Supporting Your Entrepreneurial Journey
We understand the entrepreneurial journey well at Ignition; we work closely with incredible entrepreneurs everyday by providing legal support and many of our lawyers are also entrepreneurs.
In the spirit of mental health week and our ongoing support for business owners, we wanted to provide the following mental health tips for entrepreneurs:
1.
Create a supportive network
The entrepreneurial journey can be lonely at times, so it’s comforting to know that others are on a similar journey and to be able to talk about the struggles. Join networking events or groups of entrepreneurs to feel that sense of community and / or seek out mentors who have been on a similar path.
2.
Give yourself praise
Often entrepreneurs don’t get feedback and recognition until their product/service is out in the market, however, there’s typically a huge journey that people don’t see in the background! Aim to reflect at the end of each day or week and think of three accomplishments (however seemingly small or large) that you can give yourself a pat on the back for.
3.
Manage your work/life balance
We get it – your work is your passion – so it can be difficult to separate work from the rest of your life! In order to create healthy boundaries, set up a separate workspace if you can (that could be having a desk at a co-working space or a separate room in your home), connect with and make time for loved ones and schedule time for hobbies & wellbeing activities that are not connected with your business.
4.
Delegate & hire as soon as you are able
Yes – you’re super skilled at wearing all of the hats and doing it all! However, this isn’t sustainable in the long term so, budget permitting, delegate where you can whether that’s to specialist contractors (i.e. for admin, marketing, legal or accounts) or via internal hires. Before then, are there friends & family with the skills to assist in some areas or students / budding entrepreneurs in your field keen to gain experience?
5.
Taking a break can lead to break throughs
Business is a marathon not a sprint. Think of your wellbeing as a teammate that is along for the ride – the better you treat that team mate the better it will support you and therefore the more resilient, self-compassionate & adaptable you are likely to be in the face of the ups and downs in the entrepreneurial journey. Prioritize sufficient sleep each night, take breaks within the day, schedule in holidays / time off & commit to taking them.
Each person is unique and therefore the effectiveness of different tips & tools will vary. Consider what might work specifically for you and seek specific support to cater to your needs where appropriate. If you’re struggling to manage your mental health, do reach out for help whether it’s speaking to a friend or family member, working with a therapist or calling a helpline. You don’t have to do it alone.
Lauren is one of our property specialists and is also Ignition’s very own in-house Wellbeing Officer. Ignition understands how important it is to prioritise mental wellbeing and, as such, supported Lauren in undertaking the mental health first aider training with MHFA England and created the role of Wellbeing Officer. Lauren is passionate about supporting peoples’ mental health & overall wellbeing. Ignition is proud to support Lauren in this role and to be a pioneering firm by supporting mental health in law.
Our team of experienced lawyers are ready to help you whether you’re just starting out, scaling for growth or taking your business to another level.
For any further information please contact info@ignition.law
