A guest blog by Pamela Rae-Welsh, online visibility specialist and entrepreneur.
I read some worrying statistics in a blog post the other day - on shopify of all places; about the rising trend of mental health issues, clinical depression and the rise of suicide within the entrepreneurial community. I’m not going to lie it had a profound effect on me, and I’m sure looking at those facts it would take even the hardest of nuts not to feel concern for the trajectory.
Entrepreneurs are proven to experience more stress, more worry and feel more isolated than any other working population according to the Gallup wellness survey. It’s easy to identify why. As entrepreneurs we wear all of the hats - and are often seen as one man band crusaders on a mission to disrupt whatever industry we are in. Being branded as “crusaders” “pioneers” and “disrupters” in itself comes with a pressure that failure is not an option, that we “soldier on” solitary and blinkered to the real world. We are often referenced to as superhuman. However, the reality can be far from that perception.
The language used to describe entrepreneurs and the behaviour often seen demonstrated on social media as being “entrepreneurial” portrays a 24 hour cycle of “graft” “hustle” and “grind” juxtaposed with jet set lifestyles, fast cars and designer watches or handbags. “Boss Babe” is a term that makes me be sick in my mouth a little bit if I’m honest.
The reality for entrepreneurs is it is a lonely and isolating experience sometimes and it can be hard to see the wood for the trees. The stigma attached to seeking help only exacerbates the perception of failure in the entrepreneur. “Failure is not an option” is a quote shared so often that it can feel terrifying to someone who literally has everything on the line for their dream or their passion.
This doesn’t just apply to struggling entrepreneurs either. Entrepreneurs which have experienced success can become addicted to it - I know I have this tendency! The euphoric feeling of the client saying yes, the results seen when someone implements one of my SEO coaching sessions and gets more traffic and customers to their site. It is heady and it can fuel your desire for more. When is enough enough however? When is it recognised as being unhealthy and an intervention staged? The reality is - it rarely is identified. Pop stars craving the next number one, property developers craving the next big deal, coaches landing that “level” of money. It is seen as a positive - look what they are achieving; look at the boundaries they are smashing. When inside they may be crashing and they feel like they have no one to talk to.
I admit that I can feel a loneliness in my roles as leader and entrepreneur because there isn’t anyone to temper the ideas, no shoulder to cry on when the irrational impostor syndrome kicks in. I used to feel like if I were to admit that something is wrong then people will not trust me in the same way, or they would not respect my authority on any subject. However a few things happened in 2019 have helped me to recognise that actually it is ok to seek counsel, help and advice. Here are my learnings:
1. I curated my circle. Stopped hanging out with people that made me feel inferior or that I had something to prove.
2. I started networking with likeminded people and talking. Not about the next big idea or my next strategic move, but about me and how I’m doing.
3. I introduced the Mindset Series into my online visibility membership group. Hosted by the fab Aislinn from The Calm Within, this monthly series of insights into mental health and coping mechanisms has caused lightbulb moments with my members and I appreciate the service Aislinn provides massively.
The various campaigns which have started in the last 18 months have been really encouraging when it comes to getting people talking about mental health, and aiming to address the stigma attached to seeking help (or even admitting there is a problem). This is brilliant to see but I think there needs to be a seismic shift in attitudes and our behaviour with social media before we see real progress with this issue.
The learnings I’ve shared in this post are not professionally endorsed or come with any qualification other than my own experience. I do not intend to give any official advice when it comes to mental health or wellbeing, but to share my journey and how I am approaching my own mental health.
Have you reached out to anyone lately?
Pamela Rae-Welsh is owner and founder of Manchester website design and branding studio, Worsley Creative Services. Passionate about empowering entrepreneurs with a big business toolkit to allow them to operate at the top of their field, Pamela is also trying to practice more mindfulness and considered leadership in 2020!