Athena Dean Holtz: How Trauma in Entrepreneurship Sabotages Success

In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, where decisions can make or break a venture, what if your past wounds are quietly steering the ship? Athena Dean Holtz, founder of Redemption Press and a seasoned Christian publisher with over 40 years in the industry, shares a raw personal story that many business owners can relate to. After building a thriving $3.5 million publishing company over two decades, she lost it all to deceitful partners. Reflecting on this, Athena realized her choices were rooted in unhealed trauma—losses she had buried under layers of optimism and workaholism. For aspiring entrepreneurs, whether you're a young professional bootstrapping your first startup, a mid-career switcher from corporate life, or a first-generation business owner navigating cultural expectations, her insights reveal how ignoring inner pain can lead to costly mistakes. This article explores how trauma affects business decisions and offers pathways to healing for more resilient leadership.

The Hidden Toll of Unhealed Wounds on Business Choices

Trauma in entrepreneurship often manifests subtly, influencing everything from risk assessment to team management. Athena describes how her optimistic nature led her to "bounce back" without processing pain, resulting in self-medication through work and success.

"What I found myself doing is self medicating with work and success and the thrill of building a business," she explains.

This avoidance can create blind spots, as seen in her decision to ignore warnings about a problematic author, driven by financial pressures rather than integrity.

Research supports this: A study on childhood trauma and entrepreneurs' individual entrepreneurial orientation highlights how early adversities shape decision-making patterns, often leading to impulsive or overly cautious behaviors. For diverse entrepreneurs, like those from underrepresented groups facing systemic challenges, these wounds might compound with external pressures, making self-reflection even more crucial.Reflect on your own path: Have you ever pushed through a deal that felt off, only to regret it later? Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward better outcomes.

Why Entrepreneurs Self-Medicate with Success

Many driven individuals, especially Type A personalities, use achievement as a shield against pain. Athena admits to being a workaholic, constantly "repenting" for it but using it to avoid unpacking traumas. This can lead to burnout, high turnover, and poor leadership. In her words, "I was easily, I mean I'm a type A very much a workaholic... But what I found myself doing as I reflected on this was that was my way of avoiding going back and kind of unpacking what happened to me."

For first-generation entrepreneurs or those in global markets, this might look like overworking to prove worth amid familial or societal expectations. A related concept from psychological research is "entrepreneurial overwhelm," where business triggers past traumas, turning hypervigilance into a double-edged sword.

 Challenge yourself: Track your work habits for a week— are they fueled by passion or evasion?

Integrating Faith and Discernment in Business

As a Christian publisher, Athena emphasizes trusting a higher power over fear-driven choices. She regretted not heeding her editor's advice on a doctrinally questionable book, prioritizing a big sale instead.

"I was not trusting God. He would have happily sent me another author if I had done the hard thing," she reflects.

This led to establishing firm boundaries at Redemption Press, refusing projects that compromise values, no matter the financial lure.

Her book, No Longer Hidden: You Cannot Resist What You Do Not Recognize (available on Amazon), delves into recognizing spiritual influences behind bad behavior. Drawing from Ephesians 6:12—"your battle is not with flesh and blood"—Athena encourages viewing conflicts through a lens of discernment, which can prevent deception in partnerships.

What Is Redemptive Leadership and How Can It Help?

Athena's redemptive leadership framework, born from her experiences, focuses on addressing trauma in oneself and teams with compassion. Amid events like the pandemic, which caused widespread loss, leaders must recognize when old wounds resurface. "We have to, as leaders, understand that in our own lives, but also in those that we lead with some compassion," she says.

This approach prioritizes people over profits, fostering transparency and reducing burnout. For remote workers or digital nomads, it means building virtual communities to combat isolation. Studies on psychological resilience in entrepreneurs show that such frameworks enhance career success by mediating adversities.

FAQ: How Can I Spot Trauma Influencing My Decisions?

• What signs indicate trauma is affecting my business?

Look for recurring poor choices, like ignoring red flags in deals or overworking to avoid reflection. If decisions feel reactive rather than strategic, dig deeper.

• How do I start healing as an entrepreneur?

Begin with self-reflection, perhaps journaling past losses. Seek therapy, community support, or faith-based counseling. Athena recommends embracing difficulties as learning opportunities.

• Can spiritual practices improve business outcomes?

Yes, practices like prayer or meditation can build discernment. Resources like The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk explain trauma's physical impacts, complementing spiritual approaches.

Building Community to Overcome Isolation

The enemy of progress, Athena warns, is isolation. Entrepreneurs should surround themselves with trusted advisors who reveal blind spots. "We have to resist that emphasis to just... believe the lie that they won't understand," she advises. For mid-career switchers or global entrepreneurs, this might involve joining diverse networks like online forums or masterminds.

Prompt: Reach out to one mentor this week and share a current challenge—see how it shifts your perspective.

In conclusion, undealt trauma in entrepreneurship can sabotage success, but recognizing and healing it paves the way for redemptive leadership and true resilience. Athena's journey from loss to founding a thriving, value-driven press inspires us to process pain, trust wisely, and lead with compassion. Apply these insights: Reflect on a past decision influenced by unhealed wounds and take one step toward closure. Share your story on social media using #TraumaInEntrepreneurship, or explore Athena's speaking opportunities at athenaholtzspeaks.com.