Sherry Walling – Don’t Burn Up in the Launch – MicroConf 2013

The MicroConf Hub Page with links to all the notes for all the talks can be found here. 

Speaker: Sherry Walling (@zenfounder)

Notable quotes:
“I don’t have an app…. And I track different metrics”

“I am the Co-Founder of the Walling Family”

• We had so many opportunities, we had a baby, we had so much success
• We still were at a point where we talked about splitting up

3 Lessons Learned

• Manage Anxiety
  • It is unavoidable
  • It is useful (It helps you focus and channel your energy)
  • It can be deadly
  • Entrepreneurs (+ spouses) are far more likely to be treaded with anxiety medication
  • Yerkes-Dodson Law = moderate arousal is ideal for performance
  • High arousal (stress) damages creativity, concentration, problem-solving and communication skills
  • Immediate Action Steps:
    • Notice it
    • Breathe
    • Keep track of what is going well
    • Eliminate unnecessary stressors
    • Get support (partner, mastermind group, therapist)
    • Take care of yourself (Sleep, nutrition and exercise are not negotiable)
• Communicate
  • Weekly huddle
  • Emotions are contagious (your spouse / partner suffers just as much as you do)
  • Re-Assess:
    • Resources
    • Vision
    • Roles
    • Expectations
• Invest in your relationship (You want to be with people you love, if you don’t invest in them, they’ll be gone when you are finally successful)

-Christoph