Originally published

It began with an idea. With time, effort and planning, you turned it right into a profitable enterprise. Now your start-up proves itself available on the market, attracting customers and generating real sales. What are you doing to protect your startup’s most valuable asset? What is it, you ask? Look within the mirror.

Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I take health, fitness and nutrition very seriously. As I like to say, I practice because I’m an expert athlete in the sport of life and I play to win. For me, it isn’t about vanity or numbers on a scale, but about my ability to perform, compete, and add lasting value to the people and things I care about, including my business and skilled activities. The things I enjoy, the goals I would like to achieve, and my ability to best fulfill my commitments and relationships rely upon whether I treat life, health, and strength as precious gifts.

Similarly, because the founder, CEO and visionary of your recent startup, your company depends upon you. It follows that you have a responsibility to protect your assets from your employees, investors, customers and suppliers, and most importantly, from yourself. Meaning:

Take your health seriously

Schedule your annual exam now if it has been greater than a 12 months since your last one. More importantly, do what your doctor tells you to maintain optimal health and support your demanding, entrepreneurial lifestyle. Don’t have a private doctor? Get one.

Gain and stay in shape

Dealing with the demands and stress of being an entrepreneur requires stamina, strength and energy. This means following a healthy weight loss program and treating exercise as a non-negotiable. Schedule no less than three training sessions every week on your calendar, identical to you would any business meeting – and stick to those dates. No excuses. If vital, seek skilled assist in the shape of a private trainer and/or dietitian. Treat them not as expenses, but as investments.

Get serious about making the vital changes to your habits and lifestyle

Stop smoking. If you drink in any respect, keep your alcohol intake to a minimum. Eliminate processed foods, unhealthy fats and excess sugar. Add more lean meat, fruit, vegetables and lots of water. Is eating healthier costlier? Maybe. Are you value it? Absolutely. You’ll be value much more as your business grows in size and value.

Make sure you get enough sleep

There will probably be times when you may have to work double and triple shifts to get your job done, but these ought to be kept to a minimum. Establishing a 6-hour minimum sleep rule, going to bed and waking up at the identical time day-after-day is crucial to maintaining physical health and mental focus. (Admittedly, I’m still working on this.) Look for opportunities to complement your sleep routine with just a few power naps.

Come up with a plan to cope with stress

Pressure, tension and conflict cannot all the time be avoided, but they could be managed. Explore methods reminiscent of meditation, prayer, deep respiratory or just every day silence to prevent stress from getting uncontrolled and affecting your health, including your mental and emotional well-being. Do you need skilled help from a counselor or therapist? To win.

Find time for yourself and only yourself

Hour every day. One day in week. A weekend every month. And no less than one real vacation a 12 months. It won’t be easy, nevertheless it won’t occur if you don’t make it a priority.

Whenever you feel like neglecting yourself in favor of your business, ask yourself: What would occur to my business if I got sick or died, or simply wasn’t acting at its best? Taking care of your business must include caring for your business. Entrepreneurship generally is a grind; it just isn’t intended for people who find themselves malnourished and unable to work. You owe it to your business to all the time be in top shape.

Here’s what I do know: There are few things sadder than a talented entrepreneur with a superb startup idea suddenly dying or falling victim to a debilitating disease before she was able to reach the height of her powers and fully realize the corporate’s potential. You know that saying: “Health is wealth”? That’s true.

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