By Carlene Cai Randolph
As black female entrepreneurs, we often feel pressure to sacrifice our personal lives and well-being for the sake of our businesses. We may feel like we have to work around the clock to prove ourselves and be productive at all times. But according to Thema Bryant, president of the American Psychological Association, these false ideas about sacrifice and productivity can actually hold us back from achieving success.
It is important to note that Thema Bryant is not only an entrepreneur (licensed clinical psychologist) and author but also the president of the American Psychological Association. This gives her a unique perspective on the subject of sacrifice and productivity and how it relates to the mental and emotional well-being. We have are extending her thoughts to help black female entrepreneurs to help them grow and transform in business.
First, let’s talk about sacrifice. Many of us have been taught that in order to be successful, we must sacrifice our personal lives and relationships. We may feel like we have to put our business before our family and friends, or even our own health and well-being. But this simply isn’t true. In fact, sacrificing our personal lives can lead to burnout and negatively affect our ability to run our businesses.
Instead, we should strive for balance. Yes, running a business takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but that doesn’t mean we have to give up our personal lives. We can still make time for our loved ones and take care of ourselves while growing our businesses.
Now let’s talk about productivity. As entrepreneurs, we may feel like we have to be constantly working and producing in order to be successful. But this can lead to burnout and negatively affect our creativity and ability to come up with new ideas.
Instead, we should focus on being efficient and productive in our work, but also make time for rest and relaxation. This will allow us to be more creative and come up with innovative ideas that can take our businesses to the next level.
In conclusion, as black female entrepreneurs, we should let go of false ideas about sacrifice and productivity. By striving for balance and taking care of ourselves, we can achieve success without burning out. So let’s stop feeling guilty for taking time off or relaxing, and remember that taking care of ourselves is just as important as growing our businesses.
References:
- Thema Bryant’s book “Entrepreneurial Mindset: Strategies for Continuously Creating Opportunity in an Age of Uncertainty”
- The American Psychological Association’s website
- Articles and studies on the importance of work-life balance for entrepreneurs
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- #MentalWellnessForEntrepreneurs
Coach Cai 