One’s mental health directly affects their output. On a mentally tough day it’s hard to reach full potential. On a good day it’s easier. Then there’s the days in the middle where it is anyone’s guess on how things are going to turn out. Life is a rollercoaster.
In the early days of starting Elastic Path there were days where it was hard to get out of bed. I was broke. The credit card companies were calling me, student loans officers were calling me, my mobile provider was calling me – all threatening all sorts of nasty repercussions. None of which I felt I could do anything about in that moment. I felt helpless.
I remember sitting on the edge of my bed every day and every night wondering how the hell I was going to get through tomorrow or the next. It was a very dark time in my life filled with all sorts of bad thoughts. Yet I would put on my shoes and head out the door with belief that things would get better. I was a 30 year old man living with his parents and every day I would go into the office, make hundreds of calls and hope that someone would buy what I was selling – web design.
It took some time but eventually it led to some sales and a brighter future. I was able to address some of my debt and move off a healthy diet of 99 cent pizza and one coke a day. Things were starting to look up for me and for us the EP family.
Then came 9/11 and everything stopped cold and I was right back where it started. Sitting on the edge of my bed wondering what tomorrow would bring. The calls started again, I was back to a diet of 99 cent pizza and coke. I had doubts about what I was doing and where I was headed. For 8 months we did not make a sale. That was my job – to bring in revenue – and I had failed.
It got so bad that my partner Harry and I had to go get outside jobs. In the end we worked our way through our troubled times by working day and the night to keep Elastic Path going. Eventually it paid off. Our lights came back on and the rest is history.
But right now it just feels different. Everyday feels catastrophic for most entrepreneurs and small business owners. It’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s hard to sit on the edge of the bed every night wondering if that glimmer of light will ever return.
I know that feeling. For me, sharing my story is the one thing that got me through it and let me see the light. I leaned on other entrepreneurs and small businesses owners in the moment. I was very surprised to learn how much other similar and larger businesses were willing to share their stories and insights and support us. It did not matter the success level of the entrepreneur; they were always willing to talk. That exercise of sharing stories and receiving emotional support was my saviour. It helped me optimize my daily potential. That is how I got through it and how you can get through it too. That shared experience with other business owners helped boost my mental health and directly impacted my daily output.
Below is a Fireside chat video that goes into a bit more detail.
We will get through this together. Take care.
