What exactly is “Founder Burnout”? Is it the excessive effort given through your day-to-day work as a startup founder? Or could it be working 24/7, every single week, every single month, of every single year? These are definitely part of the criteria met for Founder Burnout “sickness”. Most professionals go through some type of burnout in their lives; including entrepreneurs for whom it can be overwhelming as they strive for their startups to achieve a certain standard.
Defining Founder Burnout
There are multiple causes through which an entrepreneur may experience founder burnout. The root of founder burnout lies in fatigue and causes you to become ill, unproductive and lose passion for your work above all. This isn’t the same type of fatigue that one goes through after a 10 km marathon run, rather it is a mix of mental and physical exhaustion. It can cause strain and long lasting effects if you are unable to achieve the goals you are striving towards. These lasting effects are passed onto your family and friends, alienating you if the appropriate steps aren’t taken to change your work habits.
Effects of Founder Burnout
Speaking of founder burnout with others can be difficult when experiencing it yourself. People are too sensitive to the stigma and are afraid others will think they are weak for needing to recharge their batteries. Turning down projects can also be a challenge due to the fear of letting down clients, partners and colleagues. After all, entrepreneurs are put on a pedestal and therefore have an image to uphold. Yet, it is important to overcome the stigma surrounding founder burnout by opening yourself to better communication. Although maintaining a balance between work and life is challenging, remember that as working professionals everyone needs time to re-fuel!
Some of the key signs to identify burnout is when you start to get irritable and miss deadlines. If you feel like the treadmill is on level 8 and you can’t keep up, know that you may be experiencing an early sign of founder burnout. Losing focus, feeling “lost”, and spending time looking at job postings are definitely signs letting you know that it is time to recharge!
Early prevention is best.
Your body’s candle is constantly burning. If one’s mind is constantly focused on their startup, it will reach a point at which you will either start to avoid or despise the work. You’re pushing your own limits by over-networking, overworking and trying to be chief, cook and bottle washer. The most difficult thing is taking your mind off your startup when it is time to relax. Try to loosen up; meditate, exercise, or listen to your favorite music! The will most definitely help keep your mind off business as well as preventing the occurrence of founder burnout.
Dealing With Burnout
What are the next steps when you’re already facing burnout? Many of those working from 9am – 5pm at a corporate job feel the brutal effects of burnout. A way around this may be to try one’s hand at entrepreneurship where you get to decide what work to do and how long to work for. However, we know that entrepreneurs also get burnt-out eventually too due to the responsibility. But don’t sweat it, entrepreneurs can deal with it too.
The best way to deal with the burnout is by taking time off. Spend a lot of time reflecting and assessing what is truly important to you, all while keeping your main purpose in mind. Sometimes your spirit just needs a little lifting and the best ways to do that are to enjoy your personal interests, whether it be traveling or sitting down in a nice quiet place to read your favorite book. Aside from these outlets, it’s also important to have a good team surrounding you so that the heavy work load is shared. Whether it’s your business partners, employees or reliable advisors, it can most certainly help out you situation.
Given what was just stated, some advice that you should put in place to help mitigate Founder Burnout from occurring again is:
- Ask for help before the burnout
- Say “No” faster; before it’s too late!
- Build a team who share dream and passion
If you see burnout happening to others, offer an ear. Sit down and talk to them about it. Give them some advice or even just a “timeout” from it all. It’s often the small moments that help.
Article Written By: Alexander Sidhu | Startup Canada Researcher and Blogger. Article Originally Posted: http://www.startupcan.ca/2013/06/01/founder-burnout/
