The journey of overcoming personal health challenges while navigating the rough waters of entrepreneurship can be both physically and mentally taxing. For me, the dual battle of managing atrial fibrillation (AFib) and building my company, Alkemy Partners, required a steadfast commitment to resilience. AFib, a condition that impacts millions globally, disrupts the heart’s normal rhythm and can lead to serious complications. At the same time, launching a business in the wake of the Great Recession brought its own set of unique challenges.
Understanding Atrial Fibrillation and Its Impact on Life
Atrial Fibrillation is the most common heart arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, that can increase the risk of strokes, heart failure, and other heart-related complications. Affecting approximately 2.7 to 6.1 million people in the United States alone, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), it is estimated that by 2030, 12 million Americans will be living with AFib, driven by aging populations, lifestyle factors, and advancements in diagnostics that are identifying more cases than ever before.
When I was diagnosed with AFib at the age of 38, it felt like a physical betrayal. I was relatively young, leading a business, and suddenly my heart seemed to develop a mind of its own. At times, it would beat uncontrollably fast (tachycardia), and at other times, it would slow to an alarming rate (bradycardia). This was later diagnosed as tachy-brady syndrome, which eventually necessitated the insertion of a pacemaker. Despite undergoing multiple cardiac ablations and cardioversions to reset my heart’s rhythm, AFib proved to be a persistent challenge. My heart, quite literally, was out of sync.
My heart’s unpredictability often made me question my ability to lead and inspire while building a company from scratch. But it was precisely this combination of challenges that pushed me to rethink how to harness the power of both the heart and mind.
The Entrepreneurial Mindset and Its Parallels to Overcoming Afib
Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. It requires resilience, grit, and the ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances. According to research from the Harvard Business Review, 75% of startups fail due to various factors, including lack of market fit and financial challenges. This statistic can weigh heavily on business leaders, many of whom experience burnout, anxiety, and even depression while navigating the constant ups and downs of entrepreneurship. I know it weighed heavily on me.
Entrepreneurial success, much like the management of AFib, is heavily reliant on mindset. In my experience, two key factors were essential in dealing with both my health and business challenges: adaptability and tenacity. From a business perspective, adaptability meant pivoting my strategy as the market shifted and responding to unexpected obstacles—such as my partner leaving the company early in the venture. The same adaptability applied to my AFib diagnosis. Learning to live with AFib required me to change my lifestyle, including modifying my diet, exercising cautiously, and undergoing multiple medical procedures.
One striking parallel between entrepreneurship and managing a chronic health condition is the unpredictability that characterizes both experiences. The marketplace can shift at any moment, just as my heart could go into an arrhythmic episode without warning. I quickly learned that in both situations, it wasn’t the avoidance of difficulty that led to success but the ability to thrive in uncertain conditions. This concept is often echoed in the entrepreneurial world, where resilience and the ability to embrace failure are seen as keys to eventual success. AFib taught me that even when I couldn’t control the rhythm of my heart, I could control my response to it. Similarly, in business, I couldn’t always control external factors, but I could control how I responded to market forces, financial hurdles, and personal challenges.
The Heart and Mind: A Powerful Partnership
Physically, my heart became the epicenter of my struggle, but mentally, it became a symbol of the resilience I needed to keep going. Researchers have long acknowledged the close connection between heart health and mental health. Studies show that up to 35% of patients with chronic heart conditions, including AFib, experience anxiety, while nearly 20% struggle with depression, according to the American Heart Association. This mind-body connection was particularly relevant in my case, as the stress of running a business intensified my AFib symptoms, and those symptoms, in turn, fed into a cycle of anxiety and stress. This mind-body connection was particularly relevant in my case, as stress from running a business exacerbated my AFib symptoms, and my AFib symptoms, in turn, created additional stress.
To combat this vicious cycle, I focused on what I could control: my mindset. I turned to mindfulness as a way to calm my mind and manage the stress that inevitably triggered AFib episodes. The American Heart Association highlights that stress management plays a crucial role in reducing AFib episodes, emphasizing the need to treat both the body and mind when facing heart conditions. Such seemingly small things can significantly improve heart health by lowering blood pressure, reducing inflammation, and stabilizing heart rhythms. By cultivating a sense of mental calm, I was able to keep my heart more stable.
Building Resilience: Lessons Learned from Pain and Purpose
Resilience, however, is not an inherent trait but a learned skill. Research by psychologist Angela Duckworth has shown that “grit,” or the perseverance and passion for long-term goals, is often a better predictor of success than talent or intelligence. In both health and business, grit became the defining factor that helped me move forward, even when circumstances seemed overwhelming.
When I was diagnosed with AFib, it was easy to feel alone in the battle. But over time, I realized the importance of having a solid support system—doctors, family, friends, and mentors. A study from the National Library of Medicine found that heart patients with strong social support had better health outcomes and lower mortality rates. The same holds true for entrepreneurship. Surrounding yourself with people who believe in your vision, who can offer advice and emotional support, is crucial. Entrepreneurs with strong mentor relationships are more likely to succeed, according to research from Forbes.
Ultimately, the experiences of living with AFib and building a business coalesced into a singular journey of transformation. I went on to sell Alkemy Partners in 2020 after eight years, a testament to the grit and adaptability that helped me navigate its early challenges.
From Pain to Purpose: Launching a New Venture
If there’s one thing that ties my journey through AFib and entrepreneurship together, it’s the importance of purpose. Managing AFib for me is not just about staying healthy—it’s about being there for my family, living my life fully, and building my business to help other patients find the same balance.
The future of AFib treatment is bright, thanks to groundbreaking advances. Catheter ablation, a procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to destroy the heart tissue responsible for irregular heartbeats, has become a game-changer. Studies show that this treatment can reduce AFib recurrence by up to 80%, significantly improving patients’ quality of life. Additionally, the integration of AI and machine learning in diagnostics is revolutionizing how AFib is detected and managed. Wearable technology, such as smartwatches with electrocardiogram (ECG) capabilities, now enables real-time monitoring and early detection of AFib episodes, leading to timely interventions and better outcomes.
Purpose-driven entrepreneurs are more successful in the long term, as research from Psychology Today shows. Having a clear vision helps them navigate obstacles and maintain focus, even in the toughest moments when giving up feels like the easier option. For me, this sense of purpose not only kept me going in business but also in my commitment to health—because I want to live long enough to see my dreams realized.
The Dual Power of the Heart and Mind
In both entrepreneurship and managing AFib, I have learned that the heart and mind are not in opposition but work together in powerful harmony. Whether navigating the unpredictable rhythms of my heart or the rollercoaster ride of building a business, I discovered that resilience is born from this partnership. By harnessing the power of both, I transformed my pain into purpose, allowing me to overcome the challenges of AFib and entrepreneurship, and ultimately, to help others do the same.
Editor’s Note: Jim Kaveney is all heart. In 2012 Jim founded Alkemy Partners (a Life Sciences Learning and Performance company that was ranked by Inc5000 in 2019 and 2020 before achieving acquisition in 2020 by EVERSANA™) and he is currently the founder of Unlimited Heart Health & Wellness—a collaborative organization of health care professionals accelerating cardiac innovation. After years of balancing entrepreneurial ambitions with his own growing cardiac issues, Jim Kaveney, M.S. has turned his pain into a purpose to become an expert in navigating the burgeoning worlds of digital therapeutics, global startup initiatives, and the mindset training required to tackle the pillars of a holistic work-health-faith-family-life balance.
Growing up as the youngest of nine in Erie, Pennsylvania, he sought understanding and solace in forces greater than himself, a quest that has influenced his personal and professional journey. Through his story, he hopes to empower others to find strength and resilience in the face of health challenges, while continuing to innovate and advocate for better patient care solutions.