The 5 Physical Ailments of Success
Entrepreneurs and high achievers are strange and wonderful creatures: equal parts pioneer, clairvoyant, rebel, warrior, superhero, and nut job. Fueled by buckets of high-octane caffeine drinks, we seem to share a common gene with the Energizer Bunny, functioning on little sleep, bad food, and limited amounts of water.
Creating, building, launching, and pursuing our dreams and goals is exciting, hard “work.” So, where do high achievers go to play hard? Where do you go to find the largest gathering of achievers away from their office or project? Head on over to your local Walgreens, CVS, or neighborhood pharmacy, that’s where! Huh?
Tons of anecdotal evidence I’ve gathered over the years from talking to fellow achievers, combined with several articles I’ve come across recently have confirmed what I’ve experienced personally for years: when we aren’t hauling around a briefcase or computer bag, we’re lugging around a bag full of skin creams, migraine medicine, Nyquil, Rolaids, ice packs, and heating pads. As it turns out, although we might be great at pursuing our dreams, serving others, and creating opportunities, we’re lousy when it comes to taking care of ourselves.
Here’s my light-hearted Top 5 List of Common Physical Ailments of Achievers to let you know whether you’ve made it to the pinnacle of your industry—these are Kryptonite to our Superman. If you’ve not experienced all these ailments, you’re living the soft life and not pushing yourself hard enough.
Number 5: Lingering Colds.
You run on little sleep and tons of stress, and fall victim to every microscopic creepy crawler out there. You’re constantly greeting people, opening doors and sharing phones & office equipment with those Petri dishes you call hands. Rental cars, public bathrooms and airports only add to the germ spreading part of your daily life. So, when a cold or flu bug comes calling, it brings enough bags to stay awhile.
Number 4: Funky Skin Conditions
Rashes, fungus, pimples, shingles, blemishes…sounds attractive, doesn’t it? Why do you think so many business people wear long sleeves and buttoned up collars? It’s not to wear a tie—it’s to cover up those unsightly rashes. Sure, you can convince yourself that you’ve contracted some rare jungle disease, but your doctor’s right—“stress is a bitch.”
Number 3: Back Problems
We sit in our car, or on the train or plane. We lean over our laptops. We sit some more. Stress tightens the muscles—we neglect stretching and workouts because it takes up too much time. We slouch, avoid the abdominal work because we’re just too tired, and soon we can barely stand up straight. Sound familiar? Bring on the IcyHot and BENGAY Pain Relief.
Number 2: Killer Migraines
I’m not talking about wimpy headaches. I’m talking about the can’t-stand-the-light, seeing stars, nausea-inducing whoppers that can only be soothed in total darkness and silence. They’re stealthy, they come on fast and attack as swift as a SEAL Team—and can feel just as debilitating. These are often brought on by stress and dehydration.
Number 1: Kidney Stones
Ouch! My personal favorite! This is one of the dirty little secrets shared among many entrepreneurs. Too much caffeine and alcohol, too many hours at the office, and not enough water is the perfect combination to bring these bad boys on. These razor-sharp little stones can bring the most hardened of warriors to their knees. I’ve had a few bouts of kidney stones, and can tell you the pain level has been off the freaking charts with a couple of them. I know women who have experienced both childbirth and kidney stones, and claim to rather give birth than to pass a kidney stone again. Kidney stones—it’s what champions are made of.
Oh, come on. Keep your chin up. These ailments aren’t so bad—the good news is that this too will pass. Now, go drink a glass of water and get some sleep!
