Founder feelings: doing business with Depression
Three thoughts for business founders balancing entrepreneurship and mental health.
Today is the antepenultimate day of the UK’s 2022 Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from 9th-15th of May. It’s also the first of a couple of days leave I’ve taken to look after my own mental health after noticing that my brain was entering one of its (now occasional) foggy periods.
A quick note on my personal relationship with mental health. I have experienced periods of low mood for as long as I remember. However, it wasn’t until my early twenties that a doctor volunteered a diagnosis and told me that I was suffering from Depression. It was even later in my mid twenties that I first opted to take medication. I’ve been taking Citalopram, a pretty common SSRI antidepressant, ever since. I’m glad to say that I’m in the c.60% of people who find that medication helps. Medication certainly isn’t a panacea (Depression is a chronic illness), and ups and downs are still to be expected, but it can offer a base of much needed stability.
Depression, and the myriad of other mental health conditions that exist, present very real challenges to the everyday life of those experiencing them. I count myself very lucky that my experience with mental illness has been from a position of privilege. I have always had access to healthcare, a support network, and a stable income. This isn’t the case for everyone. The pernicious intersection of poor mental health, poverty, and the other socioeconomic disadvantages that affect the most vulnerable in society is something that, even in the context of today’s more inclusive discourse, is under-recognised and underexplored.
As a middle-class professional I have been spared the most difficult aspects of living with Depression but, nonetheless, I have found that the interplay between work and mental health has presented some interesting challenges over the years. I think that, at least some of this, is due to the fact that my job is being an ‘entrepreneur’ (in quotation marks to note the tinge of embarrassment I feel when I use this phrase!).
Entrepreneurship is a pursuit which is strange and exciting in equal measure, and one which blurs the lines between professional and personal life; placing unusual and often unexpected demands on the people who engage with it as an identity and as a lifestyle. I’d like to be very clear here. I’m not saying it is more ‘difficult’ than other jobs (personally I think being a nurse is much harder), but I do think it creates a unique set of circumstances and experiences which, in the context of mental illness, require particular tactics for managing one’s wellbeing.
Doing business with depression
This remainder of this blog offers three thoughts for entrepreneurs trying to grow a business and deal with the vagaries of mental illness. Again, my personal experience is with Depression only so I can’t claim to understand other conditions, but I hope the ideas are useful nonetheless.
First thought
Success and mental health issues are not mutually exclusive.
It’s super easy to fall into the trap of feeling like you, and your business, are doomed to failure because of the difficulties you are experiencing with your mental health. As is now well understood, Depression, and other mental health conditions, operate by interfering with the balance of neurotransmitters that regulate our thoughts and moods. If your good guy chemicals (such as Serotonin) are currently out of whack then it’s no surprise that you’re struggling to see the positives of the business you have worked hard to build.
But don’t take it from me. A quick Google will demonstrate that many of the best known and most successful business people have had their own battles with mental health. Over the years I have found it very useful, and reassuring, to look outside of the world of business and read about people who have experienced Depression and still managed to be very successful in their respective fields. The stories shared by politician Alisatair Campbell and boxer Ricky Hatton have been a personal source of inspiration.
Second thought
Negative personal experiences can positively inform company culture.
We must, of course, be aware when our biases can have a negative impact on the culture we are trying to create inside our businesses. However, founders having personal experience of mental illness can, if used sensitivity and correctly, be a positive thing. Part of your job as an entrepreneur is to create a successful organisation and, (trite recommendations of installing a ping pong table and buying an office dog aside), the culture you build has a direct impact on the likelihood of this success.
Drawing on your personal understanding of mental health and using this to create a compassionate and open work environment can directly help with talent acquisition and employee wellbeing and retention. Today, quite rightly, people want to work for businesses that allow them to flourish despite their personal challenges. At my current company, The Ambassador Platform, we’ve embraced this approach in the form of an Employee Assistance Programme, regular 1-2-1s focussing on wellbeing, and a genuinely open dialogue about mental health.
Third thought
Learning when to stop can be good for business.
The classical paradigm of entrepreneurship is one of unequivocal and relentless work. Now, don’t get me wrong, this is the reality most of the time. Growing a business isn’t easy, whatever the size or sector, and it requires consistent and often prodigious effort. The thing is, if you suffer from Depression or another mental illness, then this just isn’t going to be possible 100% of the time. You might be able to do it 99% of the time, but there will always be that annoying 1% that forces you to stop, albeit briefly.
Recognise this and embrace it. You can waste a lot of time working suboptimally when you really should be looking after your wellbeing. I’m not saying that these periods need to be long or happen frequently, simply that they shouldn’t be ignored. Focussing on good food, sleep, and exercise during these recovery periods can actually lead to improved personal performance and overall business outcomes. Who knows, a stint of mildly melancholic introspection might actually lead to your next big idea.
A final note
Managing any mental health condition and growing a business isn’t easy, but it is possible. If you’re an entrepreneur and struggling with this juggling act then please feel free to reach out to me, I’d be more than happy to chat. And, as always, if you’re experiencing a mental health crisis then you should always access urgent support.
5 business travel hacks for start-up founders
Travelling is stressful at the best of times. Travelling for business is even more so. Travelling for business when your company is still in its infancy is in a blood pressure raising league of its own. Here are five, tried and tested travel hacks to help you start your international business travels like a pro.
Travelling is stressful at the best of times. Travelling for business is even more so. Travelling for business when your company is still in its infancy is in a blood pressure raising league of its own.
So it happened. You’ve not only managed to start generating revenue, but you’ve gone and done the impossible and managed to get people in another country interested in your business. Great job! I’m guessing that this interest is either from investors or from overseas prospects that you’ve been busy warming for the past few months. Either way, it’s highly likely that you’re seeing dollar signs and starting to indulge in wild fantasies of private jets, the Monaco harbour side, and sipping champers in a presidential suite.
Unfortunately, it’s my job to disabuse you of such notions. Any dreams of traversing the world like James/ Jane Bond are likely to be short lived. Back to reality. You’ve probably only got a handful of paying customers, the cash from your seed round isn’t going to last forever, and your long-suffering co-founder (who is going to be stuck at HQ while you’re off gallivanting) is unlikely to be enthused at your suggestion that you fly business class ‘as standard’.
As someone who has done it many times, I can honestly tell you that, momentary snapshots of Instagram glamour aside, travel as a start-up founder is sleepless, stressful, and (on occasion) sweaty. Don’t get me wrong. It’s wonderfully exciting and a real privilege, but it’s also tough. So, with all this in mind, if it is your job to hit the road for your growing company, what can you do to make the experience more manageable?
Here are five, tried and tested travel hacks to help you start your international business travels like a pro.
#1 Monkey business
There are times on the road where you might feel like you have regressed into an existence akin to that of our primate cousins (unshaven and living off the bananas from the hotel breakfast buffet) but, for clarity, that’s not what I’m advocating here. Instead this tip is about cheeky ways to elevate your airbourne hours. Long-haul flights can be a slog, and the price difference between economy and business class tickets make the latter unjustifiable on a limited travel budget.
However, that doesn’t mean you have to spend your flight jealously eyeing the folks up ahead. Here are a couple of things you can do to ape the business class experience in good old economy:
Invest in a travel pillow and foot hammock. Trust me, these little beauties will seriously enhance your comfort levels. Don’t be fooled by the £8.99 neck pillows in WHSmith - those things feel like the begrudging hug you get from an ex when you bump into them in the supermarket . Spend a little bit more and you’ll recline in splendour for years to come. By the way, this is a foot hammock (I know you were wondering!).
Upgrade within economy. This is a lesser known hack, but it can really change the experience of an international flight. Some airlines have the option of paying around £100 for a seat with more leg room. Often this happens during the online check-in or seat selection process, and occasionally on the flight itself.
Be bold and move to free seats. Seriously, just do it! If there is a row of seats left unoccupied once everyone has boarded the flight then (IMHO) they are fair game. I often see poor people cramped up when there are four beautifully empty seats, right opposite them, calling out for their bottom. If the cabin crew seem to be a serious bunch then, as a courtesy, you might let them know you're moving. This helps to avoid being woken up by an inquisitive steward later in the flight.
#2 Lounge act
Using an airport lounge can seem like a bit of an indulgence, but I promise you that it’s nothing of the sort. International terminals (at almost every airport in the world) are designed to part you from your cash. Even if you’re just expensing the usual stuff, by the time you’ve bought a coffee and some food at airport prices you’ve already spent a decent amount of cash. Access to a lounge costs around £30-£40 and comes with complimentary food and drink. In addition to the free grub they also have great seating, Wifi, and charging points. Some of the best ones even have areas for you to take a nap. When you weigh up all the free stuff you get, and add in the value of a quiet space to do some focussed work on the move, the cost becomes a bit of a no-brainer.
If you’re a regular traveller then you might think about buying a lounge pass. Some challenger banks (like Monzo) actually offer discounted lounge access (as well as travel insurance) as a ‘perk’ of some of their premium current accounts. Worth thinking about if for the aspiring jet-setter.
Next time you fly - hit up a lounge and get your lizard on.
#3 Headless chicken
To put it simply: if you’re travelling for work (especially if it’s your first time), it’s easy to become one. It’s highly likely that you don’t yet have an Ops person to help you with planning and booking your trip and, in the absence of an admin guru, amidst the perpetual Zoom calls and KPI discussions, you might just neglect your travel admin. You will sorely regret this and, unfortunately, your business will pay for it. However, fear not, you don’t need to be that chicken!
Follow these tips to keep your planning ship-shape and Bristol:
Coordinate all bookings from your smartphone. Make a folder called ‘business travel’ and get your airline and hotel apps downloaded and in there. It’s so much easier when you’re reminded of things by helpful push notifications, and you’re not having to trawl your inbox for lost booking references.
Don’t fall into the cheap hotel trap. Booking the cheapest hotel isn’t always the smartest idea. As with the airport lounge, a slightly more expensive hotel might actually save you money overall once you have factored in the cost of breakfast, gym access, and travel.
Create a realistic meeting schedule. If it’s your first time to a particular country is it really realistic to plan 4 meetings per day? Can you actually travel from your 10am to your 12pm in 10 minutes? Are you really going to be able to give a good account of your product or service 12 hours after you land? Be practical and you’ll get more from the trip.
Research local business customs and attire. You might go into your co-working space looking like the bassist from a failing Indie band, and greet your teammates with a daily high-five, but this is unlikely to be the way things are done where you’re headed. Be culturally aware and be smart and you’ll and you’ll endear yourself in a jiffy.
#4 Houston we have…
Houston doesn’t want to hear it. And that’s mainly because Houston is your Co-founder and first couple of employees slogging it out back in the office back home. I assure you, literally no-one wants to hear that you missed your connection in Guangdong. Yes, it’s stressful, but it’s important to also recognise that what you’re doing is a bit of a perk, and that it’s the hard work of your colleagues that has paid for your airfare. Given that, you have very limited scope to complain! You’re on the road to advance the company, and it’s on you (and you alone) to make sure things go well.
It’s also important to be sensitive with your communications. If you’ve travelled somewhere sunny, exotic, or interesting then that’s absolutely fab. However, a continuous stream of pictures from the beach or the bar are likely to be unwelcome. Your colleagues don’t want to be receiving pictures of you grinning with a Mojito whilst they’re heading for their morning commute. Think about how things will be received back at HQ and you’ll be groovy.
If you want to be proactive then it can be a good idea to send a regular, business focussed update on Slack or by email. In it you try to cover what you achieved for the business that day/week. Touch on things like the deals/ connections/ ideas that the trip has yielded so far, and try to keep the cocktail out of shot!
#5 Maintain the temple
The combination of lots of travel and lots of work can very quickly (and often unintentionally) lead to neglected physical and mental wellbeing. You can easily find yourself eating a diet consisting of stuff that you grabbed at the airport. On top of this, the physically exhausting nature of international travel can leave you feeling like you barely have enough energy for your business meetings, let alone anything else. However, you have to try and resist falling into these patterns of behaviour and prioritise some healthy food and exercise. You won’t be able to do your business justice if your body and mind aren’t in good shape.
Here are a couple of things you can do to look after yourself:
Limit the booze. Boring, I know - but it’s super important. Travel inherently presents more opportunities to indulge in a tipple, business travel even more so. Save the drinking for social occasions on your trip that will benefit the business, and say no to the G+T on the plane.
Take the gym with you. You might not be staying in hotels with a gym or pool, and you might not feel comfortable enough to hit the streets for a run. No problem! You can create a portable gym with things like resistance bands or a TRX set that allows you to workout in your hotel room.
Prioritise your meals. If you don’t you might end up with a milkshake and bag of crisps from the 7-11 round the corner. Yes, you need to devote as much time to your business objectives, but you also need good fuel to be able to do that. Plan ahead and investigate how you can balance an 11pm check-in with consuming some fruit and veg.
That’s it! Follow these tips and you’ll ace that first trip. Keep yourself healthy and remember to maintain good comms with the gang back home. Good luck on your adventure, and I hope it is valuable for your start-up!
Get in touch:
If you’re about to embark on your first international business trip and you’d like some more advice, then why not drop me a line?
To learn more about The Ambassador Platform, my current company, and how we’re transforming student recruitment for the education sector, then check out our website here.