Running a business is stressful. There are days when everything seems to go wrong at once for Colby Davis: a job runs over budget, a key employee calls out sick, a customer isn’t happy, and he’s trying to juggle a dozen other things. Early on, he handled that stress poorly. He’d work longer hours, skip meals, and convince himself that grinding harder was the answer.
It’s not. Burnout is real, and it doesn’t make you a better leader. It makes you reactive, short-tempered, and less effective. Colby had to learn how to manage stress in healthier ways.
Now, he’s religious about protecting his morning routine. Colby works out, spends time planning his day, and makes sure he’s starting from a calm, focused place instead of jumping straight into chaos. That hour or two in the morning sets the tone for everything else.
He also got better at delegating and trusting his team. Colby doesn’t need to be involved in every decision. When he hires good people and gives them the tools and authority to do their jobs, they handle things just fine without him. That frees up his mental energy for the big-picture stuff that actually needs his attention.
Finally, Colby learned to separate his identity from the business. Yes, he cares deeply about Davis Painting and Indy Brands, but he’s not defined by them. He has a life outside of work, and he protects that time. When he’s with family or doing something he enjoys, he’s fully present instead of constantly checking his phone.
Managing stress is a skill, and it’s one of the most important skills Colby has developed as a leader.