The entrepreneurship journey does not come without a whirlwind of mental activity. With so many decisions to be made, from the adrenaline-charged start-up phase right through to clinching that first deal, the business experience is an emotional rollercoaster, requiring intense levels of mental energy, resilience, motivation, creativity and confidence.
Such high orders of mental functioning may become overwhelming at times and can get to those with even the strongest of mental attitudes and positive outlooks. Juggling so many pressures all at once would compromise anyone’s mental wellbeing.
When I was invited as a guest speaker at the launch of The Gary Walker & Co Wealth Management Entrpreneur Club, I felt that such an initiative has set out to build such a community where people are encouraged to dream big and inspire those around them. Surrounding yourself with members of such a driven community is an opportunity to be motivated and can help you reposition your perspective and realise your business inspirations.
The good news is that the human mind has the ability to overcome stresses associated with entrepreneurship. As a clinical psychiatrist and medical educator I focus on how entrepreneurs can nurture an ‘I can’ disposition: a powerful and effective strategy when running a business.
Ultimately, I think that one of the biggest battles for anyone in entrepreneurship is in the mind. It’s all the gunfire that’s going off with doubts, fears, worries; entrepreneurs have to push through all of these.
What I do is take what I know about the human mind and interpersonal dynamics and put that into the hands of the people in business, to enable them to gain the skills and identify strategies that help them master their emotional state, effectiveness and ultimately up their game.
Entrepreneurs are an incredible breed of people; they are problem solvers who spot the insufficiencies and weaknesses in the systems of the world and try to improve them. But, at the end of the day, entrepreneurs are still human beings - with minds - and can become vulnerable to a sense of negativity which can prove to be hindering to an otherwise promising business plan.
As a speaker and trainer for people in business and education, I believe in people’s potential to optimise their own emotional state and to discover the best version of themselves. With unique psychological insights, my role involves helping people maximise their performance and find deeper fulfilment in life.
One key to high performance is to be able to master your ‘thought life’. We all know that our minds have a tendency to gravitate towards the negative – it’s much easier to get stuck on the negatives.
One of my top tips would be to reframe your perspective intentionally so that you’re perceiving situations in a hopeful way; constantly energising yourself for that long-haul entrepreneurship journey.
The way that we frame things affects the way that we perceive them and how we feel. Our feelings have a strong influence on how we make decisions. I often encourage people to feed their mind with what is going well, and this ultimately motivates them more.
In addition to the stress, the entrepreneurship experience can itself be a lonely one. Being at the centre of your business can mean giving it your all, without any time for respite. With high risks of isolation, I’d like to highlight the significance of belonging to a likeminded ambitious community when confronted with the need to gear up your mindset throughout your business endeavours.
I am passionate about bringing business minds together to encourage each other and share their hopes and dreams. We often find it easier to endure challenging tasks when we’re in company of others in a similar situation to ourselves – starting a new fitness routine or even an evening art class can be easier and, and more enjoyable, with friends.
Furthermore, I think that when you are amongst other people who dream big, you can more readily stretch the limit of what you are able to imagine or ask for in life, and therefore continue to move forward. This is the point of a highly ambitious success community.
Click here to find out more about the Gary Walker & Co Wealth Management Entrepreneur Club.
Doctor Tharaka Gunarathne