Latest news with #SharonWaxman
Forbes
2 days ago
- Health
- Forbes
Burnout Or Biology? Metabolic Health Drives Entrepreneur Success
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 28: Emilia Clarke (Right) and Sharon Waxman, TheWrap's CEO and ... More Editor-in-Chief (Photo byfor TheWrap) The world's most forward-thinking founders aren't just measuring revenue or user acquisition; they're monitoring metabolic performance. Tools like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), mitochondrial assessments and circadian rhythm trackers are fast becoming C-suite essentials. The reason? Burnout is no longer a productivity tax that needs to be normalized. It's a biological signal that something deeper is off. Within our current volatile entrepreneurial landscape, a new paradigm is emerging, one that treats metabolic health not as a wellness fad but as a strategic performance metric. At its core, this shift reframes bioenergetics as leadership currency: a founder's ability to perform under pressure, think clearly and lead with emotional resilience is directly tied to cellular efficiency. Metabolic health refers to the body's ability to regulate glucose, insulin, lipids, inflammation and energy production effectively. Unlike conventional health goals centered on weight or appearance, metabolic optimization focuses on internal function. Enter: hormonal balance, mitochondrial resilience, metabolic flexibility, or the ability to switch efficiently between fuel sources. This flexibility allows leaders to sustain focus without crashing, reduce their dependency on caffeine or sugar and recover from stress with greater ease. As neuroscience increasingly shows, stable metabolism supports executive function by aligning brain and gut rhythms, both crucial for strategic decision-making. It comes as no surprise, then, that disrupted rhythms from poor sleep, chronic stress and erratic eating silently sabotage performance. What looks like a mindset issue (brain fog, emotional reactivity, impulsivity) is often a mitochondrial issue in disguise. Glucose is the brain's preferred fuel, especially the prefrontal cortex, which governs decision-making, foresight and emotional regulation. Fluctuations in blood sugar can trigger mood volatility and mental fatigue, mimicking burnout. When metabolic dysfunction becomes chronic, cognitive capital deteriorates. Research suggests that workplace interventions targeting metabolic health can reduce perceived stress, prevent burnout and boost self-efficacy. For high-stakes entrepreneurs, this translates into sharper focus, faster recovery and a more grounded, aligned leadership lifestyle. Founders are now embracing data-driven tools to optimize their biological systems. Popular devices and practices include: Executives at Levels Health, InsideTracker and other biohacking-forward VC firms are leading the charge, blending health optimization with high-performance strategy. Some companies are even incorporating mitochondrial health assessments and biological age tests into leadership retreats and C-suite onboarding. Jet lag, pitch decks, red-eye flights and late-night decision sprints take a toll. Entrepreneurial lifestyles often glorify the grind, but the biochemical impact is true to life: elevated cortisol, impaired glucose control and circadian disruption fuel chronic inflammation, eroding resilience from the inside out. A 2025 study found that stress-induced metabolic dysfunction in healthcare professionals mirrors patterns seen in tech executives: high output paired with poor recovery. Over time, this results in mitochondrial fatigue, hormone imbalances and emotional burnout, not because founders are undisciplined but because their internal systems are under siege. The good news? Metabolic health is highly modifiable and functional. Entrepreneurs are turning to science-backed interventions like: However, the most overlooked intervention is also the most essential: sleep. Without circadian balance, even the most sophisticated strategies won't yield results. Deep rest is the bedrock of sustained performance. Note: Always consult your primary care provider before initiating any new health interventions. The most effective leaders integrate biological metrics into their performance strategies. From glucose variability and heart rate variability to mitochondrial health and circadian alignment, internal data is fast becoming as critical as quarterly reports. Metabolically optimized leaders demonstrate improved cognitive function, emotional regulation and decision-making capacity: key traits backed by neuroscience and performance psychology. Emerging organizational models reflect this shift, with VC firms and executive teams investing in biologically intelligent infrastructure: continuous monitoring tools, resilience protocols and recovery-based culture design. Burnout is no longer a vague emotional state but a measurable physiological response driven by chronic inflammation, insulin resistance and cellular fatigue. And treating it goes beyond rest. It requires recalibration at the metabolic level, the epitome of every leader's imperative. The next KPI isn't visible on a spreadsheet. It's encoded in your biology. Optimize it, and you'll gain not just longevity but a strategic edge.
CBS News
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
China is a vital market for the U.S. film industry. Here's how the trade war could have major impacts.
President Trump's trade war with China could have a major impact on Hollywood, with some saying a potential ban could be placed on American movies. The country has been a vital market for the U.S. film industry. " A couple of prominent bloggers who are connected to the main party in China suggested that China might consider putting blocks on the Hollywood films that do get released in China," said Sharon Waxman, editor-in-chief of "The Wrap," which covers Hollywood's reliance on international ticket sales. The sources who first reported the potential ban are well-connected in China's media establishment. However, it's not clear when or if these retaliatory measures would take effect. On Thursday, China's Film Administration said it would "moderately reduce" the number of U.S. films it imported into the country, in response to the new tariffs. "The wrong action of the U.S. government's indiscriminate tariffs on China is bound to further reduce the favourable impression of domestic audiences on American films," a statement from the film administration said. Although China restricts American films, one industry expert said the average U.S. film makes about 10% of its gross from the China market. At the box office, "A Minecraft Movie" wasn't just a blockbuster in the U.S. It also topped the charts in China last weekend. Last year, "Godzilla X Kong" made more money in China than anywhere else in the world, including the U.S. Monique White is the executive vice president at California Pictures, a distributor of independent films. She said studios losing revenue from a massive market could impact production in the future. "That means their budgets are gonna have to go down because they're not gonna see that money coming out of China and if what happens in China's gonna happen in Europe and in Australia and any other countries, those budgets are gonna have to get squeezed even more," White said. The potential impact of trade tension with China is the latest issue for an industry still trying to recover from back-to-back labor strikes and a nearly two-year shutdown due to COVID-19 pandemic. "What people in Hollywood worry about is that there is inevitably going to be some pullback," Waxman said. "People will go to the movies less if they were going. They might have one less streaming service." Mr. Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariffs for most countries on Wednesday, while lowering the "reciprocal tariff" rate to 10%. The president also increased tariffs on goods from China to 125%. "Based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the World's Markets, I am hereby raising the Tariff charged to China by the United States of America to 125%, effective immediately," Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. In response, the European Union on Thursday announced its own 90-day pause on retaliatory tariffs. Meanwhile, China's Commerce Ministry spokesperson, He Yongqian, said, "China's position is clear and consistent: the door to talks is open, but dialogue must be conducted on an equal basis with mutual respect. China will stand by its position until the end. Pressuring, threatening, and blackmailing are not the correct ways to deal with China. We hope that the U.S. will work with China."
