On Mental Wealth #6: It's a marathon and a sprint ššš
On Mental Wealth is a weekly publication created by Anthony Ware, Principal of AWare Catalysts.Ā It's theĀ fusion of mental health, culture, and business based on his experiences working with Black, People of Color, Women, and LGBTQ+Ā aka āunderestimatedā startup founders from around the world.
Left right left to the finish line
This was written on the back of the shirt of the person that I followed from Mile 18 to Mile 22 during my first marathon in Chicago in October 2005.
"It's a marathon, not a sprint."Ā This is how many people describe theĀ process of starting and growing a business.Ā I think itās more like a series of marathons.Ā
When the series of marathons are combined with the time forĀ training (run, rest, speed, etc.), they create one big marathon. In the context of the one big marathon, the individual marathons are sprints.
Along the way, things happen that can make you trip and fall.Ā
In business, itĀ could be losing a team member or delayed payments.Ā
For theĀ 42.195 km (26.2 mi) of a marathon and even more during training, you can experience stress fractures,Ā GI tract issues, or worse. In 2005,Ā IĀ hadĀ painful blistersĀ on both feetĀ and bloody nipples during my first marathon.
We must finish the marathons...sprints...to finish the bigger marathon. Along the way, the only real competition is us against ourselves.
A bump in the road to the finish line
This week, I learned aboutĀ Jaime Schmidt, Founder ofĀ Schmidt's Naturals. The time from theĀ start of the business until Unilever's acquisitionĀ was 7 years.
Part of her early training for the startup was choosing to take a leap and drive across the country after college. Those early miles helped create the foundation for launching her business.
In addition to the mental challenges of running a company and being a new mother, one of her mid-race challenges was when a semi-truck,Ā full of her products, overturned andĀ caused major delays. Jaime,Ā Chris Cantino,Ā and the rest of theĀ team had to endure and keep going...left, right, left. It was aĀ moment in time that could have ended any chances of crossing the finish line.
You canĀ watchĀ the new documentaryĀ here. (7 minutes)
Mental Wealth Deposit of the Week
A gift from your future
Let Jaime's story be your person to help get through the tough miles of building your business with a little more ease.
This week, here's your challenge:
Make a list of 5-7 events, as major as the truck accident, that couldĀ happen for your business in the next 3-5 years
Write each one of events on a Post-it note or index card
For each event, spend 5-10 minutes thinking through the range of feelings that would come up
Imagine solutions for each event
Rip up or burn the cards after the 5-10 minutes of future tripping
I recommend thatĀ you work on one card/eventĀ per day.Ā
By doing this practice, you're taking away the power of the event. Even if it does happen, you already have seen it and can endure through your finish lines :)
Deeper Dive
Mind Over MatterĀ byĀ Mackenzie Lobby:Ā IĀ dig this article because it speaks to the connection between ofĀ mind and body, and why we must train both. IĀ see parallel in being an entrepreneur.
The Impact of Entrepreneurial Resilience on the Success of Small and Medium Enterprises in South AfricaĀ byĀ Olawale Fatoki:Ā This is a study on the connection betweenĀ entrepreneur resilience,Ā and organization and individual success in South Africa. IĀ think it's important to study trends in other countries to be able to learn from new perspectives.
Who is Anthony?
I help underestimated startup founders who are struggling with imposter syndrome, or mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion, create their Mental Wealth Toolkits, so they can:Ā get out of their own way, regain confidence, hire the right people, accept the right investors money, create generational wealth for their families, and find joy in the journey.
You can find out more about my lifeĀ here.
What is Mental Wealth?Ā Mental wealth is a key part of the foundation of the next evolution of humanity. It's the collection of intentional thoughts, behaviors, and experiences āmental wealth depositsāsomeone uses to make a positive impact on their mental health. These deposits have a cumulative positive effect, especially usefulĀ during times when youāre challenged with mental illnesses and external events.
This post originally appeared inĀ On Mental Wealth, a weekly creation byĀ Anthony Ware,Ā Principal, AWare Catalysts.