I remember a critical turning point when I was on the verge of a breakdown
while running my internet company. My personal life was in shambles and my
business partnership was tense.
I took what I considered a radical move at the time to get back on track. I
stepped away from my company for more than a month to write a book. It worked,
at least for the next year.
I wondered how other business owners stay motivated when burnout threatens.
Here's what I found out:
"Create, create, creation!" says Wendy Diamond, the 30-something chief pet
officer of million-dollar business
Animal Fair Media Inc.,
a lifestyle entertainment media company that promotes fairness to animals.
"Constantly thinking of new ideas, helping the underdog--this is what keeps me
going."
Diamond's creations include her magazine, Animal Fair, featuring
celebrities and their rescued pets; the first pet fashion show, Paws for Style,
raising money for animal rescue; and the Cesar Five Dog Bone Award for companies
that exhibit excellence in pet-friendly products and services. She also created
Yappy Hour for singles and their pets, raising more than $200,000 for animal
shelters. On top of that, Diamond is set to be a judge on CBS' new primetime TV series, America's Top Dog.
Running a multimedia pet lifestyle company is a nonstop effort for Diamond,
who is also chairwoman of the Katrina Pet Memorial Fund. The fund is helping the
Louisiana Humane Society in New Orleans raise millions to rebuild the shelter
Hurricane Katrina demolished.
Even with inspiring and creative work, Diamond admits that she faces
potential burnout every day. However, she says, "No matter what, I just remember
twiddling my thumbs in Ohio pondering the question, 'What am I going to do with
my life?' I quickly realize I am doing just fine."
Says Diamond, "The high point of my career is getting thank-yous from the
littlest shelters, the ones that can't do anything to help me, but I know I have
helped people who truly are doing what they can for animals."
The Travail of Travel
For Carol Fitzgerald, 43, president and co-founder of
BuzzBack Market Research,
a marathon amount of traveling for her multimillion-dollar company nudges her
toward burnout.
"Last summer, during the month of July, I was on 22 planes in three weeks
visiting customers. Every single one had at least a two-hour delay. My
BlackBerry was dead, I was frustrated, and I felt as if I were falling behind,"
Fitzgerald recalls.
To keep burnout at bay, Fitzgerald takes a two-pronged approach. For
business, she attends conferences to gain new perspective. "It helps me think
about macro issues vs. the fires I have to put out because BuzzBack is growing
so quickly," she says.
On the personal front, she seeks out time for herself, but she also turns to
others.
"I do something for someone else," Fitzgerald says. "I help my kids with
their homework or participate in a community event where I can't think about
work."
Knowing that burnout isn't limited to CEOs, both Diamond and Fitzgerald have
strategies to help their employees.
"I let them bring their pets to the office--having animals in the workplace
promotes harmony and productivity. Things are always casual at the workplace,"
Diamond says.
For Fitzgerald, the key is flexibility. On a Friday, half the company's desks
are empty.
"Our operations director is running surveys from the beach, our [senior vice
president] of business development is having lunch with a friend in Connecticut
because he is working from home, and our [senior vice president] of product
development is taking a break to tend to his goats in Vermont," Fitzgerald says.
"You can work anywhere, anytime these days. All I care about is that we make
our numbers and do an outstanding job to serve clients. Flexibility is critical.
It allows employees to think, and it empowers them."