Disturbed sleep, the desire to let go of everything, anxiety attacks… In 2019, Jean-François Gagné Bérubé had a very bad time. His company, which he had founded two years earlier, was however on a good way.
The number of subscribers to Gouton.ca, a search engine that uses artificial intelligence to offer combined recipes at supermarket discounts, was increasing every month. There was no shortage of ideas for adding new features to help consumers reduce their grocery bill.
Venture capital funds were even ready to invest to support the growth of the young company.
That’s when Jean-François Gagné Bérubé hit a wall…
Too heavy a weight to bear
“I lived badly with the idea of having debts. I felt a huge pressure on my shoulders that made me unable to sleep at night. I was experiencing a lot of anxiety because of the financial risk it represented,” says the entrepreneur.
He then decided to separate from his partner with whom he got along well to go it alone – “it was less responsibility for me”, he says. A solution that did not dispel the anxiety, however.
This computer scientist turned entrepreneur even considered selling his company to become a simple employee again.
“I always loved what I did, especially technology development. It was the role of entrepreneur that was heavy to bear. Potential buyers, however, found my idea bizarre, and they all withdrew. »
Finally, in the grip of a strong anxiety attack, he celebrates Christmas in the emergency room of a hospital that year.
“I thought I was having a heart attack, I was in so much pain,” says the young thirty-year-old. The repeated anxiety attacks had ended up causing inflammation in my rib cage. Being a hypochondriac certainly didn’t help me either. At the slightest physical symptom, I become anxious. It becomes a negative spiral. »
Grow, but not at all costs
He started to climb the slope by seeking psychological help. He also made decisions that helped relieve his anxiety.
“I chose to pay more for subcontractors rather than having employees, which created too much pressure on me. I also accepted that Glouton has a slower growth, but also more solid and respectful of my limits and my values. My mental health has become my number one priority,” says Jean-François Gagné Bérubé.
Today, he has come to terms with his status as an entrepreneur and he manages Glouton with more pleasure and performance. Fortunately, because his site is more popular than ever due to high food inflation. Last December, some 170,000 people consulted its search engine to find recipes and the best specials.
“It’s very rewarding to know that Glouton helps people to consume better. We continue to develop more and more tools to simplify the organization of meals, ”says the one who participates every week in the Combat des circulars as part of the program About your business on the LCN channel.
A reality to talk about
Even if he is much better, he remains vigilant. Before embarking on a new project, he takes care to measure the effects they could have on his health.
“I always have my foot above the brake pedal ready to react if necessary,” he confides. Through this remarkable experience, I learned to know myself better and to recognize the signs when things are not going well. I am also transparent with my collaborators. I am able to tell them about my anxiety and the fact that I might end our collaboration if things start to go too fast for me. People understand well.
“Running a business can be tough. Fortunately, we no longer talk about this almost generalized distress among entrepreneurs. It’s important to break the silence because you feel very alone otherwise,” he concludes.