#222 The Dark Side of Entrepreneurship | Mental Health, Burnout, and Fear

Most people think growth is about momentum. This episode proves it is about endurance.

In today’s episode of High Voltage Business Builders, Neil sits down with Sahil Patel, a second-time CEO who has lived through the realities most founders never post about. Payroll on credit cards. Empty bank accounts. Identity tied too closely to the business. And the long seasons spent in the valley.

Sahil shares what he learned building his first company, how those lessons shaped his leadership at Spiralize, and why experienced operators focus less on outcomes and more on controllables.

In This Episode, We Cover:

✅ Why most founders spend more time in the valley than at the peak

✅ The danger of tying your identity to your business outcomes

✅ Detaching self-worth from results without losing ambition

✅ Getting professional help before burnout forces the issue

✅ How experienced CEOs make decisions with no guaranteed outcome

📍 Chapters

00:00 Why success is not the point

02:30 Family, purpose, and perspective beyond business

05:00 Sahil’s background and what Spiralize actually does

07:30 The founder journey and living in the valley

11:00 Payroll stress, cash pressure, and unseen realities

14:30 Detaching identity from business outcomes

17:30 Market forces, failed raises, and controllables

20:30 Mental health, burnout, and getting help early

24:00 Decision-making when there is no guarantee

27:00 Staying close to customers as a CEO advantage

🔗 Learn more about Sahil and his work at spiralyze.com, or follow him on LinkedIn for practical insights on conversion, leadership, and growth.

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