When business feels meaningless

My great-grandparents lived through the Chinese Exclusion Act.
My aunt was born in a Japanese concentration camp during World War II.

And this week I’ve been thinking about them a lot.

I’m a descendant of Chinese immigrants. And with everything happening right now I’ve felt all the emotions. Anger. Pain. Grief. Outrage.

And what a privilege it is to feel those.

Honestly, thinking about business this week has felt pretty meaningless.
Writing emails about making money or scaling your business? It felt tone deaf.

But then I realized something.

Taking care of yourself IS the business move right now.

Because if you’re burnt out, emotionally wrecked, or running on empty… you can’t serve your customers. You can’t create. You can’t show up as the person you want to be.

So here’s what I’m doing this week. Maybe it’ll help you too.

1. I’m finding safe people to talk to.
   Just saying “I’m not okay right now” out loud helps more than you’d think.

2. I’m removing stuff from my to-do list.
   That project can wait. That launch can be delayed. The business won’t end.

3. I’m doing comforting things.
   For me that’s reading, meals with the family, and playing with my dog. Find your version of that.

4. I’m moving my body.
   Anger needs somewhere to go. I’ve been running more and lifting heavier.

5. I’m asking for what I need.
   From my wife. My friends. My team. Most people want to help but don’t know how.

The heaviness will lift eventually. Storms always pass. That doesn’t mean we forget. Or that we condone what’s happening.

But it can turn into strength and resolve if we let it.

Take care of yourself this week. The business stuff can wait.

Jason