Seek expert counsel when troubles are driving you insane

Last weekend in a men’s forum I learnt something about mental health and business success from a testimony of a man who nearly died after his business collapsed.

Trouble started in 2013 when he lost parliamentary seat in the general election which he had invested and borrowed heavily to finance. After the loss he suffered from burnout, then depression.

The situation got worse by creditors unleashed auctioneers. For several months he could not eat or sleep well though he was gaining weight.

His wife suggested he sees a psychiatrist for professional counselling. He replied with stern warning to keep off his affairs. The very idea of associating him with mental illness when he knew his problem was financial was nauseating and farfetched.

After several weeks of his wife insistence of visiting the counsellor, consented just to silence her and save himself from endless nagging.

However, the day he met the counsellor marked the turning point in his life. He slept throughout that night and woke up feeling a sense of relief that he had never experienced before. After few more visits, he regains back himself.

Not that the problems went away. In fact, the psychiatrist never solved any of his financial woes; most of his properties were auctioned. But he helped him to let go and change his mentality towards life and his business empire specifically.

He lost much but he remained with energy, determination and attitude to start all over again. Today, on his own confession he is doing well and happy.

Most business owners generally do not look towards external consultants as their first option to utilise when faced with problems or desire to grow their business, the way we seek doctors’ advice when sick.

The assumption is that they can solve their own problems. Other times they are not able to diagnose what exactly is ailing them.

One could easily think that the problem is purely financial and run to shylocks, banks, friends and other lenders when actually the problem is rooted somewhere else.

Most of our challenges whether in life or in business can be solved easily if we seek experts help.

Generally, life is not meant to be always problematic, energy draining and barren. If you feel like you are on a treadmill; running very fast and expending energy but going nowhere, it’s probably time to seek assistance.

If you are marketing your products the best way you know how; you have invested enough resources and you are putting all your energy in a business and the result is daily struggles, certainly something is wrong and you need a second eye.

One of the greatest hinderance of seeking help is minding what people would say if they discovered, for example you are consulting a professional who is known to deal with mental cases and you consider yourself sane.

Be humble and admit you are going through difficulty times. It is said that she who hides her nakedness will never give birth. And so are the fate of people who hide their problems and challenges.

Mr Kiunga is a business trainer and the author of ‘The Art of Entrepreneurship: Strategies to Succeed in a Competitive Market’.