The Health Cost of “Move Fast and Break Things" Culture.

"We started in a garage." , “ We’re aiming to disrupt and innovate” , “ We’re bullish with our growth” , “Scrappy” , “Bootstrapping Ourselves” , “ Forward - Thinking” - These are just some of the terms that startup founders use to describe their overly aggressive plans, signaling to potential employers what type of behavior will be rewarded. This is not for the weak.

Startups offer ambitious individuals a chance to contribute to building something from scratch and be part of an exciting process and amazing, glorious future. This relentless emphasis on personal success, coupled with high expectations and a fast-paced work culture, can create a negative perception around taking breaks or seeking support, leading to unhealthy mental habits.

I understand. I was part of this environment from around 2005 to 2015, growing up in the startup and business scene in NYC. You quickly learn that this is a "If you're not first, you're last" type of world, and you constantly feel like you are easily replaceable. While almost every job offer comes with the notion that the company is "for the people, by the people," you soon realize that most companies are "for the profit, by the labor," and nobody cares about people. If you can't work weekends, well, fuck you, because there are plenty of people who can and will. If you are sick for more than a few days, well fuck you too, you might as well be dead, because there's no need to come back - your position has been filled. And if you're pregnant, companies will expect you to file your excel sheets while you're in labor. You get the point.

Around that time, Mike Judge released a highly successful show on HBO called Silicon Valley, which followed the journey of a single startup from its initial idea to the pinnacle/bottom of its success story, showcasing almost the entire industry and satirizing all the quirks that come with running a successful startup. You may even recall a particular scene that encapsulates how unhealthy this environment can be:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8qB0DOZ9MY

But look, I was young, I was single, and the world was at my fingertips. I hustled, like Fiddy Cent pushing out mixtapes. I've had startups, built products, and joined startups. I attended all the mixers and startup events. I fully embraced the lifestyle...until it all came crashing down in 2017. I had a mental breakdown and started drinking, becoming a semi-productive shell of a person. I was running on autopilot and drinking beers every day. My creativity was shattered, and my interest in anything had diminished. I felt like Patrick Bateman in American Psycho - simply not there.

One of the lessons learned here was that in order to truly drive innovation and bring out the best in people, it's crucial to create a work environment that truly celebrates people and prioritizes health and mental well being. Success is not a sprint. It is a marathon and I think these days startups tend to forget it. They look at the quick rises of these tech giants and they want to duplicate it. You see tip of the iceberg, the allure, the glory and  no one bothers to check at what cost they have arrived and continue operate in this success.

Before you disrupt, learn to support

You want to truly be a disruptive company. Disrupt inside out! Disrupt how your team operates, disrupt in ways that will make them feel supported, cherished and loved. Make them feel irreplaceable and they will become so! Unfortunately, people, including those working in startups today, often push themselves to the brink before seeking help. However, the best approach to mental health (and health in general) is a proactive one - addressing concerns before they become severe.

They way I did it in my agency was simple…I equaled the playing field. I told everyone that this is not a boss - employee relationship. This is a team that shares a common goal and equitable future. I do not force people to do shit they don’t want to do. I hire folks that share the  same vision of the future as I do. I try to align their personal goals to that of my own and in finding these common grounds I seek out projects and opportunities that would allow us to progress and thrive, together.

Now, I am not saying this is is easy, or right or the only way of doing things. I am new to this, I am new to leading my own teams. But I am transparent about it, I always seek feedback from my team on how I can improve myself. I am sure there are veterans and PMs and leaders who do what I do much better. While I may not know all of it yet, I do know one thing for sure and that is how NOT to do it.

“Move fast and break things” must come with some safety instructions

This means creating policies, rules, and, most importantly, leaders who speak frankly and openly with their teams about how they manage their mental well-being. Doing so protects your most precious resource - your human talent - and helps them remain on track even during periods of heightened pressure. Mental health encompasses a broad range of concerns, and there are many solutions available beyond traditional talk therapy and in-patient care, which can be approached proactively.

I mean caring for stuff, is the most intuitive things we as humans inhibit. But somewhere in policies, bureaucracy, and eternal pursuit of success we have lost this trait.  It does not need to be this complicated. You don’t need to write up boring and lengthy guardrail documents, you don’t need to have endless meetings and HR seminars. You can just simply talk to your team. Ask them how they feel and listen to their feedback.

You can’t move fast without a strong engine, because ultimately the only thing you will end up breaking is people’s spirits.

Don’t be bullish with your health

When someone is experiencing early symptoms of anxiety, burnout, or depression and is working non stop, they won’t have the emotional capacity to effectively problem-solve. If these symptoms progress to a later stage of burnout, they may require an extended break from work to recuperate. Even in the initial stages, seeking assistance may feel daunting (and carry a stigma) and may seem like an additional task on an already overwhelming list. That's why it's important to take breaks and for team leaders detect these issues early on before they cause a major problem

I collective like to ask each team member whether or not they are at capacity, or they can take on more projects without sacrificing their weekends, personal time and well being.

This is exactly why when I started my own agency, this was a number one non negotiable rule for myself and my team. I do not sacrifice my health for anything. It’s just not worth it.

Since my breakdown in 2017 I have started my agency, on my own terms. We may not be “bullish”, in fact we are not. But we are plenty innovative, disruptive and creative because we gets our rest and we create the time to pause and look around and spend time with our loved ones.