564 | The CEO’s Quiet Battle: Combating Isolation at the Top

The Chris LoCurto Show

• Leadership isolation and its impact on health. 0:00
  • Joel Fortner discusses the isolation and loneliness experienced by small business owners, particularly CEOs and presidents.
• Leadership isolation and its impact on performance. 1:58
  • Joel Fortner discusses the unique stresses and pressures of business ownership, including feelings of loneliness and isolation, which can affect CEOs' day-to-day performance and decision-making
  • Joel Fortner acknowledges the common experience of feeling uneasy as a CEO, citing Shakespeare's "uneasy lies the head that wears the crown" phrase
• The weight of leadership and responsibility in small business ownership. 7:32
  • Joel Fortner emphasizes the difficulty of letting employees go as a leader, while also acknowledging the importance of maintaining profitability in a business.
• Leadership challenges and isolation. 10:20
  • Joel Fortner discusses the weight of leadership, feeling responsible for people and their jobs, and the pressure to communicate and lead effectively.
  • Joel Fortner highlights the isolation of CEOs and leaders, feeling like they are the only ones who know certain sensitive information and struggling with delegation and control issues.
  • Joel Fortner feels alone in his responsibilities as a business owner,
• Leadership stress and finding balance. 15:36
  • He acknowledges the need for a healthy perspective on stress and the importance of having someone in his life who understands the challenges of leadership.
• Leadership isolation and its impact on mental health. 18:21
  • Joel Fortner discusses the challenges of being a leader or owner, including feeling isolated and struggling to form real friendships and deep relationships.
  • Joel Fortner shares his experience of feeling disconnected from his team and struggling with tough conversations and culture problems.
  • Isolation can negatively impact mental health, leading to loneliness and unhealthy relationships.
• Managing stress and uncertainty in business and personal life. 23:40
  • Joel Fortner discusses the challenges of living with uncertainty in business and personal life, citing examples from history and his own experiences.
  • Uncertainty can lead to fear and stress, but learning to manage it through information and decision-making can help reduce its impact.
• Anxiety and panic attacks in various life situations. 29:23
  • Joel Fortner experienced anxiety attacks while working as a restaurant server, feeling overwhelmed and unable to think or make decisions.
  • Anxiety can be subtle and easy to overlook, like a car engine running without oil, grinding and causing damage without noticeable symptoms.
• Mental health and leadership in small businesses. 31:50
  • Joel Fortner discusses common mental health issues among CEOs and small business owners, including depression and questioning decision-making abilities.
  • Fortner highlights the impact of these issues on personal and professional life, including conflict and arguments at home, and uncertainty about prioritizing correctly.
  • Joel Fortner emphasizes the importance of having a supportive network of people in one's life, particularly as a CEO or leader, to help navigate business and personal challenges.
  • He suggests having regular leadership team meetings to discuss issues, gain perspective, and improve communication.
• Building a united leadership team through communication and collaboration. 38:33
  • Joel Fortner suggests coaching each other to make better decisions and communicate more effectively as a team.
  • Joel Fortner emphasizes the importance of building personal relationships among leadership team members to foster trust and unity within the company.
• Overcoming fear and isolation for small business CEOs. 41:40
  • Joel Fortner explains how mastermind groups can provide support and accountability for small business CEOs and owners.
  • A key leader within a business called upon Joel Fortner's company to facilitate their own mastermind group, demonstrating the value of having a neutral third party in the group.
  • Joel Fortner discusses the importance of overcoming limiting beliefs and fears to succeed in business, citing his own experiences as a CEO and entrepreneur.
  • He emphasizes the need to battle one's own ego and pride to connect with others and find success, rather than isolating oneself due to fear of failure or vulnerability.
• Overcoming isolation in leadership and business growth. 46:55
  • Joel Fortner highlights the transformative impact of community and coaching on leadership confidence, decision-making, and mental health.
  • Joel Fortner emphasizes the importance of prioritizing mental health and seeking help when needed to achieve personal and professional growth.
  • Joel Fortner encourages listeners to take a step towards improving their leadership skills by connecting with resources and a community.