Which Came First: Success or Wellness? How Self-Care Can Help Leaders Thrive

Most of us have grown used to seeing successful entrepreneurs and leaders portrayed by the media as devoted to physical and spiritual wellness routines. Whether it is the intense wellness habits of Jack Dorsey or the Satirical extremes of Gavin Belson’s obsessive health practices depicted in Silicon Valley the image promoted is one where wellness and entrepreneurial success are inextricably linked.

While the link between wellness and success is well-established, the media’s depiction of their relationship has it all backward. The notion depicted by the media that self-care is an indulgence put off until after making it big is misguided. Wellness has proven to be one of the foundations for entrepreneurial achievement, not the reward. 

As every entrepreneur knows, getting a business off the ground requires intense focus, sound decision-making under pressure, and resilience to overcome constant setbacks. These skills are only possible when there is a robust physical, mental, and emotional health. Poor self-care often undermines the very capabilities needed to build a thriving venture, the mission of every leader.

Instead of thinking of the wellness practices of successful entrepreneurs as a reward for their success, one should see them as practices that enabled them to achieve that success. While it is true that these people are more likely to have integrated new habits as they climb the ladder, this was only possible in the first place because most of them prioritized aspects of wellness early on.

The idea of wellness as a luxury exists because if it is being seen as something people have to get really out of the way to focus on when. How could someone with a stressful job, a family, and other obligations make enough time to spend time thinking about yoga, mindfulness, painting, or preparing for a marathon?  Well, the reality is that wellness can be literally anything that nourishes the mind, body, or spirit,

Whether it is by making spirituality a part of their everyday life or by leaving a work/career they felt was leading nowhere, many success stories start with their protagonists starting to prioritize themselves. It could be a hobby, meditation, or a complete overhaul of their daily routine, but diligent self-care provides the energy, clarity, and fortitude to persist through the many challenges of building or growing a business.

The idea of micro habits is one that has been gaining momentum over the past years for this same reason. People who practice them recognize that small, sustainable lifestyle changes accumulate over time, eventually evolving into significant improvements in their well-being. These micro habits can encompass anything from taking the stairs every day to spending five minutes meditating in the morning.

If this sounds too easy it is because it is. While these small actions are easy to integrate into your routine and don’t require a drastic overhaul of your life, their effects can be powerful. The only condition is that there is purpose behind them and with time, they can lead to great change. Implementing such a change shouldn’t be too difficult for entrepreneurs, given the many challenges they face on a daily basis.

By reframing how they think about wellness, entrepreneurs and leaders can drive change at a personal, professional, and team level. A living example of this is serial entrepreneur, author, and prominent international scientific influencer Dr. Christina Rahm, who descended on Austin for this year’s edition of SXSW.

During her visit, Dr. Rahm sat with ROOT founder Clayton Thomas for a panel discussion titled “The Link Between Success in Longevity, Anti-Aging, and Business”. The panel saw Dr. Rahm and Thomas talk about how entrepreneurs and leaders can build up their creativity, well-being, empathy, and spirituality to help their teams develop and businesses grow.

To know how you can start to build the best version of yourself and translate that change into your business or professional endeavors, make sure to watch the video below. For similar panels, check out Grit Daily’s YouTube channel.