The Mindset That Is Bankrupting Men

The advice to “suck it up” is killing male entrepreneurs — literally.
Studies show that male business owners are twice as likely to struggle with depression, and nearly half report a mental health condition. Yet the cultural message they keep hearing is the same: “Tough it out. Don’t let anyone see you sweat.”

But here’s the truth — that old-school mantra isn’t building stronger men. It’s bankrupting them — not just financially, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

If you’ve ever felt the crushing pressure to keep pushing forward while quietly falling apart inside, you know exactly what this means. The “suck it up” mindset doesn’t make men more resilient; it destroys them.

The Roots of the Problem

From boyhood, men are told to “toughen up,” “rub some dirt on it,” and “quit whining.”
In sports, school, and at home, the message is always the same: feelings are weakness — and asking for help means failure.

Those lessons don’t disappear with adulthood. They follow men into entrepreneurship, where the stakes are higher and the consequences, far more severe.

Women in business certainly struggle with burnout, anxiety, and depression, too. But culturally, men are less likely to seek help or talk openly about it. Instead, they internalize the pressure — and that silence becomes dangerous.

The Crushing Weight of Expectation

Entrepreneurship often demands that you be everything at once: the visionary, the salesperson, the HR manager, the CEO.
You carry not only your own livelihood but that of your employees. The weight can be unbearable — and most small business owners are quietly collapsing under it.

One study found that 72% of entrepreneurs are impacted by mental health conditions. Among men, depression hits one in five.

And yet, the cultural advice remains the same: “Suck it up.”

Shame and Silence

The real damage lies in the shame this mindset creates.
Men feel embarrassed to admit they’re struggling, afraid it makes them look weak. Reddit co-founder Aaron Swartz once wrote,

“I feel ashamed to have an illness. It sounds absurd, but there’s still an enormous stigma.”

So men stay silent. They bottle it up — until it turns into anxiety, burnout, and depression.

When I shut down my own business, I felt like a complete failure. I didn’t want to talk about it. I felt like I had failed as an entrepreneur, a husband, and a father. I was deep in debt, my home was in foreclosure, and I lay awake at night thinking my family might be better off without me.

Emotional bankruptcy always comes before the financial one.
Poor decisions, burned-out teams, broken relationships — the business doesn’t fail first. The man behind it breaks first.

Redefining Strength

It’s time to redefine strength.
Real strength isn’t silent suffering. Real strength is courage — the courage to say “I’m not okay right now” — and the wisdom to reach out for help.

Here are some shifts that can change everything:

1. Normalize the Conversation

Men need safe places to talk about mental health as openly as they talk about sales goals. Leaders who model honesty will dismantle the stigma.

2. See Help as a Strategy, Not a Weakness

Hiring a therapist, coach, or mentor isn’t a sign of failure — it’s like hiring a consultant to optimize your business. You’re investing in your most valuable asset: your mind.

3. Find Brotherhood

Entrepreneurship is lonely. Friends outside the business world often can’t relate, and you can’t vent downward to your team.
Peer groups or mastermind circles of men who understand the highs and lows can make all the difference.

4. Practice Radical Self-Care

Not spa days — the fundamentals.
Sleep, exercise, family time, and hobbies that remind you why you started your business in the first place. Even billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates prioritize rest to stay sharp.

The Turning Point

If you’re in a dark place right now, it might feel hopeless — but there’s still time to change.

Take Nick Hussey, founder of Vulpine. He embodied the “Iron Man” stereotype — unstoppable, tireless, invincible — until he broke. His business collapsed, and so did his mental health.

But that breakdown became a turning point. He rebuilt his life and started a new company with a completely different approach: balance, honesty, and family first.

He later said,

“The gift of my breakdown is a new life that isn’t always thinking of the future and never being satisfied.”

His story proves that vulnerability doesn’t end ambition — it creates sustainable success and fuels your future.

Time to Rewrite the Script

The “suck it up” mindset is outdated and destructive.
It’s bankrupting male entrepreneurs of their health, their relationships, and their dreams.

Real strength isn’t isolation. It’s connection.
It’s the courage to say, “I need help,” and the wisdom to accept it.

So ask yourself:
How has the “suck it up” mindset shown up in your life?
Share your story — or your encouragement for another man — in the comments.

And if you’re ready to build a business that’s strong and sustainable, subscribe. Together, we can rewrite the script for male entrepreneurs.