Où est l'hôpital psychiatrique?, from Solopreneurial Tendencies

Où est l'hôpital psychiatrique?

December 13, 2006

The French newsweekly Journal du Dimanche has reported on a newly-identified psychological disorder called "Paris Syndrome." About a dozen Japanese visitors to Paris require psychiatric treatment each year, when the reality of Parisian culture does not meet their expectations.

While a third of the affected travelers recovered quickly, another third suffered relapses, and the rest experienced psychosis.

Kind of sounds like the range of reactions many folks have shortly after starting their own business. Reality rarely matches up to the excitement of ditching the cubicle and being your own boss, at least at the outset.

"Work in your bathrobe!" "Make big bucks from the start!" "It's easy and fun!" "Any monkey can do it!"

It all sounds so simple...until life catches up. It can be terribly isolating. It's hard to draw the line between work and home. Financial sacrifices are often required. And sometimes you even have to get dressed.

It is what it is. And so you adjust your expectations...relish the good (and believe me, there are many good things about working for yourself), find ways to cope with the less-than-desirable things, and maybe even make them work to your advantage.

Or, you realize it's not for you and move on. Which is not always a bad thing.

Expectations do not often match reality...it's how you prepare for and eventually handle those disparities that makes the difference, whether it's a trip to Paris or a business of your own.

filed under: Pulling It All Together, Solopreneurial Tendencies, Thoughts

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