How I Try to Cope with My Own Anxiety

I have anxiety. And not the kind you get when employee reviews come around either. I'm talking about clinically-diagnosed, heart-palpitating, mind-numbing anxiety. It sucks. But I've learned to live with it.

The reason I'm sharing this is because the transition into adulthood is hard enough without having to deal with a mental defect. And considering that one out of every ten Americans suffer from some sort of depression, there are bound to be a few readers out there snagged by the mental funk I've dealt with for awhile now.

When I first started working on Brazen Careerist, I had a serious relapse of anxiety attacks. One thing that's really difficult about startup culture is that it lacks the structure that most corporate jobs embrace and many people who deal with anxiety need. So to get a grip, I had to make some changes in my life.

But it really doesn't matter what type of work environment you're in. It's easy to become paralyzed in any setting. And there's nothing we can do to prevent it reflecting on us. Anxiety and depression are not visible handicaps, so we don't get a reprieve.

The simple truth is I never wanted a reprieve. So I tailored my life to my condition and became a better man for it. Think you're like me? Then check out what I do to keep myself level. Maybe it'll change your life.

Don't put yourself in a box.

Easier said than done when you're sitting in a cubicle, but when I was in a corporate setting, I took every opportunity I could to get up and walk around. If I didn't, I started to get nervous.

Today, I take a break from the office at midday and walk my dog. If you have an opportunity to get outside during the day, it's the best medicine for an anxiety-inflicted brain. Between the fresh air, the openness, and the change of focus, it's a great way to put your head back on straight.

If you choose to stay at your desk and fight the urge to get up, you're just fighting your anxiety. And you don't fight anxiety, you suppress it.

Find structure.

Like I mentioned, depressed people sometimes need structure to make things work, especially the anxious ones.

We're a lot like dogs (seriously). Regularity keeps us happy. Variability means we're probably going to annoy you. And we're generally really fun to be around as long as you deal with us in the right way.

So create a life for yourself that's organized. It won't always work, but people who make the effort do much better than those who don't.

Give yourself things to look forward to.

While you're searching for structure, make sure you give yourself little gifts here and there. It doesn't have to be an everyday thing, and it probably shouldn't. There's such a thing as too much structure in everyone's life, so to compensate you have to throw in some random fun to keep yourself sane.

I personally like doing a Tuesday-night happy hour. And who doesn't? But alcohol isn't always the answer, especially for mental conditions. So find some other activities you can turn into a gift and plant them randomly throughout your weeks.

I like to play darts with my neighbors and unwind. I don't do it every day. But when I do, it's like free therapy. Even when I lose.

Have a good friend on speed dial.

If you've never experienced anxiety, depression, or any other form of mental illness, you might not think it's even legit. And that's okay. I've run into a lot of people like this. I used to be one of them.

The problem is that such thinking makes it really difficult for those who do suffer from anxiety to cope with it. Because nobody really gets what the hell is going on.

What I do is rely on someone like me – a friend who deals with the same crap I do – to talk me through any temporary lapses I may have. Because having an anxiety disorder is a lot like being an alcoholic. Unless you suffer from the disease yourself, it's really going to be hard to talk someone down from an attack when you don't know what terrible feelings they're stuck with.

This person could be family, a friend, or anyone, but whoever it is, make sure they're reliable. There's nothing more frustrating than putting your faith in someone who can't deliver.

A Work-Life Blend Is Not Always What You Think

Like many members of Generation Y, my first entry-level job put me in a place I didn't want to be – a cubicle. When I left the corporate world and got involved with Brazen Careerist, everything changed.

For the past six months I've experienced the ups and downs of working without the traditional office. And while that has its perks, I've seen some drawbacks too.

Yesterday, our company moved into a real office. No more coffee shops, no more business meetings in my apartment, finally, the real deal. I couldn't have imagined how amazing it would feel to be back.

Think I'm kidding, right? I'm not. Having an office that separates your work life and your personal life is a gift. Don't always take it for granted.

Here are three reasons why:

It's easier to be productive

All too many times when working at home I would find myself sitting on the couch, half working, and half zoning out. There's no doubt that today, in my office, I'm far more focused.

Between T.V. distractions, next-door neighbors, and a dog nibbling on your toes, home is just not a place to get things done. If you want to increase productivity, the best place to do it is an environment designed for being productive.

It's easier to communicate

Without a traditional office as a common working ground, our communication has suffered. And it's not that we haven't made an effort either.

Relying on technology to help you communicate is not always an effective way to get things done. If you can't connect in person with a member of your team at regular intervals, it's likely that your productivity—and your company–will suffer.

It's easier to go home

Your home should be your escape, a place of relaxation. What I hated the most about having only a home office is that I couldn't simply flip a switch and be done with the day. My laptop was always sitting there, beckoning me to do more work.

I'm much better off with my work-life and my life-life separated.

Before anyone jumps to the conclusion that working from home is going to be great, they should envision an existence where work and life no longer balance, but blend.

For some, a blend can be a wonderful thing. But for others, it's a recipe for disaster.

Think it over before deciding if remote work is right for you.

Five Common Mistakes Young Adults Make When Starting Up a Small Business

College campuses are becoming a fertile breeding ground for up-and-coming business owners.

A recent study by The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor shows that 18- to 24-year-olds in the United States are starting businesses at a faster rate than 35- to 44-year-olds. Now is your prime time to consider opening up that tattoo parlor, bed and breakfast, or wilderness expedition center you've dreamed about.

So whether you've established a small business, are in the midst of launching one, or simply considering it for the future, it's certain you want at least one thing out of this investment: success.

But it won't be a cakewalk. It's hard to believe, but over 50 percent of small businesses fail in their first year and 95 percent fail within the first five years, according to the U.S. Small Business Association. Starting a business is risky for most, but success can come for those who proceed with logic and discipline.

Here are five common mistakes people tend to make when starting up a small business – and how you can avoid them:

1. Business owners don't create documented procedures for the day-to-day operation. It's a simple equation: Systems = freedom. A "working procedure" is a documented description of how to perform a task. Having it prevents random problems and ensures the task is performed exactly and consistently. Procedures help you delegate, improve your scheduling ability, and allow you to work smarter and accomplish more with less effort. Thus, work less and make more. It's ironic, but by implementing documented system procedures, your employees are free to be creative because they don't have to "wing it" each time they perform their job duties; everyone operates at a smoother pace because there is a proven, working process. Everyone knows what to do and what to expect. Your people don't have to be mind-readers or fortune tellers.

2. Owners don't delegate – they are "doing the work." The reason a business owner can work a few hours a week, or take an extended vacation without stress, is because they have created systems, implemented written procedures with supporting documentation, and have learned to delegate. I know, I know. You're zealous, dreamy-eyed, and proficient at what you do, and as the leader of an organization, you're committed to doing whatever it takes to get your new business off the ground. Successful people don't work harder; they work smarter. This means focusing on what you do best, and delegating the rest. Ask yourself what you enjoy doing least for your business. Perhaps that's bookkeeping or making phone calls to potential clients. Then, imagine literally giving away these tasks. Get rid of the "I am Superman" attitude and hire people who are trustworthy and qualified to take much of the weight off your shoulders.

3. Owners don't use time wisely. Biological Prime Time is when your brainpower is at peak capacity. People function at maximum effectiveness about six hours out of a 24-hour day. It is important to understand this interesting facet of human performance, determine precisely when your prime time occurs, and then use it wisely. Six hours out of a 24-hour day is not much. Presuming you wish to reach your goals sooner rather than later, it is best the tasks that contribute most to your primary goals are performed during your prime time hours and you protect those hours from interruption. Also, don't start your day without a to-do list. Make a list of tasks and categorize them into business-building activities, client activities, and personal items. Then, prioritize, remove distractions, delegate, and stick to your plan.

4. Owners see their job, life, and business as "holistic." You must change your fundamental perspective to see the elements of your world as separate, linear systems. See that these systems can be perfected, one-by-one. Understand that by perfecting a primary system's sub-systems, the primary system will be perfected – and, although you are taking a non-holistic approach, your end product – your business – will be a highly efficient, entirely holistic, "Primary System."

5. Owners don't have a strategic objective or set of operating principles. A strategic objective is short, usually a single page in length. It defines overall goals, describes methodology, and prescribes action. It gives direction for making major and minor decisions. It's an essential instrument for a business and for personal life. General operating principles are a two to three page collection of "guidelines for decision making" that are congruent with the strategic objective. Essential for the work environment and in a simplified and shorter format, they also guide one's personal life. Two examples of simple operating principles are "Do it now," and, "choose the simplest solution."

Twentysomething Life is Hard, Don't Blame Corporate America

Most of us end up hating our entry-level jobs. But I sometimes wonder, is it really the job that we hate or something else?

It was only a year ago when I first stepped into the corporate world. Like any optimistic twentysomething, I walked into my first day and gave my new responsibilities undivided focus and attention, trying to learn the ropes and taking every chance to prove myself.

As the weeks went by, my frustrations grew. I became not such a go-getter. I just got through the days. I came to the only conclusion I could–my job sucked.

But all of my friends were complaining about their jobs, too. It was definitely the job–not just me. So I started searching online for better career options, while plugging away from 9 to 5 every day.

Right before I gave up on finding another job, in came the offer to start Brazen Careerist. After considering my options – either stay at a job I hated or try something new – I decided to take a leap. It's been a rollercoaster ride that's taught me the most valuable lesson of all: I never really hated my corporate job. Instead, I now know that I just hated the transition I was making into the real world.

What I've learned is that entrepreneurship is hard, more stressful than cubicle life ever was, and a hell of a lot more emotionally trying than anything I've ever experienced. So despite layoffs and all the offbeat training sessions, the corporate world is a pretty comfortable place. You get to go to a place every day and get told exactly what it is you need to get done. If you want to do more, you can. But if you don't, that's pretty much alright too.

A steady paycheck, paid vacations, health insurance – so easy to take for granted when you don't know what it's like to not have them. All the BS you put up with might be worth it when you're looking at things from the outside in.

Don't get me wrong, I'd never encourage someone to stay in the corporate world who has always dreamed of something more. And I'm glad I decided to leave. But before you make a decision you might someday regret, decide whether you really hate your current situation or if it might be just the transition that we all go through that's got you down.

More often than not, I think it's just the transition that eats at us. So make sure you're putting the blame exactly where it belongs and don't make a decision based on the fact that we're all finally growing up.

Be Home in Time for Dinner: 4 Ways to Work Less, Make More and Increase Productivity

Maybe you enjoy working the long hours.

Yes, staying late to work on a deadline project or to finish the twenty things on your task list probably makes you feel a bit nobler than your cubicle-mate (who jets out the door as soon as that wall clock strikes 5 p.m.). There's a sense of pride that comes with being in charge, having employees "under you," and being the one that comes in at 5 a.m. and then stays late, burning the midnight oil.

But, working long hours is exhausting. And having nothing on your paycheck to show for it should cause you to consider changing the way you approach your business or your job.

Nearly 40 percent of Americans work more than 50 hours per week, according to a study from the American Psychological Association. Now, as heroic as those long, industrious hours may seem, a recent study claims that overtime could land you in the hospital – yes, the hospital. People who report stress at work are 68 percent more likely to develop coronary heart disease than those who report no stress at work, according to research from University College London (UCL).

So sidetrack the medical bills and simply make a few adjustments to the way you approach your job or your business, and you could experience freedom and wealth that come from working less and making more.

1) First things first, you need to humble yourself. Stop priding yourself on being an expert at every facet of the business. Delegation is a must. You may be like the majority of people who dislike delegating because they believe the delegated task will "fall through the cracks," and never happen, or it will get done, but not properly. By holding on to tasks, all you do is cause more stress and lead others to believe that you don't trust them or don't want them to take on new responsibilities. So delegate. And do it in writing, so the task being assigned is clear and detailed, has a due date, and can't slip through the cracks. But never delegate an assignment and completely leave it up to the other person to make sure it is completed. Be accountable and follow up with your coworker or employee to make sure the task is in progress or near completion. Maybe make Microsoft Outlook's task feature your best friend.

2) Create written documentation. Over 50 percent of small businesses fail in the first year, and 80 percent fail within the first five years, according to the U.S. Small Business Association. The single, major difference between a small, floundering company and a large, successful company is that the large business employs documentation. This can't wait until tomorrow. If you already own a small business, and you don't have documentation, carve out time today, sit down, and develop a strategic objective for your business. This should define overall goals, methodology, and prescribe action. It should give direction for major and minor decisions. Like a mission statement, but punchier and more specific. Once you have the strategic objective, move on to your general operating principles. This should be a two- to four-page collection of guidelines for decision-making. And, third, you need written working procedures – instructions that describe how the individual systems of the company or the job are to operate. You should have a written procedure for nearly every action that takes place in your work environment, including how someone should answer the phone, make a deposit, or call for repair of the copier.

3) Eliminate time-wasters. If you own a business, your mission is to work hard but not long, to reduce the workweek by 95 percent, and to make more money than you require. If you have a job, the goal is to quickly ascend the management ranks until you can call your own shots. But no matter what your situation, if you are going to work, then work! Turn the radio off, get your feet off the desk, stop the pointless babbling with a coworker, and put your head down. Get in, do the work, and get out! Instead of checking e-mails 35 times a day, check 5 times a day, at designated times. Suggest polite ways for keeping a conversation moving along, especially if a long-winded coworker comes into your office for a "quick question," then starts recapping last night's episode of American Idol from start to finish. And what about staff meetings? Are they a waste of time? Yes, if you don't have an agenda.

4) Work for 98 percent perfection. Time and money wasted is time and money gone forever. And a waste of time and money means some other positive thing that could have happened, didn't. Apply a "good enough" rule to your work: A 100 percent flawless document that took forever to create carries an imbedded imperfection: The extra time spent creating the masterpiece – that extra 2 percent – is lost forever, therefore the finished product carries an imbedded taint and – catch 22 – you can never call it "perfect." Your work and your written procedures should be "good enough" so the desired results are consistently produced while valuable time isn't spent on absolute perfection.