⚡ Get All Content for 20% Off ⚡

Reddit Co-Founder Alexis Ohanian's Top Self-Care Strategies for Entrepreneurs The entrepreneur and investor shares how leaders can thrive both mentally and physically.

By Nina Zipkin

entrepreneur daily
Courtesy of Alexis Ohanian

So often, whether you realize it or not, so much of an entrepreneur's self-worth can be bound up in whether their company succeeds or fails. Amid the daily pressures of keeping things moving in the right direction, what can get lost is whether you are actually taking care of yourself, not just physically, but psychologically.

The first step is talking about it, which Reddit and Initialized Capital co-founder Alexis Ohanian has been gratified to see many founders doing lately, he tells Entrepreneur. Recently, Ohanian shared his journey with depression on the 10-year anniversary of his mother's death.

Ohanian noted that having the right people around you, in both your professional and personal life, is a key to that mental health maintenance. He is also a big proponent of executive coaching and sees it becoming more of a norm going forward.

Related: How Reddit's Alexis Ohanian Balances Work and Family

"Entrepreneurs have to have enough ego to think that our crazy idea, our vision for the future is going to work, before anyone else does. But [it's important to] balance that with enough humility to know that you aren't going to have all the answers," Ohanian says. "You are going to need to rely on different points of view. Get the benefit of someone who is detached enough to give you honest feedback, but attached enough to know all the players and background information."

Ohanian's feeling is, if you wouldn't expect a talented athlete or sports team to play without their coach, why shouldn't it be the same for a great entrepreneur? The other aspect of taking care of yourself, no matter what industry you're in or the size of your business, is taking the time to acknowledge those victories when they do come.

"One of the things founders and CEOs in particular should always be doing and keeping top of mind is celebrating those wins for their business," Ohanian says. "It will never feel like a 100 percent win for the CEO or founder, because you're always thinking about the 100 other things that need to get improved or fixed. But for all the people on your team, it is really vital to celebrate them and that success. Not in a way that gets people complacent, but rejuvenated and re-excited about the mission and vision."

Nina Zipkin

Entrepreneur Staff

Staff Writer. Covers leadership, media, technology and culture.

Nina Zipkin is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com. She frequently covers leadership, media, tech, startups, culture and workplace trends.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Remote Side Hustle a 43-Year-Old Musician Works on for 1 Hour a Day Earns Nearly $3,000 a Month: 'All From the Comfort of Home'

Sam Ziegler wanted to supplement his income as a professional drummer — then his tech skills and desire to help people came together.

Business News

Costco CFO Reveals Uncertain Fate of $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

CFO Richard Galanti reveals that the price will stay the same — but only "for a while."

Business News

The Most Unexpectedly Popular Side Hustle of the Decade Has Low Startup Costs and High Markups

A new report shows that vending machines are a popular investment — and the industry is set to grow up to $3 billion by 2031.

Marketing

Ever Wonder Why Certain Websites Rank Higher Than Yours? This SEO Expert Reveals The Secret to Dominating Search Results

It's often the smart use of SEO, now supercharged with AI, particularly in keyword optimization.

Business News

AI Is Impacting Jobs. Here Are the Gigs Affected the Most, According to an Analysis of 5 Million Upwork Postings

The researcher said in the report that freelance jobs were analyzed first because that market will likely see AI's immediate impact.

Leadership

Former Interrogator Shares 5 Behaviors Liars Exhibit and How to Handle Them

Five deceptive behaviors to look for and how to respond to those behaviors when you encounter them.