Solving the Entrepreneur Mental Health Crisis with Aaron Houghton

Our mental well-being is a critical component to producing meaningful and positive change many of us want to see in the world. 

Entrepreneurs are working tirelessly to help improve the health of our industry, and the health of our country. That's why I know this episode is going to be incredibly valuable and transformative for our community! 

I am honored to share our next guest’s timely message for startup founders, entrepreneurs and innovators that are dedicating themselves to reimagining the healthcare industry. 

Join me to learn from Aaron Houghton, the CEO of Founders First, and to experience his inspiration and dedication to the entrepreneurial community and how all of us can be supporting this noble and important movement. 

Episode Highlights:

• Aaron’s experience of battling depression, panic attacks, pressure and brokenness after achieving enormous business success
• Why the Founders First movement was created
• Aaron’s five factors of health and performance
• How our community can help Founders First, no matter your background

About Our Guest:

Aaron Houghton believes it is possible for entrepreneurs to be healthy and happy while they build great companies that change the world. Since starting his first business at age 17, he’s built and launched more than eleven tech startups, scaling one from conception to 350 employees and $50M in annual subscription revenue. Aaron sold two companies to private buyers and one to a publicly-traded company for $169M before his 30th birthday.

Aaron was selected as an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008 and was listed to Inc Magazine's 30 Under 30 list in 2010. He’s shared his story and his thoughts on personal growth, digital marketing, and startup leadership with hundreds of audiences, including Harvard University, Entrepreneurs Organization, and StartupNation.

Looking back, Aaron can see his success came with the hidden costs of long term stress; including panic attacks, debilitating anxiety, and a cancer diagnosis in 2009. He had a habit, like many of us, of pushing himself to the absolute limit. He was trading sleep to hit deadlines, trading nutrition to save pennies, and enduring chronic stress year after year so he could chase his dreams.

Aaron knew there must be a better way. He spent five years studying how entrepreneurs manage stress and personally tested techniques for achieving high performance while maintaining mental and physical health. Aaron then created the Founders First System , manifesting two decades of experience and years of research into a simple set of processes, disciplines, and metrics designed to improve the experience of founders and business leaders around the world.

Company Overview:

Founders First is a community of founders who have experienced the chronic stress, anxiety and life-impacts of entrepreneurship firsthand. Our mission is to make your journey easier. The Founders First System focuses on the intersection of self-care and business goals, keeping you mentally and physically strong while you build your company. There are thousands of frameworks out there to improve businesses. This one improves you, the founder.

Links Supporting This Episode:

• Founders First System website: CLICK HERE
• Aaron Houghton LinkedIn page: CLICK HERE
• Join our online community: CLICK HERE
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• Guest nomination form: CLICK HERE