Most successful entrepreneurs seem to agree that the way to avoid stress and depression is to roll up your sleeves and get to work.
Pavel Durov, the enigmatic founder and CEO of Telegram, has built one of the world’s most popular messaging platforms with over 900 million users. In a recent interview, the Russian-born entrepreneur shared a surprisingly simple philosophy that has kept him mentally resilient throughout two decades of building companies, facing government pressure, and navigating geopolitical turbulence. His approach? Action over rumination.
“I normally never have depression. I don’t remember having depression in the last 20 years at least,” Durov explained. “But one of the reasons for that is I start doing things. I identify the problem, I can see a solution, and I start executing the strategy. If you are stuck in this loop of being worried about something, nothing’s ever going to change.”
The Telegram chief’s perspective challenges conventional wisdom about mental health and stress management. Rather than advocating for rest and recuperation as the primary solution to psychological strain, Durov insists that momentum itself is the cure.
“People often make this mistake thinking, oh, I should just have some rest and then regain energy. This is not how it works,” he continued. “You gain energy by doing something, so you start doing something, then it happens. You feel motivated, you feel inspired, and then ultimately you do something else a little bit more, a little bit more. And in a few years, who knows, you may end up achieving great things.”
To illustrate his point, Durov drew on a relatable example: “Going to the gym is a good example. There are many days when you don’t want to start working out, but you have to overcome this initial reluctance, and then you get to a point that you enjoy it and you think, oh my God, it was such a good idea to come to the gym today.” Durov, incidentally, is ripped and one of the fittest entrepreneurs around.
Durov’s philosophy aligns with a growing consensus among Silicon Valley’s most successful founders. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has articulated a similar principle, noting that stress doesn’t come from hard work—it comes from not taking action. According to Bezos, the anxiety and pressure entrepreneurs feel typically stem from avoiding difficult decisions rather than from the workload itself. Once a decision is made and action begins, the psychological burden often lifts.
This action-oriented approach to mental health appears particularly relevant in the technology sector, where founders face constant pressure, uncertainty, and high-stakes decisions. Durov’s track record suggests his method works: he previously founded VKontakte, Russia’s largest social network, before creating Telegram in 2013. Despite facing arrests, government surveillance demands, and being forced into exile, he has maintained his focus and continued building.
The broader implication of Durov’s philosophy extends beyond individual mental health to organizational culture and productivity. In an era where burnout and depression have reached epidemic proportions among knowledge workers, his emphasis on overcoming initial resistance and building momentum through action offers a counterintuitive but potentially powerful framework. Rather than waiting to feel motivated before acting, Durov suggests that motivation follows action—a principle that could reshape how companies think about employee wellbeing and performance.
Whether this approach works for everyone remains an open question, but coming from someone who has navigated two decades at the forefront of technology and geopolitics without succumbing to depression, Durov’s advice carries considerable weight. His message is clear: when faced with challenges, don’t overthink—just start moving.