ENTREPRENEURIAL WORK ETHIC AND BUSINESS START-UPS

Launching a start-up company isn't for the faint of heart. With more than 50% of start-ups failing within the first two years and 90% failing by their 10th year, you'll need to put in a lot of work right from the start to ensure your success. In other words, cultivating a good work ethic is essential to the success of your business. Read on to learn about the key features of a robust entrepreneurial work ethic and to find out how nootropics for focus may benefit you as you work to strengthen your commitment to your company.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD WORK ETHIC FOR AN ENTREPRENEUR

Whether you're a digital entrepreneur or are launching a start-up company in the retail and service sector, your work ethic is crucial. Some elements of a good work ethic for a start-up entrepreneur include:

• Willingness to take ownership of the company's success
• Sense of responsibility to yourself, your company, and your employees
• Commitment to acting with integrity and treating others with respect
• Persistence in the face of adversity and failure
• Ability to maintain a high degree of focus in the face of distractions

WHY IT'S SO HARD TO STAY FOCUSED

If you found it easy to check off many of the items on the checklist above but hesitated when it came to focusing, you're not alone. Many entrepreneurs find that struggles with focus are one of their biggest challenges. Some reasons why you may find it hard to maintain your focus include:

• Fatigue. As an entrepreneur, you're likely putting in long hours. When you're working yourself to the bone, you get to the point where your body and mind can't continue to function at their best. As a result, you may find it hard to concentrate even on simple tasks.
• Stress. A lot is riding on your success, which adds to massive amounts of stress. Long-term stress causes hormonal changes in your body that keep you in a prolonged state of high alert. At that point, your body and mind are more prepared for fight or flight rather than completing tasks that involve concentration.
• Multitasking. Many people who launch start-up companies are one-person shows or have only a small number of employees. When you don't have a huge team to count on, you're going to have to juggle many things at once. Constantly moving back and forth between tasks can make it hard to concentrate on anything.
• Health problems. Stress and fatigue can impair your immune system's ability to protect you from germs fully. As a result, you may find yourself feeling less than your best on many days, and it's hard to focus 100% when you're under the weather.
• Eye strain. Blue light emitted by computers can lead to eye fatigue and stress. Chronic vision problems have been linked to mental health concerns, including depression and anxiety, both of which can make it hard for you to maintain focus.

NOOTROPICS AND IMPORTANCE OF STAYING FOCUSED

Understanding why you may be struggling to focus is the simple part. Determining what to do about the causes is where things get complicated. When you're trying to launch a start-up business, you may not be able just to get more sleep, do less work, or eliminate stress. Because of the unique challenges when it comes to focusing, many entrepreneurs are now turning to nootropic supplements to give them that necessary boost they need to take their work ethic to the next level.

WHAT ARE NOOTROPICS?

Nootropics began with the work of a Romanian chemist named Corneliu E. Giurgea. He believed that taking small amounts of certain supplements could allow people to improve their cognitive function. During the last half of the 2010s, Silicon Valley entrepreneurs revived their work and began searching for nootropic supplements to give them an edge. Today, people take them to promote improved focus, memory, and creativity. Some people call using nootropics in this way brain hacking.

WHAT ARE THE BEST NOOTROPICS FOR FOCUS?

Some nootropic supplements commonly taken for focus include:

• Grape and blueberry extract. The antioxidants in these fruits help protect the brain and the rest of the body from damaging free radicals.
• Caffeine. A natural stimulant, caffeine revitalizes the nervous system to help you stay more alert.
• Arjuna. Used in Ayurvedic healing for centuries, arjuna is a botanical extract believed to stimulate the cardiovascular system and enhance brain blood flow.
• Theobroma. Also known as cocoa bean extract, this natural chemical has been shown to energize the mind similarly to caffeine but without causing increases in heart rate.
• Lutein and zeaxanthin. These plant pigments are commonly taken to support eye health and may help to reduce eye strain associated with spending hours in front of a computer screen.

Keep in mind that there's no magic pill that will safely improve your focus all on its own. A better approach is to combine nootropic supplements with small lifestyle changes, such as exercising more to relieve stress or taking power naps in the afternoon to recharge. Before taking any dietary supplement, be sure to consult your medical provider. Only use nootropic supplements as the manufacturer directs unless a medical professional gives you other advice.