Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 15 S E P T E M B E R 5 , 2 0 2 2 F O C U S S TA R T U P S / E N T R E P R E N E U R S H I P software firm Xero in May, found the pandemic to be the greatest cause of poor mental health for over a third of respondents, who also reported an emotional impact from issues such as cash flow and the cost of living. Another study, published in 2020 by England's Emerald Publishing, notes that "stress is a univer- sal, tangible variable that profoundly influences the entrepreneurial process" and highlights the impor- tance of recovery to prevent exhaustion and burnout. In Maine, entrepreneurs interviewed by Mainebiz for this story report a variety of stress factors related to business ownership, and coping strategies from meditation to scheduling time off. 'A blessing and a curse' To a large extent, some of the strengths that drive people to start businesses – passion and dedication, a strong work ethic and ability to multitask – can also lead to stress. "Anytime that you're having to create anything in order to earn income, in order to live, is just inher- ently stressful," says Nick Risma, owner of Tortoise Labs. Working mainly from home in Carrabasset Valley for clients nationwide and abroad, founded the company nine years ago to help entrepreneurs launch apps, products and services. "at level of stress for me hasn't really gone away, but I've gotten more confident, and I've grown the skills that are required in order to help me mitigate that stress and that anxiety." A self-described habitual calendar person, Rimsa uses the Calendly platform for all scheduling, including time to lift weights or play basketball, saying: "If it's on the calendar, I'll do it." He also prioritizes time off after learning a hard lesson about self-care during the pandemic. "I had COVID last year, and I was physically unable to work for two weeks," he says. "I learned just how important it was to not rush back to work even when I was beginning to feel better. It was a helpful reminder that when we don't take the rest we need, our bodies force us to take it." Disconnecting is tougher for Nancy Marshall, head of Augusta-based Marshall Communications, who can't recall a day she ever stayed off of email. "I know it sounds awful, but I have always stayed on top of emails,' she says. "at's how I am able to take advantage of opportunities. Some people might thing that's a bad thing, but it's in my DNA as an entrepreneur. I work hard to delegate responsibility to members of my team, but there are inevitably things that only I know. It's a blessing and curse I suppose, but thankfully I love what I do." Trained in a 24/7 work ethic at Sugarloaf ski resort early in her career, but not wanting to sound like a workaholic, Marshall adds: "I have figured out how to make this work for my life, but I realize that a lot of my life is centered around my work." Speaking as a mother, she says, "I don't know if Craig [her son] appreciates that I worked while I was in labor with him, but I know that when he was salutatorian in his graduating high school class, he said that he learned his work ethic from his mother." A healthy smile can make all the difference. Protect yours with dental insurance backed by the nation's largest network of dentists. NortheastDeltaDental.com STAND OUT IN A SEA OF SAMENESS WITH YOUR SMILE POWER! NEDD_1_2 PAGE_ MAINEBIZ_consumer V2.indd 1 8/19/19 8:03 AM C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » F I L E P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F N I C K R I M S A Nick Rimsa of Tortoise Labs uses the Calendly platform for all his scheduling, including free time for activities such as lifting weights.

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