Leadership means listening to your body.

Business is unforgiving and relentless. It requires plenty of mental energy and physical stamina. Entrepreneurs are hustling for the next significant innovation, and if you are lucky enough to achieve a level of success, you must work harder to maintain that level of accomplishment. It takes a psychic and emotional toll. Today, I want to discuss ensuring you avoid insufficient funds.

My father, before his death, fought heart disease for over 35 years. He started smoking as a teenager and did it for almost thirty years. He worked in a high-stress industry and relied on alcohol to calm his nerves. These factors combined to shorten his life. With a family to support, he ignored the numerous warning signs to leave the logistics industry and take better care of himself. Like many men born after the Second World War, he felt he had to provide for his family before worrying about himself.

What I have discovered is that you cannot lead others unless you have some measure of control over yourself. Alcohol is a social lubricant, but it is addictive and undermines your health. Lack of sleep defines serious commitment, but it will drive you toward mental illness and exhaustion. Grind culture is destructive because it forces individuals to undermine their health for a sale or business opportunity.

The global economy does not sleep, but the humans that keep it spinning must. As a business community, we must listen to our bodies, eat better, get the necessary levels of sleep, and reduce the amount of mind-altering substances we require to muddle through the day.

I have discovered that two cups of coffee are my limit. Otherwise, I do not sleep properly. Alcohol used to be a daily treat, but now I limit myself to weekends, if at all. Finally, I have to rest when I am tired, which means going to bed early to accommodate European business partners.

It is not rocket science, but I must listen to my body to lead others.

Until next time.