Rocket Fuel Ep #7 – From Burnout to Balance: Mental Health Tips for Entrepreneurs and Startup Teams

Pitch Please

From Burnout to Balance: Mental Health Tips for Entrepreneurs and Startup Teams – In this special episode of Pitch Please, Mike Thibodeau sits down with Mike Stroh, founder of Starts With Me, to tackle the critical issue of managing mental health in high-pressure, fast-paced environments like startups. With World Mental Health Day approaching on Thursday, October 10, 2024, this conversation offers practical insights for entrepreneurs, founders, and professionals working in demanding roles.

Mike Stroh, who has overcome personal struggles with addiction and mental illness, shares his journey from battling his own challenges to founding a company that helps organizations support employee mental well-being. He discusses the importance of maintaining a balance between work and personal life, recognizing burnout, and how leaders can foster a culture of compassion and responsibility.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Understanding Burnout and Balance: Mike explains what burnout is, how it manifests, and the importance of finding your baseline for mental well-being.

• Signs of Burnout: Learn how to identify physical, emotional, and behavioral signs of burnout, both in yourself and your colleagues.

• Practical Mental Health Strategies: From sleep and exercise to managing internal dialogue, Mike shares actionable steps for improving mental health and preventing burnout.

• Company Culture and Mental Health: Hear Mike’s advice on how companies and leaders can create a supportive environment for employees while balancing business demands.

Key Takeaways:

• Self-Compassion and Honesty: Mike emphasizes the importance of being honest with yourself about your limits and practicing self-compassion to avoid burnout.

• Finding Your Baseline: The idea of establishing a personal baseline for stress, sleep, and well-being is central to maintaining mental health.

• Creating a Culture of Support: Leaders and founders can set the tone by fostering a culture that values both compassion and responsibility.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to Mental Health in Fast-Paced Environments

07:20 - Understanding Burnout and Balance

15:22 - Identifying Signs of Burnout

19:04 - Strategies for Maintaining Mental Health

30:59 - Implementing Change for Better Mental Health

49:13 - First Steps Towards Mental Wellness

More About Mike

Over the last 10+ years Mike has presented to over 100,000 people in live audiences discussing workplace mental health, k-12 education, and how to create mentally healthy teams that are connected, effective and purpose driven.

He is regularly featured on Canadian National News discussing a variety of mental health and addiction related topics. In 2019 Mike received the innovative Exemplary Practice Award in Student Leadership and Mental Health from the Toronto Catholic District School Board and was chosen by Arc'teryx as one of their distinguished Global Problem Solvers for his use of design thinking in k-12 education and workplace mental health.

Over the years Starts With Me has worked with some of the world's biggest brands like Amazon, Hyundai, McKesson, the City of Toronto, and Canada's largest school boards.

Mike has a masters in counselling psychology, is a registered psychotherapist and works as a therapist in private practice.

Want to Connect?

Website: startswithme.ca

Personal Website: mikestroh.com

Email: [e-mail]

Resources for Founders

• Compassion vs Responsibility at Amazon Toronto HQ

• Why Empathy is Bad for Workplace Mental Health

Want to get involved?

Learn more about Starts With Me and their mental health solutions for organizations. Watch Mike’s insightful discussions on mental health and burnout on YouTube and follow him on LinkedIn for more tips on balancing mental health in the workplace.