as the driving force behind my personal growth, teaching me the invaluable lesson that true strength involves recognizing and addressing our emotions to forge ahead with clarity and purpose.

Leading with an Empowered Heart

Bringing your heart, unburdened by anxieties, to your work is the hallmark of a resolute and empowered leader. It elevates growth, making you not just a better leader, but a better human being. It's about leading with empathy, understanding, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity, empowering those around you to do the same.

Recognizing and embracing our emotions, and leading with an empowered heart, can transmute challenges into opportunities, especially in the demanding landscape of startups. It's about fostering a culture where emotions are not seen as a hindrance, but as a source of strength and resilience, propelling us toward growth and authentic innovation.

Take a moment to reflect on your own relationship with emotions, both in your personal life and in your entrepreneurial journey. Consider how you can harness the power of your emotions to drive authentic leadership and resilience. Whether it's through music, mindfulness, or simply embracing vulnerability, make a commitment to lead with an empowered heart.

Share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments below and let's continue this conversation on the importance of emotions in business and personal growth.

“I am not trying to put you down, it’s an expression of you as you are” - Alan Watts

PS: I wrote this blog in my head while doing a really hard workout and “feeling” this song: “INZO - Overthinker (CloZee Remix) | Lyrics”