In an article that dates back to the 1990′s the link was made between CEO’s, particularly CEO’s in emerging industries and technologies and manic depression. [1] You would be surprised how many very successful CEO’s battle with this every day. From my own father, an entrepreneur of the 1980′s and 1990′s, who has now fallen out of the game after a business failure, to my peers in Business SA’s Young Entrepreneurship Scheme that I participated in last year. The evidence that this link exists seems to be constantly re-affirmed in my daily experiences.
Even this last week, I was exposed to the idea again, not through my work as a consultant but, instead though the amazing TED and TEDx presentations that I have taken to watching in my downtime. Maybe this one that discusses manic depression in relation to ADHD, childhood experiences and entrepreneurship may interest you? [2] Grab a refreshment and make yourself 22 minutes to enjoy this segment.
[1] Elsberry, Richard B. (1998) “”Bipolar disorder”: Why are they calling it the “CEO’s disease”?” FindArticles.com. Accessed: 19 Jun, 2010. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3726/is_199802/ai_n8798710/
[2] Herold, Cameron (2010) “Raising Kids to be Entrepreneurs” [video] YouTube.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCar_sFfEf4&feature=player_embedded