A Healthy Startup Needs a Healthy Founder.

It might sound like common sense, but I’ve seen too many founders who start out healthy, only to develop health issues while building their ventures. Does this sound familiar to you? Stress builds up, it’s never properly released, new health issues arise, and personal care is pushed to the backburner.

Take John, for example. He co-owned a business with his brother Jeff and was once in great shape. A former college football player, John maintained his fitness well into his 30s. When I first met him, he was super fit. But as his company grew, he stopped working out, his waistline expanded, and he started losing his hair.

One day, during a meeting at his office, I noticed John rubbing his eyes and struggling to focus on his computer screen. I asked if something was wrong, and he shared that he hadn’t been sleeping well and was finding it hard to focus, which was affecting his role as CEO and CFO.

I asked if he had seen a doctor. He had. He’d been on medication for weeks, but the issues persisted. His latest challenge was reading and processing information on his computer. Despite wearing new bifocal glasses, he still couldn’t focus, and his mind would often go blank.

I asked him, “When was the last time you exercised?” He replied, “Maybe 8 months ago?” Then, “When did your insomnia and anxiety start?” He thought for a moment and said, “Six or seven months ago.”

I suggested, “Maybe your insomnia and anxiety started when you stopped exercising. Without an outlet to release work and life stress, your body is holding onto it.” John paused, then admitted, “You’re right. I miss working out. I always felt better afterward.”

I recommended that he get back to exercising to see if it helped his health issues. Long-term medication isn’t the best solution. We all need some form of daily exercise to recalibrate. “Take care of your health—no one else can do this for you,” I reminded him.

Two weeks later, John was back to his usual self. He had started working out every morning before going into the office, stopped taking his medication, and began eating healthier. His waistline was shrinking, and his insomnia was gone. By prioritizing self-care, John was able to resolve his health issues quickly.

In another startup I was involved with, health was also a key issue. My two co-founders were initially in great shape and full of energy. But over time, they both neglected their fitness routines despite my reminders. They gained weight, struggled with insomnia, and became forgetful. During a particularly stressful period, they didn’t take time to recharge, which affected their judgment and decision-making. This led to a few rash decisions that ultimately hurt our startup.

If you’re a founder and this resonates with you—accumulating stress, neglecting your health, and facing new issues—it’s time to incorporate self-care and fitness into your daily routine. Treat your health as non-negotiable—just like eating and sleeping. Don’t let it slide.

If you fail to make time to decompress and recharge, the stress will accumulate, affecting your ability to think clearly and make good decisions. We all know that making decisions under stress can lead to poor outcomes.

Additionally, if you value your own health, you’re more likely to value your employees’ health as well. If you neglect your well-being—working long hours, eating poorly, not sleeping enough, and skipping exercise—you’ll likely set the same expectations for your team. Overworked, stressed employees affect company morale, which ultimately impacts the overall health of your business. And if you fall ill, your startup will falter—especially when you, the founder, are in the driver’s seat.

I first wrote about this issue in 2013, at the start of my wellness coaching journey. It’s still the hidden challenge many founders face.

So remember: Your health directly impacts your venture’s success. Take care of it!