The Hidden Cost of Leadership: Entrepreneurs, CEOs, and Personal Sacrifice

And some big ideas for the weekend.

Arlin Sorensen offers some interesting stats in his newsletter this week.   A study by the University of Chicago found that the divorce rate for entrepreneurs is 43%, compared to 38% for the general population.  Here’s a passage:

There are several factors that may contribute to the higher divorce rate among entrepreneurs:

The long hours and stress of running a business can strain marriages. Entrepreneurs often have to make sacrifices in their personal lives, such as spending less time with their families, in order to focus on their businesses. Entrepreneurs may be more likely to take risks, which can lead to financial instability and marital problems. Entrepreneurs may be more likely to have narcissistic personality traits, which can make them self absorbed and difficult to live with. The interesting thing is that the first three of these areas somewhat go away with a successful business/career transition. It’s no longer a lack of time, talent or treasure that puts pressure on the marriage.

Related, Harvard Business Review looks at the Myth of the CEO as the Ultimate Decision Makers.  

CEOs are not always the ultimate decision-makers in organizations but rather shape decisions by designing the decision-making process, participating in it, monitoring the work, and making the final call when necessary. They must choose how much to be involved based on factors such as the decision’s strategic importance, impact on the company’s financial health, risk, core values, and stakeholders. The CEO’s role is to create an environment where decisions are made effectively, empowering teams and driving the organization toward success.

These are leadership stories.    Many leaders view themselves as the utltimate decision makers, and the research says… not so much.      You may be the blocker to your own success.

And what about after that success?    Arlin brings some big ideas to consider – how do your plans affect your family?  How will you stay connected?   What will you do with your time?