Navigation
Learn More
Contact
- +61 418 379 369
- df@tickthoseboxes.com.au
-
P.O Box 282
Caulfield South. Vic 3162
Australia - Contact Form
The Accountability Guy®
The essential step in overcoming entrepreneurial stress is to accept that anxiety is normal.
Here are three ways to address the problem.
This may seem strange, but it is one of the most significant differences between people with high, and low, stress potential. A study, reported by psychologist Adrian Wells, found that “meta-worries”, or worrying about being worried, is one of the main criteria for differentiating between those who are profoundly concerned and those who are not worried.
Adrian Wells and other researchers have found that external signs of anxiety help intensify and sustain anxiety. Similarly, research conducted by the British Institute of Psychiatry has found that people who suffer from high social anxiety are more likely to perceive other people’s concerns and then interpret this as a very negative thing. That’s why the most crucial step in overcoming entrepreneurial stress is to accept that anxiety is, in the end, relatively standard.
According to psychologists, people who focus on their personal strengths and coping resources successfully reduce their anxiety. Meanwhile, people who interpret their anxiety as weakness and disability increase their stress level.
And in the business world? You will never meet an entrepreneur whose work does not create stress. So, once again, reducing stress begins by accepting its banality.
“When you build a startup, one day you are euphoric and convinced that you will own the world; another day, the catastrophe seems very close and you think you are completely ruined. Again, again and again, and again.” -Marc Andreesen.
Stay connected to your peers
The financial benefits of networking in the business world are undeniable. But in a culture that is focused on the commercial motivations of networking, we often forget to mention how important it is, too, to our emotional well-being.
According to an RHR International survey of CEOs, half of the respondents acknowledged that they had already experienced a sense of loneliness in their business; and 61% of them felt that isolation hindered their performance. Fear and ego are two of the leading causes of this kind of isolation. Entrepreneurs can tackle loneliness by connecting with other start-up founders or with business groups or associations of like minder folks. Try BOAA (Business Owners Association of Australia) you’ll see me at all their networking events.
Entrepreneurs need to find a place where to have unfiltered discussions. Becoming a CEO (or founder in a start-up) can make someone much more alone than they would imagine. Too many entrepreneurs believe that they must be impervious to problems. They must also find an environment where they can be vulnerable — an environment of trust.
This is a big issue for entrepreneurs who consider all potential peers as competitors, who see networking entirely through the lens of how it can benefit their business. They are ultimately less likely to build lasting business relationships. They are also more likely to suffer from stress.
If stress becomes a major problem for you, there is a good chance that your family and friends have something to do with it. Research has found that feeling part of a group (even as a low-status member), having close friends and relationships significantly reduces feelings of social anxiety.
Manage your work and life – load
Ultimately, while the very definition of “entrepreneur” involves stress, we all tend to create a lot of that stress ourselves by assuming more than we can manage. To succeed in your business, you must set priorities so that you do not accept more projects than you can handle. Both professionally and personally.
Delegate more and avoid micromanagement – a bane of young ecosystems and old – traditional – business environments (like Australia). Hire new talent if necessary. Learn to say “no” to this extra 10 % of projects because it will seem like 50% of the workload when you try to do everything. Track the time you spend on each task. You will quickly discover that some tasks take up too much of your time, for minimal benefit. Take a fresh look at your business and ask yourself how you would do things now if you started from scratch. Remember that you may actually still be in that starting phase by the way.
What processes would you eliminate? What would you change to create a less stressful environment?
Acknowledge and accept your stress, connect with your peers and redefine the priorities of your work tasks – and life. Ultimately, speak up, share, communicate.
Do this and you will probably see a radical change in your ongoing quality of life as an entrepreneur.
DELIVERING WHAT YOU PROMISE and getting your team to do the same
Do you meet the obligations, promises, goals and commitments made to yourself and to others?The American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) did a study in 2010 on accountability and found out that the probability of completing a goal is:
After reading this, how likely are you to achieve your; goals, promises, obligations and commitments alone? Book your FREE Unboxing Session with me ‘The Accountability Guy’ and we’ll examine exactly where you’re at, what’s worked and what hasn’t, and we’ll take a look at your priorities to set the path moving forward. Each Unboxing Session includes:
For more information visit: https://tickthoseboxes.com.au or call me directly: +61 418-379 369.
Darren Finkelstein is The Accountability Guy®. This involves being an International Accountability Coach, Business Advisor, Mentor, Author, and Speaker.
Darren works with high-performing teams and individuals across Australia/NZ, UK, USA, Latin America, Europe and Asia to help get results, achieve their wildest dreams, and smash goals. He does this by leveraging over 30 years of experience working in the corporate world and small businesses.
A successful business owner himself, Darren won the Australian Entrepreneur of the Year award for Dent Global after building a wonderful lifestyle business, successfully sold and exited after 15 years.
Before this, Darren worked for over 10 years at Apple Inc. as ‘Manager of Commercial Markets’ during the inspirational Steve Jobs era. While there, he was awarded the prestigious Golden Apple Award.
Darren’s lessons in accountability can help individuals and teams at all levels of a business or organisation across the globe, and are based on actions and results:
Know what to do first
know what to do next
know what to do more of
1. Take the Accountability Scorecard
How accountable are you? Discover your accountability score and increase the probability of smashing your goals and Getting Sh!t Done. Take the quiz
2. Read my book "The Accountability Advantage - Play Your Best Game"
Eliminate procrastination and overwhelm and start playing your best game.
Buy a copy
3. Book a complimentary Accountability Assessment
Invest 15 minutes now and avoid months or years of struggle. If you genuinely need help becoming more accountable, it can’t hurt to find out. Book here.
PROCRASTINATION PARALYSIS? IDEA OVERLOAD?
Take the next step in becoming more accountable
Copyright Darren Finkelstein 2022 | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions