Jeff Bezos has built a $221 billion fortune on a very simple psychological trick: he treats anxiety as a 'warning flag' rather than a burden.
According to the Amazon founder, stress doesn't come from hard work. You can work 18 hours a day on a project you love and feel zero stress. The real root of anxiety is inaction.
The second you identify a problem and take even the smallest step toward fixing it—whether that is a phone call or a single email—the stress begins to evaporate.
'I find if I'm stressed about something, it's usually because I'm not doing anything about it,' Bezos had stated in 2017. 'I'm listening to my body as a signal that something is wrong, and I find that the stress goes away the second I take the first step.'
He started Amazon in a rented garage and attended 60 meetings to raise $1 million for his company in the mid 90s.
He thinks finding allies to problem-solve with can help overcome stressful situations 'If you can find friends who are interested in similar things or want to help you solve a problem, problem-solving is inspiring for me all by itself.
There's nothing more fun than getting in a room with a group of inventors and saying, "Look, here's the problem. Let's invent a solution to it." And as soon as you start doing that, I find that it turns from something that might create stress into something that creates fun,' Bezos stated.
Bezos had also outlined his leadership principles that Amazon leadership still looks up to for company growth. Andy Jassy is steering Amazon in 2026 by redrawing the boundaries. While Jeff Bezos built the 'fortress,' Jassy is turning it into what he calls the 'world's largest startup.'
The Bezos Blueprint For Beating Stress
Bezos argues that your body uses stress as a signal that you are ignoring something you shouldn't be. Here is how he tackles it:
- Listen to the Signal: Don't mask the anxiety. Use it to find the specific issue you are avoiding.
- The 'First Step' Rule: You don't have to solve the whole problem today. You just have to start the movement.
- Find Your Allies: Bezos finds that problem-solving is 'inspiring' when done with friends or inventors. Turning a crisis into a group 'invention' session shifts the emotion from fear to fun.
How Other Leaders Face The Fire
Bezos isn't the only one at the top with a specific strategy. In 2026, we are seeing a shift in how the world's most powerful CEOs handle the weight of leadership.
| Leader | Current Role (Feb 2026) | Stress Management Strategy |
| Satya Nadella | CEO, Microsoft | Focuses on 'real-world impact' over AI hype; promotes open communication. |
| Andy Jassy | CEO, Amazon | Practices 'vocal self-criticism' and accountability to build trust. |
| Laxman Narasimhan | Former CEO, Starbucks | Relies on 'non-negotiables': meditation, exercise, and strict family time. |
| Damola Adamolekun | CEO, Red Lobster | Models 'emotional control' to create stability during turnaround efforts. |
Just like Bezos, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella takes a similar approach to handling stress by directly confronting the issue. At his workplace, he promotes open communication and introduces flexibility into policies to help employees avoid burnout.
However, many other CEOs take diverse approaches to handling stress. For instance, former Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan relies on three non-negotiables to manage anxiety: meditation, exercise, and family time. 'I'm very disciplined about balance,' Narasimhan had told a media outlet in 2023.
Elsewhere, Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun took on the top job at the age of 35. He believes the best way to manage stress and ensure a healthy workplace is to practice emotional control. 'Practising emotional control means taking a moment to pause, assess the situation, and respond thoughtfully, rather than reacting impulsively. When you model emotional control, you create a stable environment where your team feels supported and motivated, even in the face of adversity,' he explained.
The Power Of Accountability
Amazon's current CEO, Andy Jassy, continues to push the leadership principles Bezos left behind. In early 2026, Jassy highlighted that building trust isn't about 'being nice'—it's about being 'vocally self-critical.' By owning your mistakes publicly, you remove the stress of hiding them.
Even Satya Nadella has shifted Microsoft's focus in 2026 toward 'AI as a scaffolding for human potential' to avoid the burnout caused by trying to replace human intelligence. The goal is to use technology to amplify what we do, not to create a 'model overhang' that adds more pressure to the workforce.
The Takeaway
Whether it's Bezos making that first phone call or Adamolekun pausing to assess a bankruptcy exit, the lesson is the same. Anxiety grows in the dark. As soon as you shine a light on the problem and start moving, the 'mean-spirited' weight of stress begins to lift.
The thing is, you can control your attitude even when you can't control the market.
