We all must learn to listen to our body before it tells us to stop. I experience that all the time in the swimming pool (I do ride my mountainbike, but I also swim since ever): the kids jump in, power themselves out in 5 minutes and have to stop then. The experienced swimmers go 10% slower and last for 2 miles. Do the same! And now take 2 or 3 weeks off. Thats the only way to recharge.
Ask YC: Experiences with founder burnout?
31–39 of 39 posts
Re: Ask YC: Experiences with founder burnout?
#32Re: Ask YC: Experiences with founder burnout?
#33What has worked for me in the past is an experience that combines intense physical exertion combined with attaining a difficult goal combined with an inspiring view. In other words, I hop on my bike and ride up a mountain and refuse to stop until I get to the top and bask in the incredible view. This has worked wonders for me in helping to gain real perspective on my situation, and I think the physical exertion and i…
From the top of Black Mountain, you can simultaneously see SF, San Jose, and the Pacific.
Re: Ask YC: Experiences with founder burnout?
#34You are not burnt out and I have proof. This discussion. A truly burnt out person would not have even bothered. (Kinda like claiming you're over your ex-girlfriend but still wonder what she's doing all day long). The fact that you are here is not an admission of giving up; it is a cry for help. You still really want this. There is some excellent feedback in this thread. Let me add mine, which may be a little differen…
1. I didn't write this in the thick of the battle -- I've already had 2 weeks with most of my responsibilities lifted. This is what's given me the presence of mind to write what I have. Also, the more 'down' I am feeling, the more I tend to write. Writing my thoughts comes naturally to me -- it isn't correlated with motivation or mood or anything of that sort.
2. I think advice on tactical stuff like achieving tiny goals daily can actually be detrimental to a person who's beyond a certain point of burnout, because these little changes can distract you from bigger issues that require bigger solutions. Don't get me wrong though, I appreciate what you're saying and I tried ideas just like you've described for weeks before finally realizing where I was at and talking it over with a mentor (who recommended that I act -- fast -- to prevent further degradation).
3. Maybe what you're sensing is that I still really do want to be successful in life -- because I most definitely do. But as for this business, in reality it requires my 100% commitment before it can budge another inch, because we have some big spending humps coming up and if I can't predict with certainty when I'll be back in the game in full force, it's too risky to front more cash right now... and right now all I can think about are the blue skies I need to be staring at while I take a real break, and how intensely awful this has been on my mind and body and how bad it would be to have it continue, now or in the future. So while on some level I do want this business to be successful, I would have a very hard time committing 100% to be available again at a certain, and fairly soon, date. I think that would be too risky for me, and for the investor.
Re: Ask YC: Experiences with founder burnout?
#35My only advice is to make sure you distinguish between short term and long term burnout. I once left an entertaining startup (that was later aquired by Apple) because I thought I was unhappy with the field, the job, the office, the nature of the work. I took two months off between jobs, because that was the only way I felt I could get time off. At the end of the two months, I have to say, the old job didn't sound so…
If we had the stability to simply put things on hold, I would definitely take 6-8 weeks off before we decided what to do.
Re: Ask YC: Experiences with founder burnout?
#36Re: Ask YC: Experiences with founder burnout?
#37You are not burnt out and I have proof. This discussion. A truly burnt out person would not have even bothered. (Kinda like claiming you're over your ex-girlfriend but still wonder what she's doing all day long). The fact that you are here is not an admission of giving up; it is a cry for help. You still really want this. There is some excellent feedback in this thread. Let me add mine, which may be a little differen…
Thanks for the comment -- three points to make: 1. I didn't write this in the thick of the battle -- I've already had 2 weeks with most of my responsibilities lifted. This is what's given me the presence of mind to write what I have. Also, the more 'down' I am feeling, the more I tend to write. Writing my thoughts comes naturally to me -- it isn't correlated with motivation or mood or anything of that sort. 2. I thin…
Re: Ask YC: Experiences with founder burnout?
#38What has worked for me in the past is an experience that combines intense physical exertion combined with attaining a difficult goal combined with an inspiring view. In other words, I hop on my bike and ride up a mountain and refuse to stop until I get to the top and bask in the incredible view. This has worked wonders for me in helping to gain real perspective on my situation, and I think the physical exertion and i…
Works on foot too. In SV I'd particularly recommend the trails off Page Mill and Skyline. I run on them every day when YC is in CA. http://www.openspace.org/ From the top of Black Mountain, you can simultaneously see SF, San Jose, and the Pacific.
Re: Ask YC: Experiences with founder burnout?
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
Thanks for your advice, and the interesting read. I've had the past couple of weeks off to think about everything, and I think that's why my posting is anywhere near articulate... Two weeks ago I talked to my partners and they recommended that I take some time to think about what I need to make myself healthy again, totally irrespective of what impact that would have on the business. It was today when I tried getting…
It takes a little bit of humor and a lot of humility (emphasizing the latter). And from your replys to the other comments, it sounds like you are well on your way already. I am writing my own experience as a Crashed-and-"Turned" entrepreneur and I have a slot to publish next Thursday (10/25). Please check back. http://www.lovemytool.com/blog/startup-for-less.html ">Startup for Less - Survival Guide for Bootstrapping…
http://www.lovemytool.com/blog/2007/10/riding-a-bike.html
Please enjoy.
--Denny--