Stress, Shingles, and Startup Life

I’ve had shingles twice in the past 18 months.

According to my doctor, and a fair amount of Googling, shingles can strike anyone, but they’re often triggered by stress. And I’d say that tracks. As much as I love running a business and building a startup, it’s demanding. It stretches me every day. And yes, it can be stressful.

Both times, the shingles started on my face, near my eye (which makes it even trickier), then moved toward my ear, neck, and down my torso. Because my grandfather and brother have both had shingles, I recognized the symptoms quickly. I got to the doctor fast, started antivirals, and within a couple of weeks, they were gone. I’ve heard stories from people who suffer with shingles for months or years. I’m grateful to have caught mine early and acted quickly.

And that got me thinking:
Wouldn’t that be a great quality to have in business, too?
Recognize the signs. Respond quickly. Treat the problem. Then dig deeper to understand what caused it, then fix that, too.

So how do we become that kind of leader? I think it comes down to three habits:

1. Be Observant.

Whether you’re tracking finances, checking your culture, or paying attention to your energy, the signs are there. When something’s off, the symptoms show up. Ignoring a budget overage or dismissing team tension won’t make it disappear, just like ignoring a rash won’t stop shingles from spreading. Pay attention early, and you can treat the problem before it becomes chronic.

2. Ask Your People.

Schedule one-on-ones with your team. Ask direct, caring questions. “What’s frustrating you right now?” “What’s not working?” Let them talk, really talk. Listen. Learn. Fix what you can before it grows into something painful and harder to reverse.

3. Learn from Others.

Some of my best solutions have come during a run, earbuds in, listening to another founder’s story. Podcasts, books, conversations with other entrepreneurs; these are all tools. Business is complex, but it’s rarely unique. Someone else has faced something similar, and their wisdom might be the key you need.

That’s also why I love our “Meet the Heroes” section on www.shopyokl.com, where we share the stories of local business owners, how they started, the struggles they’ve faced, and the advice they’d give other dreamers. Their honesty inspires me. I hope it encourages others, too.

I’m still figuring out how to manage stress better and keep shingles at bay (here’s hoping I don’t go for round three). But if I do, I’ll know what it is and I’ll treat it. Quickly.