'You Need Support:' Honest Advice for a Founder Trying to Do It All Alone Dr. Drew Pinsky and serial investor Kim Perell encourage a small business owner to rely more on her 'people pillars.'
By David James Edited by Dan Bova
Key Takeaways
- Stephanie Bastow is running a promising wellness brand, but carrying the entire business alone is taking a toll.
- Dr. Drew and Kim Perell agree that founders need a support system.
Stephanie Bastow, CEO of Active Beauty, prides herself on her drive and determination to build something from the ground up. But as her wellness brand gains traction, the weight of doing it all herself is getting harder to bear. "Sometimes I'm holding my breath, and sometimes I'm breathing," she says.
Her company's hero product, B. Skin Tight, is a multifunctional formula designed to support skin, hydration, recovery, and brain function. She's on shelves and seeing sell-through, but she's reached a critical point in her journey: preparing for a potential Series A raise without the marketing resources to show off what the product can really do.
Related: 7 Marketing Strategies to Help Your Startup Grow and Scale
Stephanie came to BIZ Experiences Therapy, presented by Amazon Business, for advice from both investor Kim Perell and health expert Dr. Drew Pinsky. What she got was a lesson in the power of community.
It didn't take long for her advisors to spot the problem. Stephanie is over-extending herself. She's the entire marketing team: hosting podcasts, training stores, attending events, and trying to engage with investors. She admits her only real support system is her husband.
Both Dr. Drew and Perell cautioned against mixing her personal and professional lives.
Dr. Drew said that relying solely on her husband for emotional support can backfire badly. "As soon as you tell us you're in distress, we want to fix it," he said. "And that is not what you really need right now."
Related: You Won't Achieve a Work-Life Balance Without Doing These 10 Things
Instead, he encouraged her to mind a mentor or two. "You need support. You need a peer group," he said.
Kim Perell backs that up with her own story. "I tried to do everything alone," she says. "And it was a big mistake." She explains how she created four "people pillars"—her husband, a peer group, a mentor, and a trusted team. "I feel that you have one of these four pillars with your husband, but you're falling over on the other three."
Stephanie leaves the session feeling seen. "I felt like they really spent the time, went the deep dive and tried to understand," she says.
Watch the episode to hear how Stephanie's session helped her rethink what real support looks like—and how building the right foundation could be the most important part of building her brand.
BIZ Experiences Therapy is presented by Amazon Business. Smart business buying starts with Amazon Business. Learn more.
Related: Why Every BIZ Experiences Needs a Support Network — and How to Know When You've Truly Found Yours
