The Entrepreneur's Guide to Depression and ADHD

1. www.hypermind.orgwww.hypermind.org The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Depression and ADHD Hyper Mind Project Arnobio Morelix | @arnobiomorelix | arnobiomorelix@gmail.com Colin Tomkins-Bergh |@ColinT_B | colintomkinsbergh@gmail.com Workshop at SXSW Interactive Austin, TX 2016 © 2016 Arnobio Morelix and Colin Tomkins-Bergh

2. www.hypermind.org 4 Reasons to Attend this Session | Goals for Today (even if you don’t have a mental health condition or are not an entrepreneur) 1. Normalize. Help de-stigmatize mental health conditions in entrepreneurship • If you are an entrepreneur, it is normal not be “normal” 2. Understand. How mental health affects entrepreneurs. • Decode the entrepreneurial brain 3. Change. Learn tools and strategies to deal with mental health disorders and psychological issues • Your brain is not a magical land only accessible to psychiatrists and drugs 4. Enjoy. Have fun – today and onwards

3. www.hypermind.org Agenda A) normalize 1. Entrepreneurship’s Strangest Secret • Research and Background 2. Disney Glasses and the Myth of the Super-Founder • Breaking stigma B) understand 1. Power of Vulnerability • Group exercise and conversation 2. The Double-Edged Sword and the Entrepreneurial Rollercoaster • How entrepreneurship affects mental health C) change 1. ADHD and Depression – Background and Strategies • Peer-to-peer exercise 2. The Entrepreneur’s Mental Health Toolkit • tools 3. Q&A, The Road Ahead and Conclusion D) enjoy

4. www.hypermind.org If you had a mental health condition, would you not be comfortable talking about it here? Show of hands

5. www.hypermind.org What are your goals for the session? What do you want to get out of it? white boarding

6. www.hypermind.org Two Guidelines for Today • Open Forum • Chatham House Rule Applies • You can talk about was said, but never who said it without their explicit consent • “participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed” • This is so all of us can feel comfortable here today sharing whatever you’d like • Open, ongoing Q&A and discussion • Choose Your Own Adventure • There is no “one size fits all” • “Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.” • Bruce Lee quote • There is no “one size fits all” • This is drawn from our research and our own personal experiences. • We speak with as fellow entrepreneurs and patients, not medical professionals

7. www.hypermind.org Why This and Why Now 1. Long-running anecdotal evidence, now backed up by research 2. Discussed “hush hush” in certain forums • put people also open up (e.g., when sharing in conference, panels) 3. Personal experiences with mental health

8. www.hypermind.org Who We Are – The Hyper Mind Project • www.hypermind.org • We are fellow entrepreneurs and patients – not medical professionals • Arnobio Morelix • Social entrepreneur and entrepreneurship researcher at day job, a multi-billion dollar foundation • Colin Tomkins-Bergh • Entrepreneur on natural food startup and entrepreneurship researcher a multi-billion dollar foundation • Special panelist – Dave Parker • A passion project to understand the entrepreneurial brain and create tools to help entrepreneurs • Acknowledgments • Therapist Catherine Morelix, LCSW (co-author on this) • Dr. Michael Freeman, psychiatrist (review and feedback)

9. www.hypermind.org Research Background – Our Work in the Past Year • 100+ review of books, scholarly articles 1. Brad Feld, Foundry Group 2. Norris Krueger, Entrepreneur and Researcher 3. Kristen Webber, Ascendo 4. Micah Baldwin, Graphic.ly 5. Mark Woeppel, Pinnacle Strategies 6. Andy Sparks, Mattermark 7. Ben Huh, Cheezburger 8. Corey Miller, Ithemes 9. Rand Fishkin, Moz 10. Chris Meyers, BodeTree 11. Kit Hughes, Look-Listen 12. Catherine Morelix, Therapist 13. Michael Freeman, psychiatrist, psychologist, former CEO • 13 interviews with high-profile entrepreneurs and mental health experts High-growth entrepreneurs (Inc. 500), VCs, high exits, mental health experts • Project in expansion: more interviews, review of hundreds more books and articles • We will love to get your feedback

10. www.hypermind.org What Steve Jobs, Brad Feld and Sir Richard Branson have in common with 49% of entrepreneurs? Entrepreneurship’s Strangest Secret | The Intimate Link Between Mental Health and Entrepreneurship

11. www.hypermind.org Entrepreneurship’s Strangest Secret the intimate link between mental health and entrepreneurship • What Steve Jobs, Brad Feld and Sir Richard Branson have in common with 49% of entrepreneurs? • There is an obvious answer: they all started new ventures • But there is also a more surprising one: They all have lifetime mental health conditions

12. www.hypermind.org Entrepreneurship’s Strangest Secret the intimate link between mental health and entrepreneurship • Well-recognized anecdotal evidence • Sir Richard Branson • dyslexia and reputed ADHD • Steve Jobs • described by one his biographers as obsessive and likely bipolar • David Needleman, founder of Jet Blue • attributes some of his successes and failures to ADHD • Brad Feld, entrepreneur and investor • obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression • High-profile founder suicides • Austen Heinz, CEO of Cambrian Genomics • Aaron Swartz, Reddit • Jody Sherman, Ovik Banerjee, and Matt Berman from the Downtown Vegas Project. • Bipolar disorder as the “CEO’s disease”

13. www.hypermind.org 3 Facts About Mental Health and Entrepreneurship a look at the research and data

14. www.hypermind.org 1) 49 % of entrepreneurs have a mental health condition • Survey by researchers at University of California and Stanford • Moreover, entrepreneurs are • 6x more likely to have ADHD • 2x depression • 3x substance abuse • 10x bipolar condition • Survey methods entrepreneurs definition = business founders or co-founders with or without employees including non-profit founders Sample sizes entreps n = 242 comparison n = 93

15. www.hypermind.org 2) Kids with ADHD are 4x more likely to be entrepreneurs as adults than non-ADHD kids • 16-year study with almost one hundred children with ADHD • Children with ADHD 4x more likely to be entrepreneur as adult than non-ADHD children 19% 5% 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16% 18% 20% Children with ADHD Children Without ADHD BUSINESS OWNERS AS ADULTS (%)

16. www.hypermind.org 3) Adults with bipolar disorder are 33% more likely to be entrepreneurs than the general population • Study with over 2.4 million adults in Denmark • Researchers from Stanford and Aalborg University • Bipolar adults were 33% more likely to own an incorporated business than general population

17. www.hypermind.org 3 Facts About Mental Health and Entrepreneurship a look at the research and data 1. 49 % of entrepreneurs have a mental health condition 2. Kids with ADHD are 4x more likely to be entrepreneurs as adults than non-ADHD kids 3. Adults with bipolar disorder are 33% more likely to be entrepreneurs than the general population

18. www.hypermind.org Entrepreneurship’s Strangest Secret the intimate link between mental health and entrepreneurship • Long-running anecdotal evidence, now supported by the data and research • Two reasons why we think of it as entrepreneurship’s strangest secret 1. In certain circles, this is no secret at all • Rarely discussed in mainstream media • However, a small but growing topic of discussion in certain entrepreneurship forums – especially in relationship to depression 2. It makes intuitive sense, especially if you are an entrepreneur and/or have a mental health condition. • A lot of the puzzling behaviors of entrepreneurs make sense through mental health lens (e.g., failure rates, lower earnings) • We have long accepted that the mental processes for artists are different than those for most other people • Long research history on that spanning across decades • It is time we talk about it in a more open forum.

19. www.hypermind.org Meet Dick • High school dropout • Two times in jail • Often flirts with death • Got close to dying more than once on his high-risk "dares“ Meet Richard • Extremely successful entrepreneur • Prominent philanthropist • Builds world-changing companies • …and schools in Africa and the Caribbean • Has a program to mentor aspiring entrepreneurs in the developing world

20. www.hypermind.org The Founder’s Paradox • As you probably guessed, Dick and Richard are the same person: • Sir Richard Branson • Yet, we look at these two very contrasting patterns of behavior destructive and constructive -- and it puzzles us. How can this be? • Far from limited to very “famous” entrepreneurs • Micah Baldwin • Super-founder • Medical entrepreneur in Brazil • From “male prostitute” to family hero • Kit Hughes • From struggling artist to CEO of Look-Listen • Khalid Hakim, • Struggling young professional living on mom’s couch to turnaround CEO and executive coach

21. www.hypermind.org The Founder’s Paradox Source: Zero to One (Thiel, 2014)

22. www.hypermind.org “Of the six people who started PayPal, four had built bombs in high school.” “The Founder’s Paradox,” by Peter Thiel on his Zero to One book (2014).

23. www.hypermind.org Implications of the Founder’s Paradox Disney Glasses and Myth of the Super-Founder

24. www.hypermind.org Disney Glasses outside looking in • It is very hard for popular culture and media to make sense of these people who are very gray, rather than black and white • Binary treatment: Heroes or Villains, never both • The truth: not black and white, but gray characters • If Steve Jobs was not the harsh boss and leader that he was, and dedicated to his company at the expense of his family on the way that he did, I’m not sure we’d the iPhone and iPad on the same way that we have • Richard Branson’s “screw it let’s do it” attitude is behind both his building of Virgin into a multi-billion dollar empire as well as his jailing for tax evasion

25. www.hypermind.org Disney Glasses in Action • The Microsoft File: The Secret Case Against Bill Gates • “…portrays Microsoft as a scheming, double-crossing predator out to stomp its opposition into submission.” • “Why Bill Gates is a true hero”

26. www.hypermind.org The Myth of the Super-Founder inside looking out • Media and society looks at entrepreneurs through Disney Glasses • …but founders are part to blame of the myth-building • Myth building by founders • Exaggerate natural uniqueness and abilities • Good for business, because it can attract • employees • investors • media attention • Customers, suppliers, etc. • Interviewee Micah Baldwin from Amazon talks about founders playing the role of superman and superwoman • Takes many forms, but eccentric super-founder can be a helpful stereotype for entrepreneurs • “computer whiz,” “mad genius,” “creative artist,” etc. Source: Zero to One (Thiel, 2014)

27. www.hypermind.org The Result of the Super-Founder Myth and Disney Glasses • It works really well. Until it doesn’t. • Until company turns south and or the media starts to corner • Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos • Inevitably founders become cornered. Because if you are a hero, you can’t show weakness, you can’t show vulnerability and you can’t fail. • It can cost not only a founder’s image or company, but also his/her sanity

28. www.hypermind.org Breaking the Myth of the Super-Founder the Power of Opening Up • Really tough to change. Changing how society views this requires nothing short of a revolution on how entrepreneurship is talked about and how stories are told. • What we can do: • Opening up and letting go of the cape a little bit • Creating open, safe forums –for opening up with fellow entrepreneurs, friends, family, and teams

29. www.hypermind.org Normalizing Stigma • Entrepreneurs opening up • Brad Feld • Jerry Colona • Marcus Lemonis • Rand Fishkin • Tim Ferris • Power of Opening Up

30. www.hypermind.org Power of Opening Up “The response was incredible. I got so much from the talk itself – lots of people just got up and shared their story to the whole group during Q and A. I’ve received so many thankful messages from others who have gone on to seek professional help after hearing my message.” - Corey Miller, Ithemes “Being able to talk with people like Jerry – who have dealt with depression for years has really helped.” - Khalid Halim, Reboot.io “I found that the more that you share your struggles and solutions – your story – the more that you become self aware and the more that people want to come and work, engage with you.” - Chris Meyer, Bode Tree

31. www.hypermind.org The Power of Opening Up •“The way that we start erasing the stigma is by helping the people suffering in silence – the ones who aren’t able to seek and find help.” • Corey Miller, Ithemes

32. www.hypermind.org Dave Parker Opening Up

33. www.hypermind.org Discussion Exercise 1. Who here has a personal story of psychological struggles with or without any mental health condition? Raise of hands 2. Keep your hand up if you’re willing to share your story

34. www.hypermind.org Change: what we can do about it Your brain is not some magical land, only accessible to psychiatrists and drugs (quote inspired by Mr. MMM)

35. www.hypermind.org A Complex Relationship -- Overview Mental Health Affects Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Affects Mental Health 1. The Entrepreneurial Rollercoaster • How it affects mental health • Business Triggers 2. Double-Edged Sword • Huge both for upside and downside 3. Top 5 Strategies for Change • Interviews with entrepreneurs and experts

36. www.hypermind.org Entrepreneurial Rollercoaster How entrepreneurs describe it Credits: Tim Ferriss

37. www.hypermind.org Business Triggers Affect Mental Health • “Startups are a major stressor, and it can be a trigger for dormant stuff that’s already there.” • Kimberly Knoll, therapist who works with Downtown Project Las Vegas • “The challenge is to identify which way the correlation/causation runs. My depression started taking over and that hurt performance or The Company performance took a toll on my mental health. I believe its some of both.” • - Rand Fishkin, Moz

38. www.hypermind.org The Double-Edged Sword the Entrepreneurial Brain as both an asset and a liability • Both an asset and a liability • Study with over 2.4 million adults in Denmark • Researchers from Stanford and Aalborg University • Bipolar adults were 33% more likely to own an incorporated business than general population • This study focus on bipolar condition, but we believe the findings we are about to share can be applicable really across a broad mental health spectrum

39. www.hypermind.org The Double-Edged Sword the Entrepreneurial Brain as both an asset and a liability Downside • 43% less earnings on average • $50,000 v. $28,500 • 27% + likely to zero income Upside • 33% + likely to be entrepreneur • Own incorporated business • 8% + likely top 10% income • + likely to be executive at small and young firms (but not larger ones)

40. www.hypermind.org The Double-Edged Sword – Maximizing Upside the Entrepreneurial Brain as both an asset and a liability • With treatment • Eliminated the wage penalty • 13%+ likely to join top 10% of income Source: Michael Freeman Interview, CNN

41. www.hypermind.org 5 Strategies for Change from interviews with entrepreneurs 1. Mindfulness • Journaling | Meditation | Apps (e.g., Headspace, Omvana) 2. Support network • Spouse, Friends, Family | Peer groups (e.g., Entrepreneur Organization) | Meet ups (e.g., Portland Crappy Hour, Donut Weekly Meetup, Co-Founder Weekly Dinner) 3. Sane body, sane mind • Sleep hygiene | Healthy diet | Exercise 4. Coaching • CEO coaching (e.g., Reboot.io, Dr. Michael Freeman), Marriage counseling 5. Medical help • Therapy | Medication

42. www.hypermind.org Understanding ADHD and Depression As fellow patients, NOT medical professionals Self-reporting

43. www.hypermind.org Brief Description: Depression • Causes may include chemical imbalance in the brain or from stressful life events (including in business). • Symptoms must last for at least two weeks. • Symptoms • loss of interest or pleasure • significant weight change • diminished concentration • fatigue nearly every day • feelings of worthlessness • recurring thoughts of death • Source: Therapist Aid

44. www.hypermind.org Brief Description: ADHD/ADD • Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) • Also commonly known as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) • Neurodevelopmental disorder • “Impairing levels of inattention, disorganization, and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity.” • Inattention and disorganization • Inability to stay on task • Seeming not to listen • Hyperactivity-impulsivity • Overactivity (mental and physical) • Fidgeting • Inability to wait • Intruding into other people’s activities • Source: Therapist Aid

45. www.hypermind.org Group Sharing Strategies • Show of hands, who is dealing with a problem related to a psychological issue? • Keep your hands up if you would like to discuss potential solutions to your problem • Please break into groups that have at least one person willing to share per group (4-6) • 10 minutes Breaking it down, and focusing on what we can do about it

46. www.hypermind.org Specific Tools and Situations

47. www.hypermind.org On Suicide • Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US for all ages. (CDC) • We are not medical professionals. If you are going through suicidal ideation – especially if you are creating a plan – please: • seek medical help • therapist • doctor • psychiatrist • Share with trusted family member or friend

48. www.hypermind.org If you are having suicidal thoughts • What to do: • “Don't drink or do drugs. Doing so will impair your judgment and worsen feelings of depression and hopelessness. • Reach out to a friend, family, or doctor. A true friend will want you to be healthy • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline if you don’t know where to turn. The 800 number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). • Call 911 if you feel you're in an emergency situation.”

49. www.hypermind.org HALT • HALT reminds us that when we are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired, we do not feel well and are not good at decision making. • Luckily, you can usually fix these • Hunger • Anger • Loneliness • Tiredness • Suggested by therapist Catherine Morelix

50. www.hypermind.org The Entrepreneur’s Mental Health Toolkit My top 3 favorites for managing ADHD and Depression We talked about very helpful strategies. Here are some specific tools you can use 1. 2-Year Gratitude Gap 2. Zen Log Book 3. Momentum Calendar

51. www.hypermind.org Future Gap and the Ambition Treadmill • A simple idea that explains so much of our frustration, especially among entrepreneurs • The Future Gap • The vision of what you want to be and build • It work well to set the vision. But it can be burdensome, disheartening – because we look at ourselves today and know that we are not there • Inspired on concept by Dan Sullivan and Vishen Lakhiani

52. www.hypermind.org Future Gap and the Ambition Treadmill • By itself, the ambition is not a problem • It becomes one, though, when we postpone our happiness because of it • I’m gonna celebrate it when… • “I make it big” • “I sign on that big customer” • “I raise the next round of funding • Ambition treadmill: there is no finish line, because you’re always adding a new goal

53. www.hypermind.org 2-Year Gratitude Gap • Solution is not to get rid of ambition, but recognize your progress in the past • Recognizing progress and being grateful can never happen looking forward. Only backwards. • Compare the Present You with your Reverse Gap, 2 years ago • Where were you two years ago? How did your life look like? Were you attending cool conferences like this one? How were your relationships? Your company? You, personally? What did not know then that you do now? • Life not always gets better, but this exercise focuses on the improvements • Write it down

54. www.hypermind.org Zen Log Book • Journaling and mindfulness practice • Inspired on skydiving jump log • Happiness is elusive and hard to chase. We need better defined “directions” • Help you identify and track your: • Progress • Purpose • Pursuit

55. www.hypermind.org The 3 Ps of Happiness • Progress • Improving, learning, growing • Moving towards a goal • Purpose • Why you do what you do • Pursuit • 2-fold • Enjoying the journey • Pursuing excitement and adventure

56. www.hypermind.org

57. www.hypermind.org Momentum Calendar • Jerry Seinfeld on becoming a master: • Writing jokes every day (to become better comedian) • “After a few days you’ll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You’ll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job is to not break the chain.” • Once you build momentum, all you have to do is not break the chain. And add just one more X • You may not want to write a joke every day. But maybe you want: • 3 goals (e.g., from Zen Log Book) • Daily mindfulness • 4 hours of focused work (what I use in my calendar)

58. www.hypermind.org Access Entrepreneur’s Mental Health Toolkit • Tools previously just a preview. For more, access the Entrepreneur’s Mental Health Toolkit • Visit www.hypermind.org

59. www.hypermind.org 4 Takeaways and Insights 1. If you are an entrepreneur, it is normal not to be “normal” • Intimate connection between mental health and entrepreneurship • De-stigmatizing and cracking the myth of the super-founder 2. The entrepreneurial brain is a double-edged sword • Both an asset and a liability 3. The Entrepreneurial rollercoaster and how entrepreneurship affects mental health • Business triggers 4. You can do something about it • Your brain is not a magical land…

60. www.hypermind.org Discussion and Q+A,

61. www.hypermind.org Thank You! •www.hypermind.org • arnobiomorelix@gmail.com • @arnobiomorelix • colintomkinsbergh@gmail.com • @ColinT_B