Our family has recently seen some tragic, distressing events happening with other families we know. Without too much details, one family witnessed a family loss by suicide, and another family is in deep financial trouble.
One common aspect we could see: someone was in deep trouble but didn’t seek help from others. They were strong-willed (there was absolutely no sign of trouble from outside) and tried to take care of everything by themselves, not even telling everything to their spouses, but couldn’t overcome the breaking point.
We’re all humans. We alone can bear only so much pressure.
Same for founders. Of course you must take ownership and be respectful for other people’s time. But do reach out and ask for help if your leg is jammed under a rock. Don’t try to do everything alone.
Knowing when and how to reach out for help is — sometimes, quite literally — one of the life survival skills.