MANA Group Fundraising On The Truth About Entrepreneurs

NEW YORK - May 26, 2014 - PRLog -- MANA Group Fundraising

www.managroup.org

MANA Group Fundraising On The Truth About Entrepreneurs

NEW YORK, NY, May 2014 – Successful entrepreneurs achieve hero status in our culture. We idolize the Mark Zuckerbergs and we celebrate the blazingly fast growth of new businesses. But many of those entrepreneurs harbor secret demons: Before they made it big, they struggled through moments of near-debilitating anxiety --times when it seemed everything might crumble.

Until recently, admitting such sentiments was taboo. Rather than showing vulnerability, business leaders have the old “fake it till you make it." Toby Thomas, CEO of EnSite Solutions, explains the phenomenon with his favorite analogy: a man riding a lion. "People look at him and think - this guy's really got it together! He's brave!" says Thomas. "And the man riding the lion is thinking, How the hell did I get on a lion, and how do I keep from getting eaten?"

Lately, more entrepreneurs have begun speaking out about their internal struggles. They are very successful people, very visible, very charismatic-; yet they've struggled with this silently. There's a sense that they can't talk about it, that it's a weakness or a shame or something.

If you run a business, that probably all sounds familiar. It's a stressful job that can create emotional turbulence.

Entrepreneurs often juggle many roles and face countless setbacks--lost customers, disputes with partners, increased competition, staffing problems--all while struggling to make payroll.

Complicating matters, new entrepreneurs often make themselves less resilient by neglecting their health. They eat too much or too little. They don't get enough sleep. They fail to exercise.

So it should come as little surprise that entrepreneurs experience more anxiety than employees.

Though launching a company will always be a wild ride, full of ups and downs, there are things entrepreneurs can do to help keep their lives from spiraling out of control. Most importantly: make time for your loved ones, don't let your business squeeze out your connections with human beings.

Cardiovascular exercise, a healthful diet, and adequate sleep all help, too. So does cultivating an identity apart from your company.

Last, be open about your feelings--don't mask your emotions, even at the office. When you are willing to be emotionally honest, you can connect more deeply with the people around you. When you deny yourself and you deny what you're about, people can see through that. Willingness to be vulnerable is very powerful for a leader.

For additional information, contact a member of the MANA Group administration team at pr@managroup.org

MANA Group Fundraising: Providing charities with the funding they need to continue improving the world we live in.