The need for sleep has important implications for entrepreneurship. Researchers have come to understand that sleep insufficiency affects creativity, innovation, self-control and operational efficacy. Yet quality sleep often eludes an entrepreneur because of the demands from the business environment, fear of failure and job insecurity, among other things. Hence, a sleep paradox exists where aberrant sleep patterns or sleeplessness undermine success. However, aberrant sleep patterns and sleeplessness are a necessary part of successful entrepreneurial experiences. The current research used a qualitative design to understand how successful entrepreneurs retrospectively perceive aberrant sleep patterns or sleep restriction (i.e., sleeplessness); but, more importantly, how they implement coping mechanisms to overcome this paradox to achieve positive outcomes for their business. Successful entrepreneurs of the current research were seen to self-regulate their actions to address the vagaries of entrepreneurial experience. They manage aberrant sleep patterns or sleeplessness by taking steps to develop adaptative tools (i.e., coping mechanisms such as mental, physical and behavioural shortcuts) to aid decision-making in an uncertain business environment and to facilitate the sustainability of their entrepreneurial endeavours.

睡眠需求对创业精神具有重要意义。研究人员已经了解到睡眠不足会影响创造力，创新能力，自我控制能力和操作效率。然而，由于商业环境的需求，对失败的恐惧和工作上的不安全感等因素，高质量的睡眠通常使企业家难以为继。因此，存在睡眠悖论，其中异常的睡眠方式或失眠会破坏成功。但是，异常的睡眠方式和失眠是成功的创业经验的必要组成部分。当前的研究使用定性设计来了解成功的企业家如何回顾性地观察异常的睡眠方式或睡眠限制（即失眠）；但是，更重要的是 他们如何实施应对机制来克服这一悖论，从而为其业务取得积极成果。当前研究的成功企业家被认为可以自我调节自己的行为，以应对企业家经验的变化。他们通过采取步骤开发适应性工具（即应对机制，例如心理，身体和行为捷径）来管理异常的睡眠模式或失眠，以帮助在不确定的商业环境中进行决策并促进其创业努力的可持续性。