American Enterprise just published a wonderful article by John Gartner, a clinical psychologist called, "America’s Manic Entrepreneur". In the article he asks whether the talent to be a successful entrepreneur takes a bit of craziness and "manic-ness"? YES I SCREAM!
He writes:
"Several years ago I began calling reporters who had written profiles of some of America
These economic journalists were right. Their subjects are not manic. They are hypomanic.
Hypomania—often found in the relatives of manic depressives—is a mild form of the psychiatric disorder known as mania. Hypomanics are brimming with infectious energy, irrational confidence, and really big ideas. They think, talk, move, and make decisions quickly. Anyone who slows them down with questions “just doesn’t get it.” Hypomanics are not mental cases, but “normal” is not the first word that comes to mind when describing them. Hypomanics live on the edge, between normal and abnormal."
He lists characteristics of a manic entrepreneur:
• He is flooded with ideas.
• He is driven, restless, and unable to keep still.
• He channels his energy into the achievement of wildly
grand ambitions.
• He often works on little sleep.
• He feels brilliant, special, chosen, perhaps even destined to
change the world.
• He can be euphoric.
• He becomes easily irritated by minor obstacles.
• He is a risk taker.
• He overspends in both his business and personal life.
• He acts out sexually.
• He sometimes acts impulsively, with poor judgment,
in ways that can have painful consequences.
• He is fast-talking.
• He is witty and gregarious.
• His confidence can make him charismatic and persuasive.
• He is also prone to making enemies and feels he is
persecuted by those who do not accept his vision and mission.
