#7: George Kapernaros – Imposter Syndrome, Self-Moderation & Living a Free Life
Sep 8, 2021
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Guest George Kapernaros, entrepreneur with self-reported mental health concerns, discusses the stigma surrounding mental health among entrepreneurs, the power of vulnerability and building community, striving for success and imposter syndrome, career aspirations and the desire for freedom, consultants' emotional investment in clients, seeking inspiration from outside sources, reflections and advice, the impact of AI on society and job displacement, disruptive technologies and the environment, and dealing with imposter syndrome and building financial security.
Mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, are prevalent among entrepreneurs and can lead to isolation and self-hatred.
Imposter syndrome is a common struggle among entrepreneurs and high achievers, but it can be overcome by focusing on personal achievements and building self-confidence.
Prioritizing personal freedom and work-life balance is important for entrepreneurs to live a fulfilling life.
Taking a long-term perspective and prioritizing employee well-being and company culture is essential for sustainable growth.
Customized communication and understanding customer needs leads to improved customer satisfaction and sustainable growth for businesses.
Deep dives
The stigma around mental health in the startup and entrepreneur space
Mental health is often not openly discussed in the startup and entrepreneur space, leading to feelings of isolation, anxiety, imposter syndrome, and self-hatred. These issues are not limited to those early in their careers, as even successful individuals struggle with them. Research shows high rates of mental health conditions among entrepreneurs, including depression, ADHD, substance use conditions, and bipolar disorder. The fear of humiliation and failure, as well as social isolation, add to the challenges faced by entrepreneurs. However, there is a growing movement to address these issues, encourage open discussions, and promote vulnerability.
Recognizing and overcoming imposter syndrome and self-doubt
Imposter syndrome is a common struggle among entrepreneurs, leading to feelings of inadequacy and the fear of being exposed as a fraud. Many high performers and successful individuals, including those with ADHD, experience imposter syndrome. Recognizing and understanding imposter syndrome is key to overcoming it. One strategy is to focus on personal achievements and build self-confidence by keeping a journal of accomplishments. Over time, individuals can embrace their strengths and accept that they don't have to compensate for their weaknesses. Finding a balance between self-improvement and self-acceptance is crucial to tackling imposter syndrome.
The importance of work-life balance and finding personal freedom
Optimizing for personal freedom and work-life balance can lead to a more fulfilling life as an entrepreneur. Prioritizing freedom and flexibility in one's career can provide options and prevent burnout. Often, individuals feel tied to the idea of building a massive company or pursuing financial success without considering what truly brings them happiness. By focusing on individual goals and values, and aligning them with business decisions, entrepreneurs can create a sense of balance and live a more free and fulfilling life.
The long-term perspective: avoiding mindless growth and prioritizing company culture
Emphasizing the long-term perspective is essential for sustainable growth. Mindlessly pursuing rapid growth without considering the impact on company culture and employee well-being can lead to dysfunction and toxic environments. Slowing down and taking care of the core team that was there from the start is crucial. Treating employees well, providing growth opportunities, and maintaining a positive work environment can foster loyalty, motivation, and productivity. Mindful growth considers the needs and happiness of employees, ensuring a healthy and thriving company culture.
The Growing Importance of Customizing Communications for Customers
Companies need to understand who their customers are, segment them appropriately, and create customized communications to improve customer satisfaction and boost profits. This approach goes against the common practice of blindly throwing money at advertising platforms like Facebook and YouTube without understanding customer needs. By focusing on personalized communication, companies can play the longer game and achieve sustainable growth.
The Need for Founders to Reflect on Their Goals and Priorities
Many founders fail to spend sufficient time reflecting on their motivations and goals for scaling their businesses. It is crucial for entrepreneurs to consider whether scaling their business rapidly is aligned with their personal values and long-term vision. By avoiding the short-term pressure to grow quickly at all costs, founders can create more sustainable and fulfilling business ventures that align with their desired lifestyles and bring them a sense of pride.
The Impact of AI and Automation on the Future
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation are emerging as potentially transformative forces in the future. The speaker expresses both excitement and concern about the implications of AI. They ponder the possibility of automating decision-making processes, including aspects related to human behavior and choices. This leads to questions about the future of work, with potential for job displacement unless individuals can adapt and upskill themselves. The speaker emphasizes the need for people to continuously learn and develop skills to remain relevant in an era of rapid technological advancement.
Importance of Self-Reflection and Self-Compassion
In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss the importance of self-reflection and self-compassion. They highlight the need to avoid external influences dictating one's actions and the significance of not mindlessly spending time online. They also touch on the importance of moderating caffeine intake and engaging in regular exercise. The hosts share personal experiences and insights, emphasizing the value of self-awareness and being kind to oneself.
Concerns about Job Automation and Future Adaptability
The podcast delves into concerns about job automation and the need for individuals to prepare for an uncertain future. They express worries about the impact of technology on various industries, such as sales and retail, and the potential displacement of workers. The hosts discuss the importance of building financial stability, fostering creativity, and expanding skill sets beyond easily automated roles. While acknowledging the challenges ahead, they remain cautiously optimistic about society's ability to adapt and find solutions.
As a rule of thumb, the most “successful” people I know are depressed and brutal on themselves. These are people with extreme wealth and by all accounts innovators and high-performers in their fields.
This isn’t just my experience; a recent study by UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco detailed the personality, mood, and human factors that are common among entrepreneurs in which:
Self-reported mental health concerns were present across 72% of the entrepreneurs in this sample, a proportion that was significantly higher than that of the comparison group.
49% reported having one or more lifelong mental health conditions, 32% reported having two or more lifelong #mental health conditions.
The entrepreneurs were significantly more likely to report a history of depression (30%), ADHD (29%), substance use conditions (12%) and bipolar diagnosis (11%) than were comparison participants.
5.4% of the entrepreneur participants were suicidal, more than double the control group (2%).
This cultivates a subterranean culture of isolation that breeds further anxiety, depression, and self-hatred – especially among young professionals who already overwhelmingly struggle with imposter syndrome.
As you'll hear in this discussion, I am one of the 32% of entrepreneurs with two or more mental health conditions. As someone diagnosed with ADHD, generalized anxiety, and bipolar II, it's something I cope with on a daily basis both in my professional and personal life.
George Kapernaros is a marketing consultant based in Athens, Greece with a degree in Political Science & International Relations. His innovative work is at the intersection of behavioral marketing, retention, and applied conversion psychology, which he has applied to over 200 product launches and multi-million dollar campaigns.
Some of the topics we discussed further:
Are entrepreneurs more likely to have ADHD?
How business partners expose strengths and weaknesses.
The struggle of dealing with imposter syndrome.
Marcus Aurelius, stoic stress testing, and behemoth to-do lists.
Childhood influences, over-achievement, and abusive self-talk.
Is balance even achievable as an entrepreneur?
Self-moderation, and the momentum trap.
Implanted aspirations, and what is a "free" life?
Risk-taking, and the illusion of security.
Consuming vs creating, and scarcity vs growth mindsets.
Turnover, mindless corporate growth, and the compound interest of bad decisions.
The struggle of passion projects vs maintaining cash flow.
What you can learn from studying comic books, conmen, and cults.
Marketing, the randomness of success, and the importance of testing your beliefs.
The butterfly effect of stress, caffeine, nootropics, and health optimization.
AI, UBI, and jobs of the future.
The looming issue of climate change, and how to prepare for the disruptions ahead.
