Building a business feels a lot like steering a rocket ship with duct tape and stubborn optimism. Some days you’re soaring; other days, it feels like the whole thing might explode—and yeah, that stress? It’s real. But here’s the good news: Alex Charfen, a leadership and growth expert who’s been there (and then some), mapped out a system that doesn’t just help you survive the chaos. It helps you build momentum through it.

So if you’ve been feeling like stress is your unwanted business partner, pull up a chair. Let’s walk through a clear, practical roadmap to help you run your life and business without losing your mind.

Step 1: Understand Your Entrepreneurial Personality Type (EPT)

What even is EPT?

Honestly, it’s kind of a game-changer. Alex Charfen figured out that entrepreneurs are wired differently—not in a “you’re so special” way, but in a this explains everything way. Your Entrepreneurial Personality Type is a blueprint of how your brain works when it comes to risk, uncertainty, and momentum.

You know that weird craving you have for chaos followed immediately by intense guilt that you’re stressed? That’s part of your EPT. Understanding it means you stop blaming yourself for being “too much” or “too emotional” and start recognizing your stress patterns before they spiral.

Key takeaway: Knowing your EPT isn’t just self-help fluff—it’s strategic. When you understand your natural tendencies, you can set yourself up to win instead of constantly firefighting your own brain.

Step 2: Build a Personal Momentum System

Sounds fancy, but what does it mean?

Momentum is that sweet spot where everything feels like it’s clicking. You’re making progress, you feel energized, and you’re not questioning your life choices every five minutes. Charfen argues (and yeah, he’s pretty convincing) that most stress happens when momentum breaks down.

Building your system = setting up daily wins.

It’s not about complicated apps or 2-hour morning routines. It’s basic—but powerful:

• Morning check-in: How do I feel? What’s the ONE thing I must achieve today?
  
• Night check-in: Did I move forward? Where did I get stuck?
  

Add in 15 minutes of strategic silence (yep, no scrolling) and a five-minute gratitude note, and you’ve got a low-maintenance engine for personal momentum.

Truth bomb: If you wait until you’re overwhelmed to fix things, you’re too late. This system keeps you ahead of the curve.

Step 3: Hydration, Fuel, and Rest Protocols

It’s not “woo”—it’s survival.

You know those memes about entrepreneurs living off Red Bull and regret? Yeah, they’re funny… until they’re your reality. Charfen’s approach is ruthlessly simple: respect your body like you respect your ambition.

• Hydration: 16 oz of water immediately after waking up. Non-negotiable. (Coffee comes second—sorry, not sorry.)
  
• Fuel: High-protein breakfast within an hour of waking. Keep your blood sugar stable or prepare for stress to hit like a truck at 2 PM.
  
• Rest: Stick to a hard bedtime. Yes, even if you’re “in the zone.” Your next breakthrough depends on your brain actually working tomorrow.
  

Think of it like tuning a race car. You wouldn’t slap cheap gas into a Ferrari and expect it to win. Same logic here.

Step 4: Identify and Eliminate Pressure & Noise

Business stress and personal stress are NOT separate planets.

Let’s be real: pretending you can compartmentalize a broken relationship, family drama, or health scares from your business goals? Total myth. Stress leaks everywhere. Charfen calls it “pressure and noise”—anything that clutters your mind and drags your energy down.

Here’s what you can actually do about it:

• Simplify your calendar. (Every “maybe” becomes a “no.”)
  
• Audit your commitments. (If it doesn’t build momentum or peace, it goes.)
  
• Automate dumb stuff. (Seriously, how much brainpower are you wasting on grocery lists or bill reminders?)
  

Pro tip: Try using simple tools like ClickUp or Notion to create low-maintenance workflows. Think of it like spring cleaning for your brain.

Step 5: Use Cadence and Routines to Prevent Overwhelm

Cadence sounds technical, but it’s basically “keep the beat.”

Every high-performing entrepreneur has rituals that create rhythm in their life. Charfen’s system recommends setting weekly and monthly check-ins—short, intentional moments to zoom out and make sure you’re not veering into chaos.

Set these up:

• Weekly reset: Where did I win? Where did I struggle?
  
• Monthly reflection: Am I on track with my personal and business goals?
  
• Personal KPIs: No, it’s not just a corporate thing. Track metrics that matter: sleep hours, workouts, meaningful conversations, cash flow.
  

Without cadence, stress sneaks in like water through tiny cracks—and before you know it, you’re drowning.

Step 6: Embrace Vulnerability and Build Support Networks

You can’t do it alone—and you’re not supposed to.

You know what’s weird? Entrepreneurs will build billion-dollar companies but hesitate to say, “Hey, I’m struggling.” Charfen flips that script: vulnerability isn’t weakness; it’s strategy.

Asking for help early and often keeps little problems from growing teeth. It also builds emotional armor—not the kind that walls you off, but the kind that keeps you steady when the storms hit.

Start small:

• Text a friend when you’re feeling stuck.
  
• Hire a coach or therapist without shame.
  
• Set up a mastermind group—even a tiny one.
  

Honestly, the people who lean on others don’t fall apart. They level up faster.

Bonus: Alex Charfen’s Stress Management Templates and Tools

Want a shortcut? Charfen’s got you covered.

He offers templates for daily planning, business goal setting, hydration tracking, and even personal KPIs. You can find them at alexcharfen.com (not sponsored—just genuinely helpful).

Most of the templates are super plug-and-play. No fluff, no complicated tech stacks. You can literally print them out or use them digitally with simple apps like GoodNotes or Notability.

If you’re the kind of guy who likes having a battle plan (instead of reinventing the wheel every Monday), you’ll find these ridiculously useful.

Final Thoughts: Stress Is a Feature, Not a Flaw

Here’s the thing: If you care about what you’re building, stress will show up. It’s baked into the game.

But what Charfen’s system reminds us is that stress isn’t supposed to break you. It’s a signal—telling you to adjust, simplify, and reconnect with momentum.

And when you listen? You don’t just survive. You build a life (and a business) that’s actually worth all the late nights, crazy dreams, and stubborn battles you fight every day.

So yeah, building your empire isn’t supposed to be stress-free. But with the right system, it can be stress-resilient. And honestly? That’s a much better deal.