This document provides tips for managing stress in a startup environment. It begins by listing common signs that someone may be stressed, such as having a rapid heartbeat or shallow breathing. It then defines two types of stressors: internal stressors that come from within the work environment like deadlines or meetings, and external stressors from outside the work like family or personal finances. The document provides techniques for assessing stress levels like checking muscle tension or hand temperature. It identifies common sources of stress for startups like constant doubt, time pressure, money issues, and dealing with people. It concludes by offering strategies for choosing how to approach stressors, finding release valves, building a support system, and maintaining a helpful perspective.

1. Managing Stress in a Startup
Presented by
Rob Flippo, Suha Jhaveri, Jose Lacal and Stephanie
Warrington
Team Experience
 Over 88 Startups
 70 Years Collective Experience
 $98 Million Raised

2. You Might be Stressed if …..
 Your car heads to work regardless of the day of week or
actual planned destination.
 You can achieve a “Runners High” by sitting up.
 You can see individual air molecules vibrating.
 You begin to explore the possibility of setting up an IV drip
solution of espresso.
 You wonder if brewing is really a necessary step in the
consumption of coffee.
 Things become “Very Clear!!!”
 You ask the drive-thru attendant if you can get your order
to go.
 Antacid tablets become your sole source of nutrition.
 Your heart beats in 7/8 time.

3.  Stress – The generalized response of the body
to any demand
 Stressor – Any event or condition that initiates
a stress reaction
 Internal Stressor – Stress generated from within your
work environment
 Deadlines, Funding, Meetings, Etc…
 External Stressor – Stress generated from outside
your work environment
 Family, Personal finances, Etc…

4. Check muscle tension by "Scanning“
When you scan, you are checking different muscles in your body as if you
could X-ray each part and look for tension.
Check hand temperature
Place your hand on the side of your neck just above your collar. If your
hand is noticeably cooler than your neck, your hand temperature
indicates that your body is probably stressed.
Check for nervous sweating
Many people perspire when they are tense. This is an involuntary stress
response that is caused by the secretion of certain stress hormones. This is
yet another simple indicator that your body is responding to some
stressor.
Check for a rapid pulse rate (> 75 bpm)
At rest, most people will have a pulse rate in the 50s or 60s. However, if
your pulse rate is higher than 75 bpm, it may indicate that your body is
responding to a stressor.
Check for rapid, shallow breathing

5.  Constant State of Doubt
 Time
 Money
 People

6. Simply Create and Choose

7.  Boundaries
 Escape Clauses
 Optionality
 Expectations
 A Big Castle

8.  Separate work from
Home
 Separate your self
worth from your
business' success
 Compartmentalize
feelings: personal vs.
personnel

9.  Try to avoid personal
warranties
 Always plan for the
worst case
 Prepare the divorce
before the wedding

10.  Can {thing you're
building} be used in
other markets?
 Are you increasing
your skills to get a
good job if needed?
 Can {t} be sold to an
acquirer?

11.  First, be gentle with
yourself: delays are
normal, not failure
 Everything takes 2x
longer and 3x $$
 Does your family
agree with you?
 Under-promise
 Over deliver

12.  Create a clear,
compelling, vision
 Paint the picture, often
and loudly
 Show path forward
 Lead from the front
 Weave as needed

13. Choose your own…..
 Stressors
 Reasons
 Battles
 Release Valve
 Mentor(s)
 Perspective

14. Choose Stressors
 Is it a ‘good’ or ‘bad’
stress?
 Opportunity? Take
it!
 Toxic relationship?
Lose it!
 The constant
doubt? Own it!

15. Choose Reasons
 What SHOULD you
stress over?
 Others?
 Self?
 Financial?
 Family?

16. Choose Battles
 How important will
‘this’ be at IPO/Big Exit?
 Will it help you reach
the Castle?
 Is it worth the cost to
relationships?
 Does it risk creating
more stress/battles?

17. Choose Release Valve That Is …
 Unique to you
 Restorative
 Self-directed
 Taking Time Makes Time
 Has its own challenge
 Learn a language
 Learn to dance
 Run a 10k
 Qualify to compete at….
 Set a goal of some sort!

18. Choose Mentors
 Startup Stress by nature
is unforeseen
 Someone else has been
there/done that
 Someone with similar
stressors/ better
reactions
 Build on an existing
relationship
 Seek specific advice

19. Choose Your Perspective
 Steve Jobs (2005):
"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most
important tool I've ever encountered to help me make
the big choices in life. Because almost everything -- all
external expectations, all pride, all fear of
embarrassment or failure -- these things just fall away
in the face of death, leaving only what is truly
important. Remembering that you are going to die is
the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you
have something to lose. You are already naked. There
is no reason not to follow your heart. ... Stay hungry.
Stay foolish."

20. Choose Perspective
……… or get a JOB