People throw the word around constantly. Sure, the definition is clinical, but in business, it’s visceral. It’s a lived reality.
Think about flying. Some people hop on a plane like they’re catching a matinee. Others have to mentally coach themselves through every bump of turbulence.
For me? Anxiety hits different. And if you’re a leader or a business owner, I challenge you to look at it this way: Stop running from the anxiety. Own it. Live in it.
My anxiety is daily. It’s a constant hum. Will something break at the company today? Will a mistake lead to a food safety disaster? Will someone slip and fall? Will a massive invoice get missed?
There are 1,000 landmines waiting to blow up a business on any given Tuesday.
In the past, I tried to mask it. I wanted to smooth it out. I did what a lot of people do…went to the doc, got the daily pill, and numbed the noise. But I realized something dangerous: I lost my edge.
My motivation dipped. My obsession with perfection dulled. I was comfortable, and comfort kills businesses.
So, 12 years ago, I ditched the pill. I made a conscious decision to let the anxiety burn.
Worried about a food issue? Good. Build a system so robust it’s mathematically impossible to screw up. Worried about a lawsuit or an accident? Good. Create a protocol to prevent it, and a contingency plan for if hell breaks loose anyway.
Don’t hide from the fear. Stare it in the fucking eyeballs and destroy it with systems, processes, and execution.
I see too many business owners in trainings who are hooked on the idea of “peace of mind.” They want to feel comfortable. But they’ve just become numb. Numb to fear. Numb to concern. Numb to action.
Your mental health is your business, that’s between you, your doctor, and your family. But I’m telling you: pause and make sure you aren’t numbing yourself into irrelevance.
If you ignore the anxiety, it gets worse. If you weaponize it, you win.