Episode 176: Here's Your Survival Mode Escape Plan

About this episode

Mark Minkus shares his personal experience with stress and offers a survival mode escape plan for listeners.

On March 11, 2010 I was lying on the bathroom floor at my house. I had been lying there for an hour, because I couldn’t stand up. I couldn't keep anything down for two days and I was severely dehydrated and dizzy.  I said to my wife, “I need you to take me to the emergency room.” After a lot of tests, I was told that I had four ulcers in the lining of my stomach and esophagus. Then the ER doctor asked me, "Do you have a stressful job?" My job as a Private School Leader had finally put me in the hospital. I have experienced:  My daughter saying, “Dad, when do we get to see you instead of the back of your laptop?” My wife saying, “I feel like you are married to the school instead of me.” Feeling guilty and lonely Feeling stress and anxiety Feeling overwhelmed and exhausted I know how it feels to be in survival mode. I thought that I knew how to make it better: Just outwork the problem. Just come in earlier, stay later, work weeknights and weekends.  Just put your head down and work harder. But that didn't get me out of survival mode. It just made things worse. Then my self-talk was: “What's wrong with me? I must be weak.” I don’t want YOU to stay stuck in survival…

People in this episode

Host: Mark Minkus

Topics covered

• stress management
• work-life balance
• personal development
• leadership
• mental health

Keywords

• survival mode
• stress
• anxiety
• leadership
• motivation
• inspiration

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Private School Leader Podcast

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