#scale-up

Read time: approx. 4 mins 2 seconds, ish.

“How are you?”. May seem an innocuous question. However, when I ask, I really mean it.

I pay close attention to the well-being of the entrepreneurs that I choose to support and invest in. I’m equally interested in the welfare of the people they work with too.

It is important.

Running a company is hard. Scaling-up a business is even harder.

As a CEO, how well you look is often a reflection of how well you’re doing.

Which is why in business, haggard is not a good look.

Whether or not we choose to listen, our bodies are constantly telling us how well we’re doing.

The repeat behaviour common to successful entrepreneurs is that they are good at both listening to what their bodies tell them, and equally, taking care to make sure they act on that information effectively.

Running-on-empty is not sustainable.

Thinking that exhaustion is heroic, is misguided.

Looking distressed, overwhelmed, anxious, exhausted, exasperated, too-tired, are all symptoms that perhaps suggest that what you’ve taken on, may actually be too difficult. Or possibly worse, it might be a sign that you personally lack the capabilities necessary to deliver it.

Sometimes the challenge of building a business is genuinely and legitimately too difficult. For example, perhaps:

the idea for the business is too far ahead of its time;

the competition is too tough;

the logistics too demanding;

the technology is too complex;

Perhaps the compound effect of a combination of these challenges means the current plan is simply not feasible.

Worth remembering: “If it was easy, somebody else would have done it.”

But the moment when a CEO starts to look and sound overwhelmed, is a serious point at which to consider the viability of the business, or at least the strategy that it is pursuing.

I remember asking the founding CEO of Zopa.com, Richard Duvall, how concerned he was about the launch of a new American competitor, to which Richard replied: “I met their CEO. He looked knackered.”

Which is why animal instincts such as perseverance, determination and resilience are vitally important to entrepreneurial success. But so too are the animal instincts of rest, recuperation, and hibernation.

Perseverance through gritted teeth is rarely sustainable and usually does not end well.

That is why investors commonly pay close attention to the condition of potential investees. That’s not a secret, but equally it is not something that investors openly talk about. But it is something to properly consider if you are actively looking for investment.

However, don’t try to hide it. The ‘fake-it-‘til-you-make-it’ approach is invariably unsustainable and could potentially be catastrophically damaging to your health in the long term. Camouflaging acute fatigue will inevitably be found out either when your body says “no”, or when your condition deteriorates sufficiently that the camouflage no longer hides the hurt. Tragically, I’ve seen both.

So what can you do if you are struggling to bear the weight of your role?

Take the weight off. Know when to take a break. Know how to rejuvenate.

Hibernate.

Delegate. The best entrepreneurs know how to distribute work in all directions – up as well as down.

Exercise. Your physical fitness will have a direct effect on your stamina, resilience and positive mental health.

Pivot. Perhaps the business needs to change direction and/or change strategy.

Leave. It is perfectly acceptable to recognise and admit that perhaps you are in the wrong job – although it takes great courage to act on such an admission.

Talk. Sharing your frustrations, anxieties and challenges with friends, peers, mentors, and ideally other executives who are just a few steps ahead of you, can yield breakthroughs in your thinking and approach. That’s why networking is vital to entrepreneurial success.

Go for a walk. It’s not just good exercise – changing scenery refreshes the mind.

Get out more. Have fun. Entertainment and socialising are the tonic of life.

Become a parent. It is important to put things into perspective. You may think that your business is the most important thing on earth. In my experience, the moment people become parents, their priorities change profoundly – and for the better.

Switch off. Netflix can be a saviour provided that you give the movie the same attention as you do your work. Don’t email while chilling.

Take your mind off work. Get distracted. My favourite pastimes demand my undivided attention. Swimming and riding motorbikes are two examples.

Focus. One of the common causes of acute fatigue is trying to do too much. Identify singularly the Most Powerful Action that will move your business forward furthest.

Be realistic. Reset your goals and your objectives and give yourself a more achievable workload.

Celebrate your successes. Don’t overly persecute your minor discrepancies.

Moisturise. Use Nivea – daily.

Your personal state is more important the your company’s P&L.

Take good care. Look after yourself. One thing is certain: the success of your venture depends on it.