Secrets of Next-Level Entrepreneurs

CHAPTER 11Four Powerful Mindset Shifts to Help You Conquer Love, Overcome Death, and Succeed in Business

Alex Brueckmann

I'm sitting on the balcony of our apartment in New Westminster. I'm thinking about how lucky I am to be holding my baby boy, and I can't stop a few tears from rolling down my cheeks as I think about my late father. I honestly don't know whether these are tears of joy or tears of grief. Maybe it's a bit of both mixed together. I can't believe I've survived the past three months without a total mental breakdown. Looking back now, with some clarity, at that moment, I couldn't understand how I got past the feeling of constantly being overwhelmed.

A few months prior, I was founding a new business while my girlfriend was experiencing a very challenging last trimester of her pregnancy. I was worried and anxious for her. At the same time, my father was suffering from terminal cancer. I wasn't sure I could keep it all together. I felt the duty to provide for my family even as these other areas of my life unraveled.

My emotions were constantly changing, like being on a rollercoaster ride. I wanted to be there for my girlfriend, dad and mom, and clients—all at the same time. I felt like I was in a dark tunnel, and I needed to push through these challenging months hoping that things would get better and easier to manage.

As things unfolded, I'm sure you can imagine, that's not exactly what happened. Things spiraled quite dramatically. Quickly, my dad passed away, and ...