“Your probability of being a billionaire is higher if you don’t make that your goal. Just focus on making a company that is dope.” – Mr. Beast
I recently heard Mr. Beast (Jimmy) make a not-so-shocking statement:
“If my mental health was a priority, I wouldn’t be as successful as I am.”
It’s a little sad, very romantic and sounds true.
But… Is it?
Well, instead of taking everything successful people say as fact, let’s do a little thinking for ourselves.
For the sake of the experiment, we’ll keep all of Jimmy’s “success variables” the same:
He works just as hard, for just as many hours, on all the same stuff.
But let’s say, every morning, instead of waking up, rolling over, and immediately responding to the avalanche of responsibilities waiting in his phone…
…Jimmy stays in bed for ten minutes.
Nothing crazy, just ten minutes.
And yes, even Jimmy has ten minutes to spare. We all do.
During that ten minutes, Jimmy practices regulating his nervous system through a series of breathing exercises.
When he gets out of bed, Jimmy feels calm and centered and focused.
Then he jumps in a 2 minute cold shower, which elevates his dopamine for hours afterwards.
(and, let’s be honest, takes even less time than his hot shower because it’s damn uncomfortable)
Now, when Jimmy opens his phone, he feels like a fxcking champion:
Ready to attack the violence of the day head-on.
Now let’s say, later in the day, Jimmy finds a spare 20 minutes to exercise.
Again, nothing crazy. Just 20 minutes.
And yes, even Jimmy has 20 minutes to spare. We all do.
How do we know?
Because he actually did it:
So Jimmy trains hard for 20 minutes, slams a protein shake and gets back to work.
Fast forward to the end of the day.
Jimmy’s in bed once again.
But this time, let’s say, instead of scrolling until he drifts off, Jimmy turns off his phone ten minutes before he goes to sleep.
Again, nothing crazy. Just 10 minutes.
And yes, even Jimmy has… well, you get the point.
During that ten minutes, Jimmy does another round of breathing exercises to relax his nervous system and release the tensions of the day before drifting off.
This means Jimmy feels better, sleeps better, recovers better, and — guess what:
Performs better at work the next day.
Which is exactly the point I want to drive home:
Mentally healthy entrepreneurs perform better, not worse.
They are capable of more success, not less.
A strong, healthy entrepreneur can…
- work more hours
- at a higher intensity
- with more focus
- and more creative energy
…Than an unhealthy, strung-out entrepreneur who is fraying at the edges and coming apart inside.
Why that isn’t obvious, I have no idea.
Why high-level entrepreneurs romanticize feeling strung-out all the time as though it’s simply “the price they need to pay” for their success, I have no idea.
(actually I do, it’s called confirmation bias)
And, while there can be no doubt:
To get to Jimmy’s level, you’re going to need to grind and struggle and suffer far more than the average Skool boob…
…Pairing that struggling and suffering with strategic habits that rebalance and restore you afterwards can only be good for business.
(and, as we just proved — it doesn’t take much)
Of course, Jimmy’s not gonna enlighten himself breathing in bed for 10 minutes.
And he’s not gonna become Mr. Olympia training for 20 minutes before lunch.
He’s not going to become our new gold standard for mental health…
…But he will be far mentally healthier than he would have been — which will make him better at…
- Leading his team
- Thinking clearly and creatively
- Handling stress responses
- Acting independent of emotion
…Not to mention:
Enjoying the damn ride.
Which is what it’s all about, anyway.
Okay, experiment complete.
What were your findings?
– T
P.S. Entrepreneurs who are committed to mastering themselves and business — to developing both inner and outer skill — are a rare breed.
But those who do become unstoppable.
If you’re committed to that path, come join us.
We’re waiting for you.
“Honestly, I got my first brand deal for 10k and I gave it away. I got it, went outside and gave it to a homeless person. I don’t want to play it up too much. It just felt good.” – Mr. Beast
