Founder, CEO, and Business Owner title image. Venn diagram of personal, interpersonal, and organizational excellence. Strategies to help you mitigate risk, navigate employees, colleagues and investors, and stay grounded in tims of difficulty.

Themes of CEOs, Founders, and Business Owners

“I want to be healthy and happy.”

“I worry about whether I’m getting it right.”

“These people drive me crazy.”

“I think I’m making the right decision, but am I?”

High Achiever Personality Traits

 The continuous pursuit of excellence in both their organizations and their personal lives.

 Openness toward new ideas

 A creative and analytical mind

 Emotions that are much stronger and deeper than most people see

 The desire to do the right thing and to get it right

 A tendency to think outside the box and challenge the status quo

             (For more information on high-achiever personality characteristics, go to High Achievers).

High Achiever Professional Challenges

  1.  The burden of feeling important decisions rest on their shoulders.

     Loneliness (not the lack of humans but of the ability to connect with others or speak freely)

     A multidimensional and ever-evolving challenge of work-life integration

     The ongoing challenge of maintaining optimal mental and physical health

     People stress, whether it be a high-level employee, a board member, colleague, investor, co-founder…you get the point

     Protecting time for strategic planning

Setting Precedents Cartoon by Dr. Tricia Groff. Shows a man welcoming new employees and telling them that he has an open-door policy for access whenever they need. The next frame shows him sitting at his desk with his head in his hands as three people are yelling questions from the doorway.

Navigating Tough Times in Business

Business Transitions

Most business owners have put a lot of sweat equity into building their businesses. Selling a business, losing a business or engaging in major transitions brings a sense of “what’s next?” Even when the sell of the business has been a goal for many years, letting go of “the baby” is usually difficult. These transitions may also change daily schedules, friendship circles, and financial norms. It is important for business owners to recognize the contributions they have made, especially in a hurtful business transition. With a planned transfer in ownership, implementing a personal transition plan is as important as the business transition plan. Regardless of the source of transition, reflecting on contributions, recognizing achievements, and planning one’s next adventure is crucial to maintaining equilibrium and forward progress.

Litigation and Legal Difficulties

Doing “business as usual” is incredibly difficult when your business is involved in litigation. Social support and health maintenance become crucial for the business owner’s ongoing performance. Whether it is a psychologist or a personal friend, ensure that you have someone you can trust to walk through the process with you. The privileged communication that occurs from using a psychologist can be helpful in ensuring the highest level of confidentiality for disclosure of legal problems. Remember that colleagues, friends and others may be subpoenaed for information; plan accordingly as you choose the individuals with whom you will share information.

Maintaining Business in Times of Personal Tragedy

Most business owners have put a lot of sweat equity into building their businesses. Selling a business, losing a business or engaging in major transitions brings a sense of “what’s next?” Even when the sell of the business has been a goal for many years, letting go of “the baby” is usually difficult. These transitions may also change daily schedules, friendship circles, and financial norms. It is important for business owners to recognize the contributions they have made, especially in a hurtful business transition. With a planned transfer in ownership, implementing a personal transition plan is as important as the business transition plan. Regardless of the source of transition, reflecting on contributions, recognizing achievements, and planning one’s next adventure is crucial to maintaining equilibrium and forward progress.

Related Articles for Owners and CEOs

Related Services

The multi-faceted juggling act of leaders who identify as Entrepreneurs, Founders or CEOs is incomparable and requires ongoing attention switches, changing priorities, and the oxygen to maintain it all. Whole-Person Executive Coaching focuses on whatever needs are on the table, which necessarily adjusts each week to support both business and personal excellence.

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