Health, wellbeing and personal relationships drawbacks

Taking a business risk can affect the entrepreneur as a person, not just the business. Two drawback categories cover this: the health and wellbeing drawback and the personal relationships drawback.

Health and wellbeing drawback

A health and wellbeing drawback means stress and worry from business uncertainty can cause mental and physical health problems. Running a business can be worrying, especially when sales are low or bills are due. You may feel anxious, get headaches, lose your appetite or find it hard to concentrate. The uncertainty is part of the risk: you cannot be sure customers will buy or that money will come in.

For example, imagine you print custom T-shirts from a spare room. In a quiet month, orders fall but the electricity bill and materials still need paying. The worry gives you headaches and you keep checking your phone for new orders. Low sales are a business problem; the drawback is the effect on your health and wellbeing.

Personal relationships drawback

A personal relationships drawback means long hours and difficulty switching off can put pressure on relationships and family life, and work may take priority over family. Stress from business risk can damage personal relationships. You may spend less time with family and friends, and find it hard to give them your full attention when you are together, which can lead to misunderstandings or leave you feeling out of touch.

Using the T-shirt business again, you might skip a family meal to finish orders, or reply to messages during a friend's birthday. Even when you are there, you may be thinking about the business, so family and friends feel you are not really with them.

Health and wellbeing and personal relationships are separate drawback categories, but they overlap, because stress can affect both.