The Hidden Cost of Entrepreneurship: Building Resilience on the Founder Journey

Building a business is exciting and rewarding, but it is also incredibly hard. The hours, the stress, the constant pressure to perform - these take a toll that is often the hidden cost of entrepreneurship and, unfortunately, isn't discussed enough.

Last week, as part of our First Circle Capital Expert Series, we had the privilege of hearing from Nektarios Liolios, who shared his honest and valuable reflections on the true price founders pay and, more importantly, what can be done to build resilience and stay well while building.

Here are the key takeaways from the conversation on protecting your greatest asset: yourself.

1. Know Your Stress Points and Find Your Recharge Cycle

The first step is awareness. Every founder has personal triggers and stress points that lead to burnout. The key is to proactively identify them and build robust self-care mechanisms.

• Self-Reflection  is Power: Take the time to identify what specifically drains your energy. Is it constant     networking, managing conflict, or the financial uncertainty?
• Find Your Recharge: Once you know your drainers, find what helps you reset. Whether it’s hitting the gym (sport), processing thoughts (journaling), centering yourself (meditation), or seeking professional guidance (therapy) - make that time non-negotiable.

2. Proactive Communication with Co-Founders

The co-founder relationship is one of the most critical and potentially fragile aspects of an early-stage business. Stress and misalignment can lead to major conflicts if small tensions are left to fester.

• Regular Check-ins: Implement structured, regular check-ins with your co-founders that go beyond operational updates. The goal is to surface small tensions early before they become debilitating issues.
• Structured Conversations: Nektarios highlighted Annie Garofalo's approach for making these conversations more structured and effective. Utilizing a framework can help depersonalize feedback and focus on problem-solving. (Find out more about her approach here).

3. You Are Not Alone: Seek Out Your Peer Group

The founder journey can feel incredibly isolating and overwhelming, especially when you are leading the charge and feel unable to show weakness to your team or investors.

• Join  the Conversation: Actively seek out and join a peer group or connect regularly with other founders. This is a safe space to share what you’re truly going through - the failures, the anxieties, and the hard-won successes - without judgment.
• Shared Vulnerability: Knowing that others are battling similar challenges is an enormous emotional anchor and can prevent feelings of singularity and despair.

4. Advice for Introverted Founders: Plan for Recovery

For founders who identify as introverts, the constant demands of pitching, networking, and public speaking are massive energy drainers. Acknowledging this is crucial for managing your well-being.

• Mindful  Scheduling: Be mindful of your energy level. Plan recovery time immediately following energy-intensive activities like conferences, investor pitches, or large team meetings.
• Be  Upfront: Don’t suffer in silence. Be transparent with your co-founders, colleagues, and partners about what works best for you. Setting boundaries isn't a sign of weakness; it's a sign of a high-performing founder protecting their capacity.

At First Circle Capital, we are committed to backing our founders through all of it - the ups, the downs, and everything in between. We understand that founder well-being is not a soft skill, but a prerequisite for sustainable business success.

Thanks again to Nektarios Liolios for sharing his hard-won wisdom and providing practical, actionable advice we can all take forward in our building journey.