Entrepreneurial Depression : A Silent Struggle in Emergency Service Leaders

From the desk of Klark Brown. No AI was used to write this article.

We ignore alot of truths in this industry, but this one needs to be put front and center.

As the owners or managers of emergency services contracting businesses, we are used to dealing with the aftermath of the crisis. We might be great at it. 

You're there for your clients in their most vulnerable moments, helping them rebuild their lives after a fire, flood, mold problem, or some other disaster. But behind the scenes, many restoration professionals face a different kind of crisis: entrepreneurial depression.

Lets break these two words down: 

Entrepreneur

Brave and half-crazy MFer that more times than not, jumps in and hopes for the best. Risk can go play somewhere else, we are busy. 

 

Depression

The compound result of a cocktail of emotions. Fatigue, pain, fear, ego, loneliness and unmet expectations. I of course am not a doctor or psychologist, but I will play a mediocre one in todays blog. 

While the entrepreneurial journey can be rewarding, it's also demanding and stressful. According to studies, entrepreneurs are 4x more likely to experience depression than the general population (thats probably a low number). 

This is very true in the emergency services industry, where long hours, demanding clients, and the constant pressure of deadlines can take a toll on mental well-being.

Symptoms of Entrepreneurial Depression:

• Sadness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
• Changes in appetite or sleep patterns
• Fatigue 
• More alcohol than usual
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Constant FOMO (fear of missing out). This occurs from FB groups and other events
• Increased staff management/ higher turnover

As a business coaching and mentoring consulting agency, we're here to support you on your entrepreneurial journey. We understand the unique challenges you face, and we offer resources and support to help you overcome them. We encourage you to reach out to us if you're struggling, and remember, you are not alone.

While I often add brevity and some level of humor to my writing, but this one is too serious for that.

How common is this?

Let me start by saying if you are secretly feeling some level of depression over business matters, you will likely know the answer to this question.

My team and I have the fortune to meet and speak to thousands of restoration professionals a year through one of our multiple mediums. What I can tell you is that far more have depression to some level than those that don’t.

We are often approached when things are going sideways and issues are overwhelming. Why is this? Again if you are one of our tribe (yes we get depressed and low), then you know that to be true also.

Entrepreneurs are really stubborn and fearless beings. Such a small percentage of us take that leap.

We know we aren’t made to work 9-5 and we don’t like building someone else's castles. 

The only things we fix when broke are our clients homes and businesses. Of ourselves, “we will get through it”. We will read, take a course or wait and see. The problem with these are they are either set to get us bad information, not enough information or we will wait too long and then have new symptoms, of our original problem, then we treat those. 

Sick cycle, right?

Entrepreneur Depression may or may not be a clinical term. I didn’t dig in medical journals or ask Google. But I feel like I see it and the destruction it causes.

What I will leave you with is this:

Don’t carry it alone because you are. You would be SHOCKED at how many people actually leap into action when they see the signs in someone. Don’t you? I presume you do.
It’s not a weakness. Depression might be, in some cases the opposite of weakness. It may be from being TOO STRONG. Or kidding ourselves about how strong we are. The damage is happening but we may be calling it HUSTLE and GRIND (see #3 of our 41Markers)

The other is: If you are overwhelmed, or even know you can do more with a better structured company, thats the reason Restoration Advisers exists. Those on this team are more than capable of making huge amounts money doing other things, but there is a certain kind of payoff from the joy and fulfillment of seeing others send pictures from Cancun vacations, taking a summer off to spend with a child thats going off to college in the fall or simply feeling better. Being happy.

We do that. Or we try. We have the playbook, blueprint or roadmap. Whatever you want to call it, R[OS]™️ delivers that.

Will we cure depression?

Thats problably an unsafe claim. But we know we can add a powerful piece that helps you manage it yourself. 

Apply or not, if you are feeling like you are drawing and depressed, email me or us directly. Zero charges. Private. You will get a reply and hopefully one or several tips to point you towards improving.