In a previous article, I wrote about the hidden cost of becoming too performance-focused as a small business owner. I want to take that conversation a step further. Let me be clear from the beginning: I am not against goals. Performance matters. Revenue matters. Accountability matters.

I still remember that night vividly. Everything seemed normal. I was at home when I suddenly began feeling dizzy and disoriented. My heart started pounding in a way I had never experienced before. My vision became distorted. My chest tightened. Breathing felt difficult. The fear arrived quickly. I honestly thought I was dying.

There was a time in my life and in my business when I felt overwhelmed and uncertain about what to do next. From the outside, things may have looked fine. But internally, I was struggling. The pressure of running a small business, making important decisions, and trying to hold everything together was affecting not only my business but also my life.