{"id":107269,"date":"2025-01-30T17:03:12","date_gmt":"2025-01-31T01:03:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/01\/30\/from-suffering-to-thriving-building-companies-while-living-with-mental-illness-with-collin-williams\/"},"modified":"2025-01-30T17:03:12","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T01:03:12","slug":"from-suffering-to-thriving-building-companies-while-living-with-mental-illness-with-collin-williams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/01\/30\/from-suffering-to-thriving-building-companies-while-living-with-mental-illness-with-collin-williams\/","title":{"rendered":"From Suffering To Thriving: Building Companies While Living With Mental Illness With Collin Williams"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MentalEntrepreneurship often conjures images of fearless risk-takers, but the reality is more complex. Founders frequently juggle the weight of their ventures alongside their personal struggles. In a raw and insightful episode of<\/span> \u201cNotes to My (Legal) Self<\/span><\/i><\/a>,\u201d Collin Williams, co-founder of New Era ADR, opens up about his journey from suffering with depression to living with it \u2014 and how he\u2019s using that awareness to navigate the turbulent world of startups.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The Journey From Suffering To Living With<\/b><\/p>\n

Collin shares that his depression manifested not in the way many might expect but through anger. For years, he struggled to understand his emotions, which often flared up in ways he couldn\u2019t control. It was his wife who finally urged him to seek help, leading to a life-changing revelation: his symptoms weren\u2019t just anger but depression.<\/span><\/p>\n

This turning point helped Collin move from \u201csuffering with\u201d to \u201cliving with\u201d depression \u2014 a reframe he credits for transforming his life. As he explains, suffering comes from a lack of answers and direction, while living with a condition means taking ownership of it, creating an action plan, and building a fulfilling life,<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLife is miserable when you\u2019re suffering. Life is great when you\u2019re living with. If you can make that shift, you\u2019ll solve 90% of your problems.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Redefining Normal<\/b><\/p>\n

One of the most striking points Collin makes is that mental illness is far more common than we acknowledge. With at least 20% of the population experiencing some form of mental health challenge, he argues, this isn\u2019t the exception \u2014 it\u2019s part of the human condition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Collin encourages others to abandon the stigma and reframe mental illness as a strength rather than a weakness. For him, the ability to seek help, manage his condition, and thrive in spite of it is a superpower.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is no different than having a broken arm. You wouldn\u2019t let a broken arm linger \u2014 you\u2019d treat it. Mental illness deserves the same attention.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Building A Startup With Depression<\/b><\/p>\n

The entrepreneurial journey is famously stressful, marked by intense highs and lows. For someone with a mental health condition, these challenges can be magnified. Collin, however, sees his depression not as a liability but as something manageable with the right tools and support.<\/span><\/p>\n

Structured routines are a key part of his strategy. Collin sticks to a daily schedule outside work \u2014 exercise in the morning, consistent evening routines \u2014 to maintain stability in the face of unpredictable workdays.<\/span><\/p>\n

And while entrepreneurship might seem counterintuitive for someone managing depression, Collin explains his motivation succinctly: <\/span>\u201cI was afraid of practicing law for 40 years. Entrepreneurship was the scarier, more exciting choice\u2014but it was the right one for me.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Breaking The Stigma<\/b><\/p>\n

Collin has been candid about his mental health journey, sharing openly with his team, partners, and even investors. His goal? To normalize these conversations and dismantle the stigma around mental illness in professional settings.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you think there\u2019s something wrong, don\u2019t let the worry about what others will think stop you from getting help. Talk about it. That\u2019s the only way we\u2019ll make this a nonissue in the future.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Collin\u2019s openness has been met with support, not skepticism, and he encourages others to follow suit. Transparency, he believes, not only builds trust but also fosters a healthier, more inclusive workplace culture.<\/span><\/p>\n

Practical Takeaways For Founders And Leaders<\/b><\/p>\n