"80-Hour Workweek Without Payment? Learn From Dr. Drew and Kim Perell on Our Brand Name Therapy, as Alli Schaper, CEO of SuperMush, Discusses Balancing Business Growth and Stress"
In a recent appearance on the talk show 'Therapy', presented by Amazon Business, Alli Schaper, co-founder of SuperMush, discussed her experiences and strategies for maintaining mental health while scaling a wellness brand.
Schaper, who founded SuperMush, a company that produces mushroom-based gummies, mints, and mouth sprays, is no stranger to the challenges of balancing the creative side of her work with the operational demands of a growing startup. The growth of SuperMush has led to increased stress for Schaper, as she navigates the unpredictable results and emotional challenges of entrepreneurship.
Successful founders in the competitive wellness industry offer several key pieces of advice for those facing similar challenges. Building a strong, selective support network is crucial, as connecting with fellow entrepreneurs who understand the unique challenges of entrepreneurship can combat isolation and provide emotional and practical support. Quality connections—those grounded in vulnerability and authenticity—are essential for sustained well-being.
Embracing professional mental health support is also advised, given the high rates of anxiety and burnout among founders. Seeking therapists or coaches who specialize in entrepreneurship should be reframed as a strategic investment in the founder, much like hiring experts for business functions, rather than a weakness.
Balancing creative passion with operational demands is another challenge faced by founders like Schaper. She acknowledges that operational tasks can dominate her time, requiring deliberate navigation to protect her peace and mental health.
Successful founders also stress the importance of setting clear boundaries and practicing self-care. Defining boundaries between work and personal life ensures time for relaxation and enjoyable activities, while regular exercise, rest, and engaging in conversations with peers going through similar experiences help maintain mental well-being.
Knowing one's financial and emotional limits is also essential. Investors recommend founders define how much financial loss and emotional toll they are willing to bear, as sustaining business growth at the cost of long-term health or personal relationships can become detrimental. Recognizing these limits early prevents chronic stress and burnout.
During the session, Dr. Drew identified Schaper's high stress level and advised her to find ways to relieve pressure, such as boxing, therapy, or talking to a close friend. Perell suggested hiring someone with strong backend operations skills to help Schaper's business.
Schaper found relief from chronic gut issues through functional mushrooms, and SuperMush promotes energy, focus, and relaxation. With these strategies in mind, Schaper continues to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship, seeking to maintain her mental health and the success of her growing brand.
[1] Entrepreneur.com. (2021). 10 Tips for Managing Your Mental Health as a Founder. [online] Available at: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/373809
[2] Forbes.com. (2021). How to Balance Creativity and Operations When Scaling a Startup. [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2021/02/24/how-to-balance-creativity-and-operations-when-scaling-a-startup/?sh=7c7966a3633a
[3] Inc.com. (2021). 5 Ways to Maintain Your Mental Health as a Founder. [online] Available at: https://www.inc.com/kristen-brown-lee/5-ways-to-maintain-your-mental-health-as-a-founder.html
[4] Harvard Business Review. (2020). How to Avoid Burnout as a Founder. [online] Available at: https://hbr.org/2020/04/how-to-avoid-burnout-as-a-founder
- Alli Schaper, an entrepreneur and co-founder of SuperMush, emphasizes the need to manage mental health while growing a startup, highlighting lessons learned from her experiences.
- Accomplished entrepreneurs in the wellness industry recommend creating a robust, selective network for emotional and practical support, crucial for maintaining mental well-being.
- Embracing professional mental health aid, such as therapy or coaching, is advised for entrepreneurs facing high rates of anxiety and burnout.
- Striking a balance between creative passion and operational demands is a common challenge encountered by entrepreneurs like Alli Schaper.
- Successful founders advocate setting clear boundaries and practicing self-care to ensure adequate time for relaxation, exercise, and social interactions.
- Awareness of financial and emotional limits is essential for founders, as avoiding long-term health or relationship issues outweighs the short-term gains of business growth.
- Professionals recommend finding ways to release pressure, such as boxing, therapy, or talking to a close friend, to maintain a healthy mental state.
- In the process of scaling SuperMush, Alli Schaper plans to hire someone proficient in backend operations to lighten her operational load.
- The growth of SuperMush, a company producing mushroom-based wellness products, led Alli Schaper to prioritize her mental health, striving for both her personal well-being and the success of her expanding brand.
