I’m not a scrooge. But I’d be lying to say that I’m looking forward to Christmas. There are a lot of people who love Christmas. They embrace it. They get immersed in everything representing the Jolly Old Elf and its yuletide festivities. Friends come together to celebrate the season and the approaching New Year. Unfortunately, I’m not the only one … Read More
Business Owner Mental Health: Why we Prioritize the Bottom Line Over Bottoming Out?
I’ve been an Entrepreneur for 30 of the last 33 years of my working career. There are days that I love what I do and wouldn’t have it any other way, and there are days that I want to throw in the towel. There are simpler ways of earning a paycheck, but few jobs would give me the gratification I … Read More
5 Less Than Obvious Signs That You’re Heading for a Depressive Episode
I remember the first time I experienced a depressive episode. It was October 2008; we had just experienced the financial meltdown of the stock markets, the Canadian dollar started to plummet versus the US dollar, banks slashed our Line of Credit, and I felt utterly helpless. My business partner and I were forced to make a series of rapid-fire decisions, … Read More
Feeling Lost, Unhappy or Depressed? Maybe It’s Time to Get a Greater Purpose
I’ve often talked about the emotional highs and lows of what many entrepreneurs need to endure. The fact that the depression rate for entrepreneurs is twice that of the average adult may help justify my rationale. Having been an entrepreneur that has battled depression over the years doesn’t make me an authority on the subject, but it does give me … Read More
Why I Believe It’s So Much Easier To Say I’m Fine
On April 11th, it will be seven years since Madeline’s death or, as I’ve come to learn the term: her Angelversary. You wonder how you could get through that first week, then the first month, the first year, birthdays and holidays. You get by because life goes on, and to think otherwise is not an option. I do it for … Read More
How Do Kids Handle the Sudden Loss of a Brother or Sister?
By sharing our story and struggles about what we went through with Madeline, we cross paths with the many people who have gone through equal pain and devastation. I believe it’s therapeutic for all of us. Some of the stories are recent, and some are from years ago. Some are tragic, and some are hoping to have or have had … Read More
11 Essential Mental Health Coping Strategies for Entrepreneurs
Being an entrepreneur can be one of the most rewarding and liberating things you can do as a career. Equally valid, being an entrepreneur can be one of the most frustrating and emotional roles you can choose to make a living. Schools are great at teaching you how to succeed when starting a new business, but do these schools properly … Read More
Wake Up Parents; You Could Lose Your Child to Suicide
Last month I was invited to speak to a group of grade 7 and 8 parents about teen mental illness, what I’ve learned of our dealing with Madeline and what we were hoping to accomplish with The Maddie Project. We scheduled a date. I provided a summary of the content, and an agenda was sent out to all parents to … Read More
Do We Have a Responsibility to the Entrepreneurs of Today and Tomorrow?
Being an entrepreneur can be one of the most rewarding and liberating things you can do as a career. Equally valid, being an entrepreneur can be one of the most frustrating and emotional roles you can choose to make a living. Schools are great at teaching you how to succeed when starting a new business, but do these schools properly … Read More
Does the Entrepreneur’s Journey to Greatness Need to be so Damn Lonely?
Do you ever wish you could have an honest conversation with a fellow business owner without judgement? I’m talking a completely candid; no holes barred, these are my deepest and darkest fears kind of conversations. I’ve been doing this entrepreneur thing for 30 years, and over the duration, I’ve experienced many emotions: joy, frustration, pride, anxiety, depression, optimism, sadness, fear. … Read More