In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan explore whether lacking prior experience can be a game-changer for startup founders. Having zero experience means you're new to something, and surprisingly, that can be a good thing. It brings a fresh perspective and adaptability. But for startup founders, could a lack of experience help you succeed or fail? Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources:Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/beginJoin our Network of Top Founders Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan RutanWhat to Listen For00:00 Intro00:24 Is experience an asset?03:40 The bias of experience09:00 Danger of doing something without experience12:35 Why not?13:30 Stop using someone else’s experience20:32 Other people’s path is not yours21:51 The best innovations are micro-innovations23:22 Be too dumb to fail28:52 Know what you know and don’t know32:09 Just knowing the basics

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talks about whether a founder should focus on building a startup that just makes money. Ever thought about ditching the whole fundraising craze and simply building a startup that puts money in your pocket? Join Wil and Ryan as they navigate the path less traveled, exploring the freedom and sustainability that comes with creating a startup designed to consistently generate profits. It's not just about surviving in the business jungle, it's about thriving on your terms.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources:Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/beginJoin our Network of Top Founders Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan RutanWhat to Listen For00:00 Intro00:08 The end of the fundraising era04:14 Building success without venture funding07:09 Trading freedom for growth09:05 True value of incremental business growth10:14 How bootstrapped businesses create sustainable wealth14:54 Returning to the fundamental principles of business16:18 Always have a plan B19:22 Small wins add up23:32 Founders need to play defense25:58 Profits over hype

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss how you can get rockstar advisors for your startup. Discover the common mistakes people make when they are getting people to be their advisors and what are the best strategies for asking them to be your advisor. Don’t miss out and find out if your startup needs an advisor or do you just need an advice?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources:Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/beginJoin our Network of Top Founders Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan RutanWhat to Listen For00:00 Intro01:53 What is NOT an advisor03:32 Advisors don’t want to spend a lot of time with you04:59 The common mistakes people do when recruiting advisors07:06 Don’t sell your soul for a moment in time08:01 Just be willing to ask11:41 Other people don’t know your “rockstars”14:25 Possible reasons why they are advising you17:46 How to ask someone to be your advisor?24:51 The limitations to an advisor’s knowledge29:31 Advisors beyond social validation32:58 Getting an advisor is a give and get 39:31 What’s holding you back to ask?

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss whether you should get a steady paycheck or start your own startup. Choosing between a regular job and starting your own business is a big decision many face. Working a steady job offers security and a predictable income, while launching a startup is all about taking risks and creating something from scratch. Join them as they unpack the realities behind these choices, providing insights that could reshape your career perspective.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources:Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/beginJoin our Network of Top Founders Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan RutanWhat to Listen For00:00 Intro00:23 Should you get a job or start a business?03:43 Age matters13:15 Soul vs. Salary20:03 How much downside can you take?22:11 Realistic probabilities of success28:10 Three types of career choices33:45 Risk, goals, and financial realities

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss the idea of managing chaos as a founder. Keeping a startup on track is like steering a ship through rough waters. Founders must stay calm and focused amid the chaos, juggling priorities and tackling problems as they arise. It's about staying cool under pressure, sorting out what matters most, and finding opportunities in the midst of the storm. Ultimately, a founder's ability to handle the daily whirlwind defines their success in the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:56 How do you manage the chaos of being a founder? 01:43 The first step to managing chaos is accepting chaos 02:10 The problems will be endless 05:06 Choose which problem to focus on 10:46 Isolate the chaos into small, solvable problems 13:53 The cost of lost focus in leadership 15:25 Prioritization and avoiding myopic solutions 21:11 Stack ranking of problems 23:06 Balancing individual tasks with collective objectives 25:12 Time as a problem-solving tool 34:24 Create focus in chaos

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss the idea of having a co-founder. A co-founder can offer numerous benefits for a business. It allows for shared responsibilities, diverse skill sets, and a support system during challenging times. However, finding the right co-founder whose values align with yours and who complements your strengths and weaknesses is crucial for a successful partnership. In this episode, let’s find out how you can choose the right co-founder for your startup and know if you really do need one.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan RutanWhat to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:36 Is it a good idea to get a co-founder? 02:48 Different categories to consider when picking a co-founder 05:01 ‘Who’s willing to do this?’ 07:30 The criteria that founders set for choosing their co-founder 09:29 When you DON’T need a co-founder 10:32 It’s an expensive bet 11:40 Try before you buy 16:50 Everybody wants the upside, nobody wants the downside 21:23 Find someone committed and willing to outwork you 27:03 Are your co-founders valuable? 29:27 Getting involved with someone in the long term is hard

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss the concept of scaling without adding or hiring more people. Making a significant impact doesn't always mean having a large team. You can achieve remarkable results with a compact and efficient group. Instead of expanding your team, you can focus on optimizing processes and leveraging innovative tools. Let's delve into the strategies that empower a small team to make a substantial difference, proving that size isn't the only measure of success.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:23 Small Team, Big Dreams 08:03 Efficiency vs. Headcount 12:03 Size Creates Dysfunction 13:59 The Ripple Effects of Company Growth 15:27 The Myth of the 70% Employee 18:22 Scaling without Headcount 20:58 Cutting Back Workload Instead of Adding People 25:01 Building Impactful Products with Minimal Staff

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss about the grind and guilt dilemma of founders. Founders often struggle with the never-ending hard work of growing their business, driven by their passion and ambition. This can create a persistent feeling of guilt as they try to juggle work demands with their personal life and health. So how can you achieve a harmonious equilibrium that allows you to pursue your entrepreneurial dreams while also nurturing your mental and physical health and maintaining meaningful relationships?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan RutanWhat to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:08 Guilt out of fear 04:31 The fear of failing as a founder 08:57 Pride, guilt, and the struggle with asking for help 10:15 Entrepreneurship as a way out 13:29 Fear as a superpower 16:18 When guilt compounds… 18:31 The nobility in hard work 20:22 When work defines comfort 22:39 More money, more problems 25:08 Passion and pressure 28:45 Fear and greed in later life 31:06 Escaping the grip of work addiction 36:58 Self-imposed workaholism

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss whether founders are driven by fear or greed. In the world of startups, there's a question that keeps coming up: what drives founders? Is it the fear of failure, or is it the pursuit of wealth and success, often labeled as greed? In this episode, we delve into the motivations behind entrepreneurs' unique journeys. We explore the delicate balance between these two forces, seeking to uncover what truly fuels the hearts of founders as they navigate their daily challenges.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:37 Are founders really greedy? 05:00 Fear as motivation 10:54 Getting paid as a founder 16:19 A founder's fear of being called “greedy” 20:00 Recognizing founder’s achievements 22:26 Fear and greed cycle

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss how you as a founder will know if you’re building the right or wrong product. Have you ever had an idea, but you're just not sure if it's good? It's something that many entrepreneurs can relate to - that anxious feeling of whether what you think would be a successful product could actually just be a waste of your time. So how do you actually know if you’re building the right product?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:08 How do you know if you’re building the right product? 03:07 Ask your customers first 05:32 Don’t fall in love with your product idea 08:07 Start with solving a problem 09:38 Lessons from the Fundable experience 16:52 The MVP approach to startup ideas 20:49 Learning from past mistakes 27:45 When great products fail to shine 32:35 Knowing when to drop a product idea

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss how startups are actually bought and sold. The process of buying and selling startups can be tricky. It's easy to get confused about how much a startup is really worth, and people sometimes have high hopes that don't match reality. When it comes to getting paid, the way deals are set up can be complicated, with some money coming right away and the rest later, often based on certain goals. To succeed in this startup world, it's important to understand these details and be realistic about what to expect.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:26 How are startups bought and sold? 02:32 Know and understand how the process works 07:45 Inbound calls in business sales 11:35 What's your business really worth? 16:35 Startup valuation 21:54 The reality of getting paid when selling your business

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss when to quit or let go of your startup. If your startup has struggled for an extended period without meaningful progress, causing financial strain, and lacks market validation, it might be time to consider quitting. Additionally, if the startup is taking a toll on your physical and emotional well-being, negatively impacting relationships, or if you've lost passion for the project, quitting could be a wise decision. Remember, quitting isn't always a failure; sometimes, it's a strategic move toward a brighter entrepreneurial future.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:09 Do you want to quit? 03:41 Would you stay in your startup if it were a job? 06:48 When quitting is the smart choice 09:08 What is quitting? 14:01 Deciding when to quit a startup 19:29 Staying for fear of failure 26:29 When to let go 

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss the challenge of maintaining a long-term vision in the fast-paced world of startups. It's easy to get sidetracked by short-term goals and immediate survival mode. But here's the deal: Founders need to find that sweet spot between the urgent stuff and the big-picture dream. Regularly reminding themselves why they started this journey and resisting the temptation of trendy distractions can help them stay on track. It's not about chasing quick wins; it's about building something that stands the test of time.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:08 When startups get stuck in survival mode 02:20 Distractions from a long-term vision 07:43 Confusing urgency from short-term decision-making 14:06 “It takes time to build a good business…” 16:38 Stop burning yourselves out over short-term expectations 19:52 Ensuring your best work without regret 24:42 Balancing speed and quality 26:36 Building something meaningful over a decade

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss if you can replace yourself as a founder. Founders often struggle to step aside in a company because their deep commitment and personal connection to the company's mission are hard to duplicate. Their passion, values, and individual perspective are tough to find in an outsider, potentially causing a mismatch in goals and values. Moreover, it's emotionally challenging for founders to entrust someone else with their vision.In a nutshell, founders can't easily replace themselves because their unique identity and the company's culture are closely linked, making it hard to find someone who truly embodies their spirit.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:35 Can we replace the founder? 03:02 Why changing the founder wouldn’t work 06:06 “You can’t hire and train passion…” 14:10 Know who you’re hiring 19:14 Wanting to sabotage the new person 22:08 Incentives in hiring 26:31 You can’t replace yourself

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss who founders are really competing against. Founders are often never satisfied because they constantly set new, self-imposed benchmarks and goals. They compete against a changing definition of success, driven by their ego and perceptions of their peers. As they reach one milestone, they quickly construct new challenges, making it challenging to ever achieve lasting contentment in their entrepreneurial journey. Finding a balance between ambition and recognizing their achievements can lead to greater satisfaction and a healthier perspective on success.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:24 A founder's rollercoaster of satisfaction 03:51 Why successful founders are never satisfied 05:45 Peer competition 10:37 The problem with comparison 15:25 Competing for our own safety 20:49 “We create a much more unsafe environment…” 22:36 Competitors ability to affect your safety 24:10 Endless chase of success 28:34 Ego vs. Contentment 33:38 Why we can’t find the finish line

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss the topic that investors are not on the founder’s side of the table. In the startup world, it's important to recognize that investors and founders don't always see eye to eye. Investors are primarily looking to make money, which can sometimes clash with a founder's vision. Balancing these interests can be tricky. Founders need to stay true to their startup's vision while also considering what their investors want, fostering a productive relationship. Good communication and finding common ground are key to ensuring the startup's success in the long run.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:08 Investors are only on the same side when everything is good 04:07 This is your only bet, not the investor’s 07:21 Guarantee of a paycheck 10:15 Why does it matter to be on the same side? 15:52 When investors believe you’re on the same side of the table… 17:14 Investors have the luxury of saying no 25:10 What’s valuable to you might be different from the investors

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss planning for the bad times and good times in your startup company. It's not all sunshine during the good times, and not all doom and gloom during the bad times. It's about striking that perfect balance in your startup's strategy. The secret to achieving longevity in the ever-shifting landscape of entrepreneurship? Continuous adaptation, vigilant monitoring of key performance indicators, and the ability to pivot when necessary, all while staying true to your business's core mission and values.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:59 Good and bad times aren’t just a single moment in time 04:31 Are founders aware of these oscillations? 05:45 “In good times, we plan for good times…” 10:04 What is longevity for startups? 19:04 Make decisions based on the likelihood of the outcome 21:03 Opportunities are planted during bad times 26:56 Plan for the hibernation

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss why a lower valuation exit can offer founders more advantageous financial outcomes than a higher valuation exit. This happens because of things like how much of the company's ownership each founder still has and what investors are expecting from their investments. As startups grow and get more funding, founders might end up owning less of the company. So even if an exit seems worth more on paper, the actual money each founder gets can be less due to having a smaller piece of the pie. Let’s delve into the maze of startup exits, exploring the delicate interplay between exit values, ownership, and the real-world implications.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:28 Navigating funding & exit strategies 05:59 Optionality  09:23 Outcomes can vary depending on the funding path chosen 13:46 Founder fatigue 17:53 What are preferences? 25:34 Protect your downside first

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss why you shouldn’t fear the AI revolution that’s coming. Founders shouldn't fear changes in technology because embracing advancements can bring various advantages. These changes often lead to improved efficiency, streamlined processes, and better decision-making. Adapting to technological shifts enables founders to stay competitive, innovate, and explore new opportunities, ultimately fostering growth and success.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:44 Technology is always changing 03:51 What happens when a revolution comes around? 07:23 Why are we afraid of this? 12:12 Become better tool operators 17:40 Is displacement a bad thing? 24:57 Not embracing the future can destroy you 28:26 Be on the right side of change 30:57 Change is scary 33:25 AI taking decisions for us 38:06 Are people lazy by nature? 42:24 The negative effects of technology

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss why you shouldn’t let investors become your customers. When you prioritize investor demands over customer needs in pursuit of additional funding, you risk losing touch with your market's true requirements. This could lead to developing products or services that don't align with customer expectations, potentially resulting in poor adoption and revenue generation. Over time, prioritizing investor preferences over customer feedback could erode customer trust and loyalty, negatively impacting your long-term business sustainability.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:12 Optimizing for what investors want 02:13 Two types of investor feedback 03:47 Being in the capital raising business 04:53 What happens when you pitch to investors vs. provide to customers 06:10 “You’re just as vulnerable at the beginning of fundraising as you are at the end of fundraising…” 07:44 The investors don’t matter to the business 09:10 Jumping on trend for the money 16:37 Investors have a different game that they’re playing 18:15 Investor Optics vs. Customer Value 22:11 Navigating investor expectations and customer demands

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss what happens when founders stay out of the game for too long. Startup founders can't afford lengthy breaks from the game because the skills and mindset crucial for entrepreneurship can weaken over time. Startups demand ongoing learning and adaptability due to their rapid evolution. But here's the burning question: Can you still come back strong after a break, ready to tackle the dynamic challenges of the startup world?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:17 When you’re not relevant anymore 03:58 The startup muscle 05:54 Challenges in re-entering the game 08:27 The difference between taking a rest and quasi-retiring 10:08 Too soon or too late? 12:51 Relationships and relevancy 15:17 You lose relevance, relationships, and your mind 18:37 Pitfalls of taking a break 22:51 Don’t stay out of the game too long

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss if your dreams as a founder is an illusion. The dream seems so valuable because it's something you don't have right now. But it's essential to play test your goals and ask yourself if you'd truly enjoy it once you achieve them. Sometimes, the journey and the process of pursuing a startup are more important than the final outcome, so it's crucial to think about whether the sacrifices are really worth it for your long-term happiness and sense of purpose.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 02:08 What if your startup dream is bullsh*t? 03:11 Investing in something uncertain 07:59 Did you test-drive it? 09:45 The cost of being wrong 19:33 Assessing risk in a startup 25:53 It’s valuable now because you don’t have it 27:48 Recalibrate your goals

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss the topic of building a “big business”. Scaling rapidly can lead to market dominance and attract investors, but it also involves higher resource demands and potential pitfalls. On the other hand, building a profitable and sustainable business may allow for steady growth, reduced risks, and long-term viability. By reevaluating goals and priorities, founders may discover the benefits of a steady and enduring approach that aligns with their vision and values. So what’s it going to be? Are you going to go big or go home? Or are you going to go steady and go long?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:24 You don’t need to make a “big business” 06:13 Who is this big enough business for? 09:51 Building a profitable business is much easier to achieve 13:01 Focus on your actual goal 15:35 The path to freedom 19:23 When people belittle more money 24:02 Think about sustainability instead 26:23 The probability to build a big business is insanely small 28:23 Dimes vs. Dollars businesses 31:46 The dangers of aiming too high 34:01 Goals and metrics when it comes to scaling a business 40:13 Problem-solving and resource efficiency in startups 43:02 Stop pleasing investors

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss how all problems are not the end of the world for founders. While running a startup can be challenging and bring various obstacles, not every problem leads to failure or signifies the end. Startup founders often encounter a range of difficulties, including financial setbacks, operational hurdles, or competition. However, with resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving skills, founders can navigate these challenges, learn from them, and continue to grow their businesses. It's important for founders to maintain a positive mindset, seek support from mentors and networks, and view problems as opportunities for growth and improvement.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:38 Not all problems are apocalyptic 03:12 Startup problem vs. True “end of the world” problem 11:33 Externalizing the problem normalizes it 12:34 Why categorize your problems by levels? 15:53 Don’t overprioritize one problem and ignore the others 16:53 Stop making everything a level 10 20:40 You will never run out of problems 27:30 Time will come problems won’t even faze you

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss why you should stop listening to investors. While investors can provide valuable insights and expertise, founders should exercise caution when relying too heavily on their advice. Investors often prioritize financial returns and short-term gains, whereas founders have a deep understanding of their vision and long-term goals. Over-reliance on investor advice may compromise the original vision and unique value proposition of the business, hindering its potential for growth and innovation. Founders should carefully evaluate and consider investor advice while staying true to their own vision and strategic direction.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 02:19 Investors are not fortune tellers 06:42 They just speculate everything 08:11 What one investor says doesn’t represent all the investors 09:13 Investing in a certain industry doesn’t make them an expert 10:31 Match their advice with their experience 12:45 If you want advice, go to experts 15:35 A well-intended advice can still derail you 16:27 Even if it’s a strong opinion, it doesn’t mean it’s right 21:20 Get a lot of feedback but consider the source 23:04 Checkbooks = writing checks, not giving advice 24:22 Investors can give bad assumptions, so don’t treat them like gospel 28:33 A positive feedback might actually mean “no” 30:09 Nobody can turn the wheel other than you

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss if you can actually build a startup in less than 40 hours a week. Building a successful startup typically requires a significant investment of time and effort. While it's theoretically possible to work on a startup for less than 40 hours a week, it may significantly impact the chances of success. Building a startup is not just one job; it involves planning, research, product development, marketing, and networking. By committing more hours initially, founders can accelerate the growth and development of their startup, potentially leading to a point where they can work fewer hours in the future. Ultimately, the time invested in the early stages can significantly influence the trajectory and potential success of a startup.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 02:16 Time is the only resource you got 05:05 It’s now survival mode 06:21 Why would you start this if you don’t want to put yourself in completely? 08:15 Focus all your energy on one thing 09:25 In a startup, 40 hours is not enough 10:27 You can work less in the future if you work more now 13:43 Time commitment to the business 15:52 When things need to get done, they need to be done 18:43 It depends on how many people will get affected 20:03 It just needs to take time in the beginning 25:07 For startups, everything is variable 27:22 Experience is not a formula for success

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss whether bootstrapped startups are less valuable than venture-funded startups. The value of a startup isn't only determined by its funding source. While venture-funded startups may have more money and support initially, bootstrapped startups can still be valuable and successful. Bootstrapping often leads to efficient operations, as founders have to focus on making money and becoming profitable without relying on outside investments. In the end, the value of a startup depends on things like its potential in the market, how much it's growing, how well its product fits the market, and the skills of its team, regardless of how it's funded.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 02:44 What do founders feel when they are not funded? 03:47 There are only a few companies that get venture funded 06:44 If you don’t raise VC, who cares? 08:52 What happens after you get the funding? 13:32 Getting funded = smaller options 17:39 Who are you creating value for? 22:32 Bootstrapping is okay  25:53 The optionality of bootstrapping 27:34 Creativity and resourcefulness from bootstrapping 28:49 Don’t let your startup be valuable to someone other than you 29:54 Bootstrapping a business that won’t generate profit right away 35:08 Patience is an incredible asset

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss why founders don’t like to ask for help. Founders sometimes hold back from asking for help because they worry about losing control, looking weak, burdening others, or feeling like they have to do everything themselves. However, it's actually really important for founders to push past these concerns and ask for help. Getting guidance and support from experienced folks can give them awesome insights, expertise, and connections that can speed up their growth and success. It lets founders tap into different perspectives, learn from other people's experiences, and access resources that can help them tackle challenges and make smarter choices.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 03:58 You could learn something if you just ask for help 06:32 Why founders find it hard to ask for help 08:57 When there’s literally no one else but you 10:32 Unique problem vs. a problem other founders experienced already 15:15 How do you know it’s good advice? 20:31 Asking for help is not a weakness 22:40 Difference between getting advice and experience feedback 24:43 When you’re “too busy” to ask for help 29:10 The advice should be timely 30:23 Ask someone who knows the topic for a long time

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss if founders can design their startups around their life. Should your life adjust to your startup or could you design your startup to fit your lifestyle? It's all about making intentional choices and taking small steps to align your business with your desired lifestyle. By carefully planning, testing things out, and being open to adjustments, you can create a startup that fits seamlessly into your personal life instead of consuming it. It's all about finding that sweet spot where work and life complement each other.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:26 Beyond binary thinking 02:08 What was your lifestyle 10 years ago? 05:46 Baby steps to improve your life 07:09 Starting a work-from-home setup 09:30 Remote work and personal health 11:22 The challenges and rewards of incremental changes in work and life 15:20 Stop seeking certainty 17:09 Make this your corporate goal and externalize it 22:20 Share your personal goals with your team 26:38 Take one step toward your goals 30:26 As founders, you can do anything

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss how founders can stay in the game longer. Most founders want the result faster without thinking about longevity and sustainability. In the fast-paced world of startups, thinking long-term is a total game-changer. It's like stepping back and getting the big picture, setting up a rock-solid foundation, and planning for sustainable growth. When founders shift their focus from quick wins to the long haul, they become masters at spotting obstacles, riding market waves, and making smart choices that match their ultimate vision. Thinking long-term not only toughens you up, but it also attracts investors and partners who are in it for the long run, boosting your chances of scoring lasting success in the crazy world of startups.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:09 Creating a startup that will last in the long run 04:06 Focusing on longevity 06:11 Make a bet 10:40 Hiring as a bad bet 14:32 Put survivability first 16:17 It’s like the same playbook 19:13 Try to make it past year 3 20:51 Think about longterm

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss the toll on everyone around a founder. This topic is close to every founder's heart: the ripple effect their journey has on everyone around them. Let’s deep dive into the nitty-gritty of how being a founder impacts family, friends, and relationships. Being a founder can take a toll on everyone around you in different ways. Your family might feel the strain of your demanding schedule and the ups and downs of the startup rollercoaster. Friends might sense a disconnect as your focus shifts. It's all about finding that delicate balance and keeping the lines of communication open, so you can navigate the challenges together and maintain those important relationships along the way.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:00 The toll on everyone around you 04:47 Why founders can’t empathize with the people around them? 06:42 Marriage  09:21 “This is not our spouse’s dream…” 14:26 Asking about the best thing that’s happened to each other’s day 17:46 What happens to the kids? 26:20 There’s no interest earned on happiness deferred 27:45 Friendships 30:05 The bank of friendship 33:24 Balancing success and relationships 37:19 It has a compounding effect

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss the problem with early praise and big hypes at the beginning of a startup, with no assurance of success. We've all seen the flashy headlines and big promises of new startups, but does the hype actually translate to success? Join us as we dive into why early praise can be a double-edged sword for any budding entrepreneur.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:57 Can the startup live up to the hype? 02:10 Getting scared of competitors because of the hype they’re getting 05:38 The start is not the finish 07:19 The hype cycle in tech industry 10:43 False positives in the funding round 14:09 Marketing and hiring hype 14:48 Sometimes the companies with no big announcements become successful 19:30 The hype of crypto and blockchain 22:23 Transformative is not equal to success 25:12 It takes a long time to make big changes 27:24 The problem with early praise

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss how being a founder is an integral part of your identity, and setbacks with one startup shouldn't make you doubt your ability to succeed in the role. So even if your current venture doesn't work out, you're likely to keep pursuing new startup opportunities because it's simply part of who you are. After all, being a founder isn't just a job – it's a deeply ingrained part of your DNA.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 02:24 You’re still a founder even if your startups end 03:11 Success is not a determining factor 05:59 Being a founder is not a job title 08:08 Founder DNA 12:06 What if and why not? 13:36 The founder mentality as employees 18:28 This feeling of failing won’t last forever 20:16 You will always be a founder

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan explore the history behind the invention of the 20-something-year-old founder phenomenon. With the changing landscape of technology and business, more and more young people are starting successful companies. The episode discusses the opportunities available to young people today, and how starting a business has evolved over the years. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:09 Being a young founder 09:23 An opportunity for young people 10:55 How to start a business before vs. now 20:02 There was no other people to talk to 25:59 When the youth started to take over 31:42 You can stand on the shoulders of giants 35:12 What else can a 20-something-year-old do?

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss the founder's ego and when is it too much. We all know that confidence is key when you're starting a business, but sometimes it can be hard to tell when that confidence has turned into full-on arrogance. This can hold you back from trying new things and making the best decisions for your company. So how do you avoid this trap? Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 02:39 Confidence vs. Arrogance 05:30 Question everything you think you know 06:31 Be comfortable with being wrong 10:32 It’s preventing you from trying new things 13:34 The “Everything is wrong except for me” mindset 15:35 When ego clouds your decision 17:06 Make every problem your fault 19:50 The blame game 23:34 Not accepting defeat 25:39 How to manage your ego 27:14 Ego is a massive liability 29:19 Permission to be wrong 30:23 Choose the people who will surround you 33:40 Psychological safety 36:27 Challenge your ego to grow

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss founder imposter syndrome. As a startup founder, it's common to feel like you don't have all the answers, especially in the early days. But even after years of experience, do you still struggle with feeling like a fraud or pretending to know more than you do? Imposter syndrome can be tough, whether you're a seasoned startup pro or just starting out. But with the right mindset and tools, you can learn to recognize and overcome those nagging self-doubts.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:33 When does imposter syndrome go away? 03:03 Moments where you don’t know what you’re doing 09:31 Jumping into variables 15:09 ‘Fake it till you make it’ mindset 17:21 The more you know, the more you don’t know 20:50 Dangers of comparison 25:27 Know what you need to know 26:26 Be around long enough 30:46 Nobody really masters it all

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss how long is a founder's lifetime. In a startup cycle as well as the founder’s lifetime, a lot of things could happen. You will get to try different things and experience different highlights in your career. Having more chances to try something different can be a great advantage for founders in their career journey. With each new venture and experience, founders gain valuable skills and knowledge that can help them succeed in their future endeavors. Additionally, trying new things can also lead to personal growth and self-discovery, which is important for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:24 Startup Lifecycle 03:19 A lot of things can happen 04:54 Distinctive lifetime 07:36 You have many more games to play 10:59 This might not be the highlight of your career yet 13:30 You have more chances to try something different 15:39 The next chapter can be a new chapter 17:32 Just say yes to everything

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss how founders often miss out on paying themselves and why it's essential to grab the chance when it happens. You know how some founders think, "I don't deserve this yet" or "I should put this money back into the business"? Rather than risking a missed chance, it's best to take advantage of the opportunity while it's available. You might not get this chance again, o seize the moment and take that money off the table now.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 02:27 The “I don’t deserve this yet” mindset 05:18 Slowly taking chips off the table 08:51 Think of it as your money  15:01 Take that shot right now 17:33 Belief in exponentially as a certainty 22:56 The probability of that greater future is low 26:18 You’re digging a hole for yourself 28:03 Take it and just give it back 29:08 How to think of losing when you’re in the process of winning 33:46 The opportunity might never happen again, so just grab it

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss founder guilt in the wake of a failed startup. While it's perfectly natural to feel disappointed when a startup fails, it's not cool to let guilt eat away at you. It's important to recognize that success in the startup world is never a guarantee and that failures are an inevitable part of the process. The key is to bounce back from setbacks and keep pushing forward, no matter how tough things get.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 02:22 The people you feel guilty to 04:50 Disappointment vs. guilt 06:52 Guilt brings out liability 08:07 Failures in startups  10:04 Why do we sentence ourselves to an imaginary prison of guilt 13:21 Learn how to handle failure 15:23 You have to keep going 17:19 Transfer the negative energy to a positive one 21:37 Have a north star 22:53 This is not your only chance

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss transparency in startup companies. Being honest with your customers and clients will help you attract more people to your company, but excessive sharing of information and transparency could also create some problems. In today’s episode, we’ll find out: how much transparency is too much and do you really need to be transparent about everything?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 02:22 We come from environments that lack transparency 03:13 Every news is good news 04:46 Why do we embrace transparency? 05:59 When things fail, transparency suddenly doesn’t matter 09:49 The difference between transparency and honesty 16:15 Transparency is good when you’re certain of the outcome 20:29 The consequences of transparency 25:01 It’s the founder’s job to make it work

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss whether your startup really needs full time employees. One of the common mistakes made by startup companies is that they hire a bunch of people full time for a job that can be done by one or they hire one person and make them do multiple things. In this episode, let’s really find out what is full time employment and how do you really make the most out of it?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 03:08 History on paying full time and per hour 04:55 Raising funds to pay for a team 07:02 What is full time employment? 09:20 Buying someone’s hours 12:52 Hiring people you don’t need 15:35 Full time contribution 19:01 The high performing people 22:30 Hiring one person for multiple jobs  26:53 Full time will be a thing of the past

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss getting your first success and how you can treat it as if it’s your last. You’re there, you finally made it – so you think you can replicate that success? The probability of remaking that success is probably low and you can’t base your future success on something that you’ve done before, so what can you do to change this mindset?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:43 What if this is your last success? 05:16 Future success is not equal to past success 07:05 Your mindset probably needs to change 09:06 What would you tell your younger self? 12:35 Mentality of older founders 14:49 Bet of future success 17:07 Compounding probabilities 20:22 Stay in certainty 23:31 How much would be a lot? 26:35 Treat this as if it’s your last

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss about the deaths of your startup and how many times do you come back from the grave? Starting a business is actually just a series of recovering from deaths, and that’s okay – but when does it actually start getting better and when would be the time where you realize that you should stop?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:31 It’s a series of recovering from deaths 04:24 We assume it’s supposed to work 05:27 Momentum to move forward 06:23 The walking dead 08:36 Hearing “no’s” 13:16 You’ll never know if this is the end  15:15 Are you doing this because you’re afraid of failure? 17:57 You have more downside than upside 21:57 Success is not in short increments 23:25 The world is in defense mode right now 26:12 Try to not die  30:04 Signals for when to stay or leave 32:24 How do you know if you actually died 37:34 This is just how business works 42:54 Is this a hurdle or a real wall? 46:02 Running out of cash and having to lay off staff 50:00 Everything is impossible until somebody does it

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss how you should share your wealth with family members? Are you the type of person who’s always one call away to your family or friends whenever they need money? They always say it’s going to be a “loan” but have they already paid you back? FInd out in today’s episode how you can actually build a financial relationship with your family!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 02:50 We want to share our success 06:40 You don’t owe anyone anything 09:46 It never ends 16:12 People can get manipulative when they need something 18:15 Suddenly you’re an A-hole 20:40 It’s never a loan 30:00 “I don’t want to have a financial relationship with you…” 33:18 It’s a personal decision

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss why some founders tend to go on the “fake growth” route. Some Startup companies may look like they are soaring and scaling real fast but in reality, these Startups are spending more than they are getting back from revenue. So how can you identify if you, as a founder, are going the real growth route or the fake growth route?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 02:20 Fake Growth vs. Revenue 05:20 Some people are raising the same money as you, but in a different story 06:54 Why momentum is attractive to investors? 08:18 Staffing  11:45 If your fake growth becomes successful, you’re a hero 17:48 When everything was going the right direction until it wasn’t 19:24 It’s like a Ponzi scheme 24:09 The employee and the stockholders 27:50 Founders who experienced this shows contrition

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss the myths behind founder’s success stories. Whenever we hear a story of somebody else’s win most likely we find it inspiring, right? And after hearing this zero to hero story we then decide that we want to be like them someday. But are you sure about that? And are you really willing to go through the pain that they had to live through just to be where they are now?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 04:00 The myths of success stories 08:27 It’s not a fun story if you were to live it 10:40 “We didn’t see it coming, it just happened!” 12:09 You don’t know where you are in the arc 13:50 Is your story really contiguous? 15:01 The misses gets ignored just because it became a success 17:11 Stop comparing 19:26 We don’t acknowledge the pain 23:49 You can’t recreate these stories 25:22 Understand the pain, not just the success

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss the importance of teaching entrepreneurship to middle school students. There are tons of benefits when you teach young children about entrepreneurship. Kids are naturally curious and creative, and you can nurture these skills through entrepreneurship. Not only do you raise children with better critical thinking skills, but you’ll also raise problem solvers. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:31 Teaching entrepreneurship in middle school 06:43 Think more like a child 10:20 Ask why and what if 14:01 Kids are taught to view failure as failure 16:01 Building a pitch deck 18:22 Kids running their own meetings with less barriers 22:25 Ownership of their product and idea 26:02 If no one wants to join your idea, do it alone

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss how much sacrifice as a founder is too much? How much are you willing to give up in your life just to become a successful founder? You might think now that the return on investment of all the time you spent working instead of doing the things you will never get back will be worth it in the long run but think again – are you willing to pay that price?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:32 Why are we scared to talk about the downsides? 06:37 Don’t sacrifice the moments that you’ll never get back 08:10 The first casualty is your health 10:53 Young founders don’t even know how the adult life looked like 13:31 How much is too much? 15:23 It will cost you a lot 19:57 Everytime you sacrifice something, you don’t get them back 21:55 Limit switch 24:18 Financial sacrifice

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss how founders can talk with the board about their compensation. If you’re a founder and your company is earning a lot of money but you can’t even touch the profit – then maybe it’s time to have that conversation with the board. But how can you even do this without being turned down?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 02:47 How to have this conversation? 04:50 Situations when you need to change the deal 08:54 Reset expectations 10:29 Make it a binary decision 12:28 When there’s still a glimmer of hope 15:07 The business will become what it needs to be 17:04 When you can’t touch your profit 19:45 Figure out where you’re going to take your binary decision to 23:30 The levers that we need to pull 29:43 The board meeting should be nothing but a formality

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss why founders should stop thinking that failure is forever. Sometimes, when we experience hard times in our lives, we feel like this will never get better again – but that’s not true. Your whole life is a book with different chapters and each has its own challenges and you will get over them. Once you finish a bad chapter, just quickly get started on to the next one, because remember, failure is just one chapter in your life.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:38 We keep projecting bad things into the future 02:27 Things can only fail at a finite number of times 04:05 Lay-offs 05:50 This pain won’t last forever 07:54 It’s just one chapter 11:22 You will barely even remember it 13:09 Start the next chapter as fast as possible 16:16 A startup is a chapter but our life is the book 17:40 Don’t get lost in the feeling 20:01 Nobody will remember it 21:32 There’s lot and lot of chapters

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss what it would be like if you want to work forever. For founders, a lot of us might wonder if this would be something you’d like to do for a long time. But here’s a thought – is your Startup a work you love doing or does it feel like a work that you feel forced to do every day? If your answer to the last question is yes, then you might have to rethink if you’re willing to do it forever or find something that you would want to do for the rest of your life.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:51 How long should you be working? 03:17 Founders can create their destiny 05:26 You need a break 08:54 Loving what you do 11:09 Alignment of what you love to do and what you actually do 12:58 Chip off things you don't want to do 14:30 Figure out what you want to do forever 15:55 Stepping back 19:12 The longer you do something, the higher of knowledge and experience you get 23:12 You have more years to grow 25:03 The older ones are still relevant 26:58 How do you stay relevant 31:34 This a perpetual journey

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss if founders should worry about quiet quitting. This may sound like a new term to a lot of founders BUT this has been around for many ages now and we should be alarmed about it. So how can you see if your team is actually checked in or out of work?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:17 When did this start? 01:50 What is quiet quitting? 02:55 How working from home changed how we operate 04:14 This is nothing new 05:56 Internet in an office is a distraction 10:56 How to know if your team is checked in or checked out 13:40 Good players never shut up 17:23 There’s a pattern of behavior 19:50 Micro KPIs 22:41 Everything is measurable

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss what will happen to the founder when the Startup company goes down. When a company starts to wind down, you might be shocked how everything maps back to the founder, from office leases to subscriptions, and now all of a sudden these company liabilities become your personal liabilities. How can you avoid this from happening to you?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 02:50 You’re stuck with the liabilities 08:27 Who pays the wind-down entity? 10:58 Filing for personal bankruptcy 14:14 Everything maps back to you 16:48 Adding more liabilities 19:37 Creditors will follow you  21:18 Can you sign under the company’s name? 23:59 How safe are you inside the corporate veil? 28:52 Buying the good stuff only  32:15 Typical timeframe for winding down a company 33:42 The personal liability is the scariest part 36:32 Be mindful of what you sign and don’t keep adding liabilities 38:09 Treat those liabilities as your own 40:05 You can renegotiate 41:36 No long term agreements

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss when a founder’s focus starts to shift from managing externally to managing internally. When a company grows, there’s a huge possibility that as a founder your focus might change from managing customers and shipping products to hiring staff and doing reports – which could lead to a stall in your skills and growth as a founder. So as you motivate your people, keep motivating yourself as well!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:24 From leading externally to managing internally 02:39 Offense vs. defense 04:35 When focus shift internally 07:00 Staying safe in a growing company 08:35 Measurement of performance is important 11:24 Being okay with not focusing externally 14:00 Leaders providing incentives 16:39 How to avoid having unmotivated staff 18:50 Leadership vs. management

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss if founders deserved their wins and successes or did they just get lucky? Sometimes, founders feel guilty of their own success to the point that they don’t want to reward themselves and enjoy their hard-earned money. Most of the time, these founders hear people say “You’re just lucky!” disregarding the years and years of their hard work. But always remember that for you every win you earned and deserved your wins. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 02:14 Good luck vs. good fortune 08:16 The process doesn’t really feel lucky 09:48 You should share your luck 12:11 Guilt investments 16:50 Enjoy your money 20:36 No one will share in your losses

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss what happens to founders during the tough times. When things are going well, when you just got funded, and when you’re finally getting that high revenue, everybody loves you. But when things go south, no one is around. Sure, you feel emotionally betrayed at this point because you trusted them right? But is there a way you can avoid this in the beginning?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 02:51 No one will love you during the bad times 03:59 Raising capital is like the first date 05:43 Creating more liabilities 07:25 You haven’t proven anything yet 09:45 People will surround you because you have money 13:49 Staffing up is your most ignorant time 22:44 Feeling emotionally betrayed 23:35 Fake metrics & early projections 27:11 We get fooled during the good times 29:32 Nobody wants to lead when things get tough 30:51 Your team’s values get measured during bad times 34:45 The character of a founder

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss what founders are entitled to when their business takes off. There is danger in expecting too much from our Startup, when we think we should get additional funding because the business is growing, when we think that business growth will merit us more opportunities. Reality check: things don't work this way. Things take time to grow and every growth is exponentially different. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:20 You’re entitled to nothing 02:29 From being optimistic to being hubris 06:19 Why did I not get funded? 08:07 The path outside of funding 09:33 Success doesn’t happen quickly 12:25 The short-term mentality 14:45 Providing value first 16:19 Create realistic expectations 18:40 Enabling or accelerative? 21:13 Startup exit 23:46 What are you & not entitled to? 26:28 We’re conditioned to getting a reward after work 27:34 Maintain an appropriate level of optimism 29:53 Believe in yourself but have humility 34:17 Startups are built on beliefs and blind optimism 37:20 We use other founders as a baseline 40:26 Do I need additional funding? 44:53 We’re too focused on crossing the finish line

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss whether you need to raise a huge capital in order to have a successful Startup. How much money do you actually need to scale your business? Do you need to raise money quickly in order to scale up quickly? The thing is, having lots of capital does not mean success right away. There are some cases where Startups raised a lot of money in the beginning but ended up getting bankrupt. You see, it’s not all about having a lot of financial resources. You gotta have skills, connection, and the right amount of luck too!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 02:56 The best companies raised capital 07:32 Where does scaling quickly come from? 10:40 Lots of capital is not equal to sure success 15:32 You can’t create artificial growth 18:15 Betting someone else’s money 20:58 The walking dead of the funded 28:06 Seeing things from the bootstrap side to the funded side

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss how founders sometimes think that they’ve reached that billion dollar moment in their Startup and then end up being disappointed by the result. Now, the billion dollar question is - how many shots do we actually have? The thing is, we really won’t know when that moment happens so we just have to keep going and continue trying, gathering information as we move forward, because if we can only be right once, at least we are fully equipped once we get to that point. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:08 That one hockey stick moment 01:40 When it doesn’t change the way you expected it to happen 03:36 How many shots do you have? 07:56 Every shot comes with information 09:42 You’ll never see that moment coming 12:36 Just stay and keep trying 14:32 You have a decade 17:39 What if you're only right once? 22:16 It doesn’t have to be a mega hit

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss why it’s important to teach kids about entrepreneurship. You know what they say - better to start them young. Teaching about how to become a founder to kids as young as 10 years old will be an eye-opening experience. At this age, kids still have that pure mindset where they think they can do anything, and it’s important to nurture that. Planting the seed early on will bear fruit that will also be able to teach the future generations.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:29 What if we teach kids to be founders? 02:20 10 year olds are like a relatively complete processor 04:17 Kids have a business idea 05:36 They don’t know they can’t do it yet 07:59 Explore your interests 11:51 There’s a hundred different path 16:29 Opening the pandora’s box of entrepreneurship 18:28 We have one shot in life 21:05 Agency and ownership 24:04 Early experience is important 26:23 Planting the seed on the next generation

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss how founders can survive a failed Startup. For some founders, when they experience failure, they immediately think that it’s the end, that it’s a complete failure. But one thing's for sure though – we will all get over it. Failure has always been a part of the process and it will teach us valuable lessons along the way. And it also gives us the most important ammunition: a chance to start again.  Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:28 What happens to the founder after a startup fails? 03:00 No one cares your startup failed 05:05 Everyone is going through the same thing 06:06 And then what? 09:53 You won’t even remember it 13:22 You can just try again 14:56 Losses are momentary 16:59 Your failures can be anecdotes to teach people 18:17 You get a clean slate 21:39 This is not your only chance 23:09 You’re not starting from zero

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss the problem of comparing yourself with other founders. Sometimes, we look at the success of others and immediately think we’re falling behind. We always compare ourselves to others without even realizing that we all had a different head start and were influenced by varied outside factors. Remember, success is a process, and we go through it in different phases. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:20 How to level up 02:51 Stop comparing yourself with other founders 05:43 The milestones doesn’t end 08:24 We all grow differently 11:20 It might look similar – but it’s totally different 12:47 Sometimes the right decision is not the right direction 14:31 Comparison kills progress 17:30 Even the most successful people still fails 21:04 Stay around for a long time 23:41 You’re only entitled to your own outcome 25:06 All accomplishments are fleeting 28:16 The benchmark paradigm shift 30:33 Focusing on the money 33:58 Comparing your startup with another startup with the same services

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss if startup CEOs can really be considered as CEOs. The CEO title bears a lot of responsibility – it’s a nice title to have alongside your name but the question is, are you qualified to have it? It’s easy to get the title, in fact, anyone can become one but do you have the right qualifications and enough experience to be called a CEO?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 02:16 Just because you have the title, it doesn’t mean you’re qualified 06:12 CEOs need to manage people 09:01 CEOs have experience 13:27 Start-up CEOs can’t be corporate CEOs and vice versa 18:42 There are different types of growth 20:27 Your focus will change when you reach 80 people inflection point 23:34 The CEO job can get dreadful 25:38 The problem with hiring overqualified people than the CEO 27:16 Don’t let other people replace your CEO role entirely 30:00 Anyone can get the title, but you have to earn the job

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss how founders should not feel like they are running out of time – because they’re not. Most young entrepreneurs feel that they should rush things just because others seem to be doing well in life already and they’re feeling left behind. Everyone has their own timeframes and maybe this year is just not your year, and that’s okay, because you still have a lot of time left in your career. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:07 You have so much time in your career 03:12 Be reasonable about given timeframes 05:01 Look at the long view 07:26 The most powerful companies were built over decades 09:01 Don’t allow external opinions to tell you where you should be now 10:48 What you can actually accomplish 12:44 This might not be your decade yet 13:59 Some resources will not be available now but will be in the future 17:02 You have to pace yourself 22:11 Build your pyramid

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss the importance for founders to identify problems early on and why they should do something about it. Survival is the strategy in Startups so founders should be aware of the early signs of problems  so that they can find solutions to last longer in this game. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:24 Living to fight another day 02:41 Lying with the full intention of making it true 04:29 Survival is the strategy 08:36 Founders should realize the situation first 12:44 Changes can make stay in the game longer 14:39 Down round 19:27 Invest in the reality of a business 22:06 Double up on your winners, and cut pay on your losers 24:24 Doing nothing is death

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss how being a parent made them better founders, and vice versa. There are things that we won’t understand until we experience them ourselves, and in a Startup, there are similar things that we can compare when it comes to leading and being a parent. Once you start teaching your kids good values you can apply those to your company, because as they say, “being a founder is like being a parent, you always stay involved.”Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:23 Does being a parent make you a better founder? 04:50 Teaching your kids to question everything  10:18 Leading with humility 11:36 The answers can change when we ask questions 14:03 Start with what makes you happy 20:08 Just because you have talent, you don’t have to do it 24:27 Give your kids permission to do something else 25:26 Having empathy 29:11 Stay curious

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss one of the most common problems with new businesses - they are afraid to do the wrong thing. In Startup you can’t always be right and have a smooth sailing path in the beginning, you will always have to be wrong and do the wrong things first before knowing what is right. Normalizing a culture of admitting and allowing mistakes will help companies know how they can perform better in the future.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 02:01 Don’t get hung up on a business idea 06:03 It’s alright to admit that you have no idea 07:49 Getting wrong advice from the wrong people 09:02 Push yourself harder to become wrong 11:23 You have to be wrong first to know what right actually looks like 12:29 Stop hiring the wrong people 16:00 People can change because of variable reasons 18:51 Hiring someone according to your own variable 23:39 How to get marketing right? 25:53 Learn to test to be less wrong 27:16 Allow people to fail and be wrong 28:59 There is a difference between being wrong and being negligent 29:55 Humility is the key to good leadership

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss why managers and founders need to pay more attention to small details. Sometimes companies have employees who suddenly start performing poorly. What could be the reason? Whenever there are small problems, there must be a root cause of why it’s happening, so it’s up to the founders to identify what’s causing it. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 03:13 Sometimes there is a bigger problem behind any small issue 04:27 When things look off, it’s because it’s off 07:29 People don’t make excuses when they’re on their game 10:11 Pay attention to the details 18:36 Everyone is not going to be a top performer 19:19 The organization will slowly regress to its slowest mover 23:25 Ask the question, “what do you want to get done?” 25:28 Opening the conversation with “how can I help?”

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss some of the advice that they would tell their younger founder selves. If you could go back in time, what would you tell your past self? Now that you’re wiser and more experienced, there are many things that you wished you would’ve done differently, but those mistakes and lessons that you had along the way is what also made you become the person you are today. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:39 Don’t feel rushed and have more patience 05:07 You can do a lot of transformative things in just a few years 07:02 It’s okay to fail 07:58 Cultivating relationships 10:14 Find people who wants you to become a better person 12:00 The “give & get” in relationships 14:10 How relationships ends is how you get remembered 15:56 Just be kind to yourself 16:54 You have the ability to say no 20:14 Learn how to zoom in and out in life 22:22 It’s okay to let go of toxic relationships 24:52 Will your younger self follow this advice? 29:19 The big moments will be a series of big moments 31:29 Success is not final, failure is not fail, it’s the courage to continue that counts 34:37 Focus more on acting like the person you want to be vs. the person others want you to be 38:53 Getting older gives us all the more perspective to offer to others 42:34 Do it your own way 46:26 The most valuable part of the process is learning  49:53 Be in the room 54:09 You don’t have to figure out everything on your own

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss the importance of accountability in a company. A founder should be able to know how to instill accountability in their employees. The two main components to get accountability are ownership and consequences - having these things can make a huge difference in a company’s overall success.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:09 Nobody else wants to be accountable 02:01 Founders always have the higher stakes 04:36 The challenge founders face is to get everyone accountable 06:53 Consequences affect accountability 09:31 Not being accountable does not mean safety 11:25 What happens to a company with no accountability 14:45 Two components to get accountability 18:18 Owning the outcome  19:46 Effects of reward and recognition 23:28 Visibility in a company 26:15 Changing up plans where everyone can adjust 28:55 When founders don’t understand the importance of their accountability 31:05 Excuses are the most powerful solvent that dissolves accountability

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss what makes a good manager. What does it take to become a good manager? Is it a manager that consistently hits the targets and can keep up with the demands of the business? It is someone who showcases good leadership skills and the right mindset? The truth is, one becomes a good manager when they can push the entire team to transform themselves and become exponentially better at what they do. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:41 Most of us hadn’t led a team of managers 03:14 Are you a babysitter 07:03 This is what a good manager does 12:39 Growth versus stability 16:14 Managers should push teammates to transform themselves 19:34 Patience and tolerance 23:33 We want somebody that can make the team 10X better 29:10 How are you making the team exponentially better?

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss why health is an important asset for founders. Sacrifices are often necessary for every business - less time with family, skipping meals, not taking breaks, constantly working overtime and not getting paid enough, etc. In the early stage of the business, these types of sacrifices are ‘deemed’ essential and expected. Years later, stress and anxiety will eat you up and you’ll probably be dealing with a failing body. Yes, sacrifices are necessary but not in exchange for your health.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:16 When do we stop destroying ourselves for our Startup? 07:52 Wearing yourself out without measurable return 16:40 When we feel like we have to make these sacrifices 22:45 Top performers take their health seriously

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the never ending anxiety we all have. One of the things that makes every founder feel on the edge most of the time is getting anxious over everything, this sense of urgency to get one thing done after another right away. What we don’t realize is instead of rushing through things, sometimes it can be beneficial to our mental health if we just let things take its course. And if we shift our focus on solving the problem and not get anxious about it.  Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:20 When does anxiety go away? 07:25 It started with a lot of anxiety, created more, and then just stayed 19:19 Fleeting moments without feeling anxious 24:54 Instead of saying, “I feel anxious about this problem…” 29:52 Sometimes, you don’t need to take action

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about when founders actually get paid? In the Startups community, many founders expect immediate returns and instant success. This is because a lot of founders have shown potential and managed to grow their business exponentially in such a short period of time. New founders expect the same outcome to happen to them. The truth is, outside of the community, it takes several years, decades even, to reach significant growth in returns. Not everyone can get rich overnight.   Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:09 When do founders actually get paid? 05:28 The expectation of a linear path 12:53 Startups.com just celebrated its 10th year anniversary 13:49 We expect success in 18 months 18:45 Why do founders get paid last?

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about overthinking. When you start to focus your attention on something that has not happened yet and it starts to affect your performance, decision-making, and growth, you end up getting anxious. And this growing anxiety will hinder what you are truly capable of achieving. So, stop worrying about the things that didn’t happen and start planning based on what’s happening now. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:41 We spend so much time thinking about what might go wrong 04:41 Investors do care for us in some ways 08:26 One failure won’t destroy you for life 14:45 Customers only care about what you’re doing 17:00 Focus on product quality instead of the competition 21:45 Anxiety in the workplace 

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about people losing their jobs. We’ve been talking about it and now it’s happening. People are losing their jobs fast and they are left with little to no option in these trying times. As a founder, what can you do to help? Are you supposed to do something somehow? People are losing their safety of a steady stream of income and the last thing they want to bring with them when they leave is uncertainty and heavy competition. If you still have the means, make it so that the transition is made easier for them. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:29 It’s a hard time for employees  03:58 Our ego is attached to this sense of ownership 09:14 People always remember what they felt during a transaction 13:19 How to properly handle demoting/letting go of people 23:40 A founder’s ego and safety is being threatened also  29:10 Moving employees from full time to part time 37:29 Should you hire more employees now? 41:10 Taking advantage of talents being let go 43:14 Deferred or partially deferred payment 

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about putting a freeze on your resources when returns take a downturn. When is it necessary to let go of some employees? When is it an urgent matter to get more funding? Can you possibly get more funding when the Startup isn’t hitting the target? Well, you can definitely weather the storm when you understand that a downturn is tough but it’s a good phase to start cleaning up unnecessary ties and expenditures.   Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:24 Startup market crash 06:47 The reason investing got so crazy 14:59 We raise money to get to milestone 17:35 When you start seeing lay-offs 20:33 We have to switch to defense 

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about where founders should put their focus on. Growth or profit? Can you focus on both? The true measure of a founding team is the success of every bet made and the ability to bounce back from the negative consequences of these bets. You can focus on returns and not see much growth or grow exponentially and invest in hiring more people. Either way, it’s always about achieving your ultimate goal.   Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:09 Why profit should always be the motive 05:54 You can’t simply mimic successful Startups 12:39 Give yourself enough time to learn everything about the business 21:15 Growth can also be very distracting 26:12 They all look like great when they’re just ideas

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the cost of raising a capital. Yes, additional funding is a good sign of progress, it’s a sign that the company has potential to grow because people invested money in it. Yes, it is a milestone most founders want to achieve. The downside, however, is that you are no longer alone when making decisions. You are no longer the owner. You become another ‘employee’. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:53 Challenging the common narrative of raising funds 03:32 What are you giving up when you raise funding? 08:57 When the founder doesn’t feel comfortable 13:02 Investors will defend their money first above anything else 17:10 It’s not our company anymore 23:09 The only positive side of raising capital

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about what it’s like for a Startup to stall. We are all so used to the idea that we need to keep creating a momentum for our business to reach goals, to hit target numbers, and possibly please our investors. Yet, many, if not all, Startups stall, growth slows down and revenue is almost non-existent. It’s normal and you gotta learn how to navigate out of these phases to achieve sustainable growth.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:34 How should we handle a stall? 06:02 We naturally stall for a bit 11:59 Investors just love new stats 18:00 Live by the hype, die by the hype 27:58 Companies that were founded as second acts 31:21 How do investors think about the ebbs and flows? 33:50 Once investors see real growth, their opinions change 35:19 When nothing is being expected of you at the moment 38:20 It’s not just growing for the sake of growth 43:57 Building a Startup is a rollercoaster journey 45:26 It depends on why you’re stalled 49:45 Any decision made to satisfy someone else is bad decision 52:24 Do you need funding right now? 55:36 Founders tend to be an expert on a lot of things

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the possibility of firing your employees for a restart? Let’s put it this way. The people in your team when you started may not be the right people now that your business is growing. The skills that they currently have may no longer fit the roles you need to continuously push your team forward. Everything changes, all things evolve, skills must upgrade. What about your people?    Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:19 Every founder has had a reset moment 04:37 The person you hired before may not be the best person now 09:31 What roles will not hire again? 13:18 Directional changes do happen 17:42 The compensation for every role 21:26 Managing is a very different job 24:56 Who should you rehire? 30:36 What roles are the best way to use your resources?

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about being at the peak of our opportunity. In our early years, when we fail to succeed in growing our Startup, it’s okay. We can take a breather, regroup, and then start again. When we’re already in our mid 40’s and 50’s (or older), screwing up comes at a high price. A restart may no longer be possible. On a positive note though, with age, we get to stack up on experience, knowledge, and skills needed for business success. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 000:43 What if we are at the peak of our opportunity? 06:02 That moment when we strike lightning 10:42 Be pragmatic 14:44 Do not mess with your downside 20:54 In our 20s, we don’t consider risks like we would in our later years 25:43 In our older years, we can’t screw up

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the likelihood of founders taking money off the table. Is it possible? Could be if the company has the potential of exponential growth in a short period of time. Is it doable? Most definitely if the means the company has the resources and manpower to get things done fast. But the possibility of being able to take money off the table is close to zero for most founders. You have to show proof that you can perform and you’re staying for the long run!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:07 There’s a lot of talk about founder liquidity 03:19 No discussion with investors about taking money off the table 08:37 The upside founders always wanted 15:09 It is not an easy ask 19:48 You should be able to have the conversation of who to ask 23:56 Let’s flip the roles here 26:32 What investors should be mindful of 31:05 Equity represents the future value of the company

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about being leveraged and how it affects Startup growth. Early on, founders tend to believe that choosing an investor is an option. Yes, this is possible for people in the top 5 percent or those that haven been in this route more than once. But if you belong in the other 95%, which most of us are, we don’t get to choose. We get lucky when someone takes interest in investing in our Startup. So wise up and ‘choose’ well!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:33 How much choice do we really have as founders? 02:37 It’s a privilege to be able to choose your investors 08:40 The real point of leverage 13:33 Sometimes time is what you need for leverage 18:21 Creating a healthy work-life balance isn’t simple for founders 25:31 You only get one or two options 27:21 When the money is not worth it 29:47 Are there other options to saying YES? 32:16 Getting investment is easier for second-timers 36:38 Putting your chips on one person 38:31 Have clear goals and expectations 40:50 How we are knowledge leveraged 44:19 Why did you feel the need to have a cofounder? 48:04 Is having a cofounder a necessary requirement?  

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about not thinking too much about what other people think. Our emotions are always valid especially when our ideas aren’t appealing enough or when our Startup fails to gain any momentum. We always worry about what other people might think of us and how they will see our failure. But the truth is, no one will remember. No one will care. No one, but you. So, dust it off and start creating a new narrative!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:43 When we go through these moments of failure 05:00 Founders dwell too much on what others think 16:24 No one actually remembers 21:40 Over some time, people will barely remember 26:54 Always create a new narrative 29:52 There is always a way forward 32:57 2 steps at telling a better narrative 

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about founders not taking risks. When you get stuck in one place, getting comfortable at where you are at right now and not taking swings because of the fear of missing a hit, then growth becomes a long shot. Successful Startups did not succeed because they fear failure. Success comes when the founder keeps taking swings and managing failure as they come because they’re focused on getting a hit!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:17 Why are we afraid to take big swings? 03:38 Is it a lie when you have the intent to back it up? 09:48 Will you be able to back up your commitment? 13:40 Take a big swing and manage failure 21:03 Doing nothing will only lead to a slow demise 25:09 The other side is you swing and hit

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about founders with no more upside left. Having new investors is good. Stacking up more funds to expand the company is good. Although it can turn dreadful real quick when as a founder you are left with no more room to grow. You get stuck in one spot, doing the same rigorous task day by day without any promising gains at all. Wouldn’t it be better if you get enough funding and still have more control over the decision making and better incentives?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:11 The average founder surprisingly only earns a single digit 08:28 The two separate roles: the founder and the owner 12:24 We keep assuming we’ll get incentives externally 20:08 Politics 101 during board meetings 25:08 We have to rely on consequence  

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the real definition of retirement. Is it going on a vacation one after another in your 60s? Is it pursuing your love for woodwork and making a living out of it? Or perhaps starting another business using your retirement funds? Whatever it may be, what matters the most is you get to do what you love doing but this time with less stress, less pressure, and time isn’t measured.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:35 Things you plan to do upon retirement 09:00 When you don't have something, having it is extra special 17:34 The only reason it becomes special is because you can't do it 23:38 "Responsibility is defined differently in retirement." - Donna 26:14 "I don't think we want to fully retire." Andreas 30:09 "You're never going to retire." Justin 30:50 "Removing that 'need' makes a difference." - Richard 33:09 "Independence to eliminate energy, time, and attention in the majority of things you want to do." - Jack 35:44 "Retirement should allow for a bit more free schedule." - Lindsey 39:57 "There is no real retirement." - Lou 43:00 "Do a little more of what you're doing with less pressure." - Kathryn

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about finding the right advisor. It’s natural for anyone to seek advice from people who we think know more than we do but it doesn’t necessarily mean that what they know is beneficial for founders. Well-meaning people will readily share their knowledge and expertise, and we can all learn from it. Sometimes, it isn’t enough to resolve the issues at hand. Don’t limit your Startup’s potential within your local circle.  Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:53 Who told you exactly? 09:13 Competitive investors vs. local investors 14:00 Basics in qualifying a local investor 19:02 The hometown hero founder 23:53 What do you expect from a piece of advice? 27:07 Super successful but totally irrelevant advisor 32:12 Go outside of your local circle

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the real value of urgency. Yes, getting things done right away is good. Managing your time well and completing your tasks ahead of time and knowing the strategies to keep up with competition will help stir the business in the right direction are definitely commendable practices. But, when all of your efforts are countering your real goals and are only causing you anxiety and stress, maybe you should reconsider which priorities are urgent and which ones are pretending to be. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 02:20 How real is urgency in the Startups world? 05:33 Why false narrative around time becomes a problem 13:48 We always feel our peak performance is unreachable 18:52 If it’s urgent, play out the worst case scenario 21:10 Decisions made with “we have to do this based on that” 25:48 If we don’t success now, there's no opportunity to succeed in the future 29:34 Build the business you want to do all day 31:20 Building wealth isn’t constrained to one time capsule

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about aiming for multiple tiny financial successes. This mentality that all your daily sacrifices, struggles, and losses will eventually lead to getting rich, sometimes, is a wishful thinking. Why not work on achieving small but steady financial wins, instead of staying broke for years in the hopes of getting rich all at once?   Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:13 Can you go super liquid every year?  05:29 Digging a hole versus Building ladder concept 11:23 How VC’s actually work 15:54 The “Get rich all at once.” mentality 23:39 Instead of stacking debt, stack on wealth 27:24 What is your base hit approach?

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about faking success. What? Is that even possible? NO, you can’t fake real success. But, YES, in the early stages of your Startup you can run it in a way wherein your success mindset is bent on believing you can make it until you’re finally there - succeeding and thriving.  Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:21 At the early stage, what about our Startup is real?  02:46 The fake office story 13:04 Don’t compare what you do with mature companies 17:19 Take pride and genuine interest in doing every job 21:53 This obsession with an organizational chart 28:15 Credibility has been changed into authenticity

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about consequences. When you started, your words didn’t weigh as much as they do now. Back then, your reach was just a few people. Now that you’ve become a founder, every single word, phrase, and statement you utter has consequences. When you speak, make sure you’re ready for the pros and cons, and eventually, how it will affect your Startup.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:20 Every single word we say has consequences 08:12 Your personal thoughts are not for public consumption 16:06 Also, your personal life matters 22:45 And now, the consequences are amplified 26:39 The different rooms where you freely express your thoughts 32:10 Your frustration pisses off, frustrates, distracts everyone else 35:50 Find a room where you can talk about things you don’t want to talk about openly 

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about unhealthy relationships. Nope, this isn’t about love. This is about developing unhealthy relationships with family, friends, and anyone within your social circle because your toxic work life is making everything else toxic. And this is about why you can feel a little guilty for taking some time off but do it anyway.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:26 This very unhealthy relationship with work 09:21 You create this pressure that you gotta do better every time 15:31 Is a little bit of guilt a worthy trade for a better life? 25:07 No one actually cares if you spend too much time in the office 34:14 What drives you to overwork? 41:54 We all are dealing with unhealthy relationships

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about why a business shouldn’t stay a Startup. Sure, Startups get more opportunities to grow and funding offers to expand. But you can’t stay in this phase forever. Grow your business into a company that can run on its own, have a monthly recurring revenue that pays its monthly bills, and produce products that customers want to buy. That’s when you graduate from being a Startup to being a real company!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:14 We can’t always be a “Startup” 05:40 The goal is to become a real money-making company 09:20 Why do we want to maintain the Startup facade? 16:57 You should graduate from being a freshman  22:12 It’s not the funding that we should be celebrating

How many times has your competition kept you up at night? A new feature here, seed funding there, maybe you’ve even lost a customer or two – but how much of a threat are they, really? In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan share examples of competitor flops, why you should be thankful if your niche has competitors, and why you need to stop being so distracted by what other businesses are doing & focus on making your current customers even happier to work with you,Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 - How much of a threat is competition, really? 05:31 - Fear causes us to assume the worst, but the worst almost never happens 16:12 - The Fountain & Zenefits examples & why competitor’s time and investment never guarantees competitor success 21:54 - Competition is actually a great sign to start a healthy business & improving upon what exists already is the easiest way to succeed 26:24 - Stop being distracted by competitors & focus on serving your customers

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about dealing with issues at work and at home. As said many times, don’t bring your work problems home the same way you can’t let your personal issues affect your work performance. You can’t deal with issues from both ends because it's unhealthy. Find an outlet where you can express your worries and make sure you get some level of support from your family. It’s the only way not to exhaust yourself.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:46 We don’t want to talk about the battle at home 03:04 Figuring out how to deal with your family issues 06:44 Your health bar gets depleted not just at work 09:14 You assume everybody is doing fine 11:40 First, figure out stuff at home 16:30 Be deliberate in saying you got stuff to do at home 20:13 You can’t be all of anything 21:26 How important it is to have an outlet on both sides 23:44 When the level of support from family depreciates

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about how comparison kills progress. Notice that you are often bound to fail when you start comparing your progress to your competition. What you can do to not fall into this trap is to go back to your goals. Recalibrate yourself, shut every possible distraction down, and focus on what you have envisioned to achieve. You can’t go astray when you know where you want to go.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:09 Is it possible to get ahead with your Startup? 03:32 They’re just ideas  07:03 We are bound by the same progression scale 10:20 Calibrating toward broken measurements 14:20 We assume that the outcome is guaranteed if WE just performed 22:11 The comparison kills the progress 28:05 Go back to what your goals are

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about discarding the 40-hour work week. If you work for 30 hours each week, what would you worry you won’t get done? Now, if you won’t sit eight hours in the office, what will you be able to accomplish? Can you possibly do more somewhere more comfortable than in your office? The answer? YES! You can accomplish so much more without the time constraints.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:08 The 40-hour work week concept 05:19 It only works when you work less hours 09:56 Project costing is super complicated 16:41 Reliance on each other as part of the total outcome 20:03 Is 40-hours the standard work week? 25:25 What hours are we trying to pay for? 31:23 Productivity is treated as an individual effort 37:48 A 40-hour work week doesn’t align with everybody’s lifestyle 40:09 What you worried you won’t get done? 42:41 Take a fresh look at the ‘standard’ work week

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about what happiness means for a founder. In most cases, founders find happiness when they feel safe, when their efforts are validated, and when people appreciate their accomplishments. It doesn’t require much, yet the effort put forth to achieve happiness is basically blood, sweat, tears, and years of hard work.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:29 What does it take to be happy as a founder? 06:47 When you don’t feel safe, it’s hard to behave rationally 11:00 Safety is knowing that you can whether the next storm 15:19 Why do founders always seek validation? 22:22 The next struggle is the preamble to the next validation 25:24 Feeling proud of what you do 32:30 Appreciating people’s accomplishments   36:22 When you feel safe, you can thrive 37:25 Can you use not feeling safe as a positive? 39:50 You learn more about things in the downtime 41:43 The most impactful validations 45:28 Just have fun and follow your happiness 46:43 When you’re juggling too many things all at once 51:00 The goal is what matters 56:14 We are the damn business so let’s take care of ourselves   

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about what happens when funding is scarce. Will you seek another investor? Will you go on a fire sale? What other options do you have left? In the world of Startups and the struggles of keeping your business running, the fight is for you not to win. It’s more of a fight for you not to lose! Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:33 What do we do when no one wants to give us money 02:04 Is there a heads up when you’re not getting additional funding? 10:33 First, admit that you’re f*cked 16:00 Next, you go on a fire sale 22:13 Investors won’t get their money back but they wont lose more  25:51 What are your remaining options? 28:32 We’re playing not to win, but not to lose

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about celebrating the little successes. Most people focus on hiring more people, settling in a bigger office, or getting additional funding as a form of success. But for most founders, at the early stages of their business, smaller things such as not having to worry about the payroll or how much you can spend using the company card, are a little form of success. It’s about taking away liabilities one at a time. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:14 Misconceptions about success 06:02 When you no longer worry about payrolls 10:01 Happiness and success comes from taking things away  16:28 At the early stage, it’s always close to the line 20:59 Chipping away the little liabilities over time 22:42 Focus on the moments of little success 27:11 We are rewarded for our effort in unexpected ways

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about when is the best time to give up equity. At the early stages of a Startup, founders often seek to partner with a co-founder in the hopes of growing the company. But what founders don’t realize is that it may be too early to look for a partner or too risky to look for one. Selling the equity of your company, when it’s at its lowest value, will only nip down its potential growth.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:14 When is the wrong time to raise a capital? 04:02 The equity is future value of your company 09:29 Is giving up equity the only way? 17:27 The single most expensive investment: meeting your co-founder 20:24 The story of two founders 23:56 What if there’s a law that won’t allow a co-founder in the first year 25:02 Another founder story 29:30 We often blind ourselves to other solutions 31:08 You don’t have to do all in the same race 35:43 Things you can do that won’t make you less vulnerable 

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about rising from a failure. Founders take it to heart when their business fails and often think that people will remember them for their failed business. Fact is, people easily move on and forget about the failed business. They won’t care. So, wallow on it as much as you want and then move on. A founder’s path is always open to more job opportunities. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:37 How paralyzing failure can be 04:39 Let’s talk about what losing it all feels like 09:14 When the business goes bankrupt, is your career completely over? 16:15 You’re still around, what do you do next? 20:22 When you think everyone will care all the time 24:01 Founder path lead to more job opportunities

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about taking a break to restart. The biggest fear founders have is what happens to the business when they take a much needed break. The fear that things might go wrong, the right decisions aren’t being made, or there’s simply too much to do that taking a break may sound hilarious. But guess what, with the right people in place, more than half of a founder’s work can be done by someone else. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:29 We don’t believe we are allowed a sabbatical time off 05:25 You’re burned out but you can’t detach yourself from the business 09:37 Founder sabbatical is going away and doing something else entirely 14:09 You should be able to reset and come back with a fresh head 18:55 A sabbatical break has to happen 22:37 Setting the time period and expectations matters 24:30 How can a handful of people take over some of the workload? 27:32 75% of your job can be done by someone else 32:31 You can always come back when something goes wrong 36:50 A forced sabbatical isn’t going to work 

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about honest optimism. What if you have this strong conviction that what you’re building will lead to success? What if you have this strong sense of positivity and optimism? Will it be enough to gain people’s trust and continue to pour more money into your company? But what if it’s just blind optimism and you’re not really getting anywhere? Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:22 Forward-looking optimism versus lying 03:28 Are we lying to ourselves when outcomes aren’t as predicted?   06:42 What we’re pitching is potential outcome 09:56 Reasonable expectation and not blind optimism 12:08 Understanding the importance of optimism 18:44 Here’s where it becomes straight up lying 22:28 The consequence of going beyond optimism 26:43 Founders getting caught up in not presenting 28:38 There’s truth in optimism and there’s misaligned intention

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the 100-hour work week. The adrenaline to overexert and overwork yourself so you can get more things done is a hustle that no founder should be investing into. Here’s why. You can only get things done at your peak hours. No one gets productive a hundred hours a week. It’s an awful burnout.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:45 The Hustle Porn hype: The 100-hours work week 05:21 How many hours a day are your peak hours? 09:25 If you give yourself more hours, you spend more hours 13:15 Why are your work days loaded? 18:54 When you think you’re crushing it 22:30 Oh, you’re crushing it but at what cost? 28:02 The 30-second success story of a founder on social media 31:19 Get out of the habit of ‘how you’re crushing it’ 32:28 Those who don’t brag about crushing it are actually the ones getting the work done 35:55 We need to put an end to the hustle porn

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about a founder’s social circle. Wherever you may be, you’ll always meet another founder. Surprisingly, your Startup is helping you build these connections, a space where you can meet and create relationships with people who share the same experience as you and probably have similar views as well. A founder’s space is just the right place to check how far your voice can influence and be heard.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:46 Startups are the social engines for most founders 03:07 Your social circle evaporates when you sell your company 07:37 Our relationships often have consequences 11:39 Understand which relationships are worth maintaining 15:12 Startups create a magnet for interesting people to join your circle 21:12 How far your voice can influence and carry 26:12 What we do creates a social gravity 29:41 Diversity in the founder’s space

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about being the best at what you do. Oftentimes, founders are stuck in the idea that they need to add more features to make their product appealing and saleable. That it’s the added features that will reel in more customers without realizing that the focus should be on the core value of their product - to make sure that we’re doing the core product right and nothing else matters.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:20 We’re lucky if we’re really good at one thing 03:11 If you can’t solve the primary problem, you can’t fix anything else 06:10 What’s the one thing that you’ll have room to add features? 11:06 The cost of doing anything but the one thing 15:28 Nothing matters when you can’t get the core product right 19:26 If your mission is pizza, stick to it 24:01 We’re always going for a market we have to condition 30:59 Being the first to a market doesn’t make you the best 36:45 It’s difficult to beat the best when you’re new in the market

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about moving to a major city. Years ago, when a business needed to expand, they often moved to a big city, brought key employees in, and raised funding to cope with a much higher cost of living. But times have changed. A lot of founders can now settle anywhere without the need to drag their employees and their families around. Remote setup is the new normal, and it’s giving Startups the advantage of growing without emptying the bank.  Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:25 Everyone started leaving the mega cities 03:32 When you leave a major city and start your business somewhere else 06:16 An expensive city is a liability 12:14 You raise funds just so you can work within a geographic constraints 17:20 Hiring someone elsewhere for a much cheaper salary 23:37 Most people don’t necessarily want to live in an expensive city 28:19 Founders can move around and have the rest of the team settled anywhere else 31:46 Does your team need to be where you are at? 34:36 You can still show up in places when required 39:32 At this point, you don’t have to live in a major city 

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about optimism. An optimistic leader creates an optimistic environment. Despite the onslaught of negativities and failures, and success seemingly slipping away, when a Founder remains optimistic, he can always redirect his focus on what to do next.  Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:24 Blinded optimism keeps founders running 04:49 Whatever you do will be reflected throughout the organization 08:19 Founders do not have the luxury to cry over spilled milk 10:01 Distraction keeps us away from being successful 12:37 You can’t find a customer or investor in one seating 15:51 Focus on small tiny wins that build success 19:16 Building a Startup through optimism 21:32 Optimism should be left in the hands of fate

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about dumb ideas. It’s no surprise that most of the successful Startups today started off as a completely bad idea. As it turns out, when given the time to evolve, the market to mature, and the target audience to be open about it, the dumbest idea can become the most profitable company.  Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:36 How many successful Startups started as a great idea? 04:26 Founders are stuck in “my idea needs to be better” 06:07 Ideas are a process and it can change a thousand times 09:24 Why is it called Netflix? 11:46 The market matures and the idea matures, we have to give it time 13:07 This concept that the development of an idea is a linear process 16:04 There aren’t a lot of people willing to invest in Startups

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about how some founders can’t flaunt their money. Founders worked for it, sacrificed their health and time, and at some point, even settled for less compensation for the company to grow. They earned it, and yet some people find it appalling just because they don’t have it.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:46 Why is everybody counting our money? 06:09 The fact that they can’t have as much as you have pisses them off 09:17 The compensation gap will continue to increase 10:58 No one will appreciate your years of service 14:14 What people see and what the reality is are too different 19:22 You should not be ashamed of what you’ve earned 20:59 How you present your success can change the perception 25:15 Laylow in all of your personal stuff, don’t expose it 28:19 Is it an indication that things are doing better?

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about what happens when you leave your Startup. You can’t simply assume that you’ll still be compensated for the equity without continuously providing value to the company’s growth. It’s a simplified Math problem. If you don’t work, you don’t get paid. If you’re not adding value, you won’t be compensated.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:49 People that are earning but aren't’ present 03:46 The absentee landlord 07:39 Founders didn’t realize they have an option 10:04 Doing the same work with less of an outcome 12:33 Equity is compensation 16:46 How can you get compensated for staying? 20:44 You continue to work to create value for the equity 23:57 You can’t be compensated for life if you leave 28:07 Can’t be compensated daily if you aren’t contributing daily 31:58 You’ve got two options 34:56 Typical when the company is raising money, it’s already running out of money 37:00 Your contribution depreciates as time passes 40:30 The compensation you get when you stay

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the kind of culture you as a founder can create within your own organization. Everything you do has implications and if you let instigators of negativity be, you’re allowing a nasty culture to spread. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 01:25 Where do cultural issues stem from? 04:48 Back channeling is worse in remote settings 08:15 This culture of talking ill about the client 11:13 When KPIs push the retention team to bash the clients 15:20 It all starts with one person, identify the ringleader 18:57 It’s easy to create a culture of overwork 23:35 A lack of maturity across the board 26:30 The spotlight is on you and anything you do has implications 28:50 But you still need to take care of your own well-being 30:52 What company culture meant years ago 33:13 You can admit you made a mistake and create a culture out of it 37:09 Founders can have so much impact, but it can be good or evil

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about cofounder breakup. Likened to marriage, having a cofounder requires commitment that comes with consequences when and if the Startup fails and coming up with an action plan when the business turns out to be a total flop. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:33 Cofounders often don’t last 02:07 Cofounders should talk about what to do when things doesn’t work out 05:36 We make a binding contract with someone when the Startup longevity is uncertain 06:57 Founders don’t consider what to do if and when cofounders leave 09:16 Making a commitment at a time we know least about the outcome 14:24 Assumptions you’re making about your cofounder 21:10 Be prepared to deal with fundamentally different decision making 25:48 Plan for divorce but hope for a successful marriage 26:54 Start with a vesting agreement 31:33 Sign a commitment that when not met has consequences

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about taking the slow growth approach. Instead of going full force too fast early on, take the time to understand whether the bets you’re paying back or not and when it’s time to change direction. Don’t follow the narrative that you need to accelerate right away. Follow the circumstances and consequences, and move at the pace that you’re supposed to take.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:32 Dispel the myth about Startups should grow fast 01:57 Why do we feel we have to grow fast? 05:56 The car analogy: why early acceleration amplifies mistakes 08:34 The assumption we often miss is the factor of time  12:37 The best you do are the ones that you didn’t do 14:34 When you start to do too many things at the same time 17:30 Don’t mistake making bets into making good decisions 23:06 We get trapped in that repeatability phase 26:24 All the time we waste is a lot of money 29:59 The cost of accelerating the wrong people 

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about founders rushing into building their next Startup. After a successful exit, most founders are overly eager to start their next big idea and land another win. They want to act upon it while they are in the momentum and prove that they aren’t a one-hit wonder.   Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:36 Is it healthy to jump to the next Startup after you sold the first? 05:06 At some point you’ve already won, don’t rush to the next thing 09:08 Give yourself time to morph into an idea 13:12 The best ideas doesn’t often spring from boredom  17:21 All the best ideas started off small and dumb, but founders don’t think like that 23:03 Stories of founders who succeeded on their second act 27:58 Give yourself time to understand the drive and identify the false motivators  31:11 Take a little time to know the new you post exit 

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about liquidation probability. Many Startup founders make the wrong decision to lose interest in what they currently have and start pursuing something else in the hopes of a much bigger outcome, completely skipping the part where they first have to gauge the probability of success.  Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:13 You should be more concerned about what you don’t own 05:40 The probability of liquidity is so low 09:06 The probability of your Startup getting liquidated and then liquidating the next 12:52 Important numbers: probability, equity that you own, and the value of equity   17:30 When the money you sold for is sitting on a preference 20:02 Probability should change the likelihood that you would sell  22:55 Always go with probabilities over percentage 26:57 We give up what we have and latch onto something with low probability 32:56 You only have so many years of peak earning potential

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about opinions that do not matter when a company sells. A lot of founders are stigmatized for selling their Startups for too little. Too little in a sense that these non-founders only think of the numbers and not the value and work put into building the business. And the glaring truth is that they have never had that much money in their entire life! So their opinions aren’t valid.  Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:53 To those who said, “That founder sold the company for too little.”  05:38 The lack of self-awareness of people making unnecessary comment 09:42 The unsolicited comment will constantly haunt the founder 13:46 Shooting back at the trolls just brings more trolls 17:49 $2M is $2M, how is that bad? 21:31 You can’t belittle $2M if you don’t have it 23:59 People are just chasing more without a clear objective 28:15 If the amount is relative to the founder’s needs, it’s a winning sale 30:00 Not all founders are able to sell their business 35:32 Founders shouldn’t lose sight of their accomplishment

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about putting every down for a much needed break. No, you can’t say, “I can’t take a break yet.” Or say, “Your hands are tied at the moment.” It’s critical that you take a break in between milestones, unless you want to get stuck on productivity and run dry on creativity.  Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:24 When will you take a break? 05:08 Find milestones to fit in long-term breaks 10:37 Founders excel at planning but terrible at taking a break 13:41 When your only milestone to take a break is getting sick 18:59 If you recharge, you can do more work 22:48 The golden periods of creativity and analytical productivity 24:10 Get off, reset, and get back on with maximum energy 28:40 Some people aren’t taking PTOs 32:20 The concept of multiplicity 33:52 You’re going to come back as a better version of yourself 

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about focusing on what you are trying to achieve before taking action on any big ideas you might have. Some of these ideas don't necessarily lead you to where you want to go. Some, if pursued, just end up in failures and frustrations. Instead, focus on where you want to go and then figure out how you want to get there.  Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:24 Getting stuck in looking or working on an idea 03:41 Your business idea should align with what you love to do 06:46 Aspirations change as we age 11:00 Making a business out of something you’re good at 17:59 Specific goals makes it easy to map things around it 23:05 Every founder knows what to avoid 27:21 Just stop doing things that make you unhappy 31:29 When you’re using the wrong yardstick to measure growth 35:24 How to get paid for what you enjoy doing 

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about how increasing your staff does not necessarily mean growth, but a deliberate liability. Many people just focus on increasing the number of their employees and do not think about the cost of hiring more people. Yes, you need more people to get work done faster. Yes, you need additional minds to pitch in new ideas. But what if your revenue is lower than the liabilities? Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:39 Some people use staff count as a measure of success 03:40 A growing staff is only seen as a progress 07:01 Management strain continues as you add more people 10:48 There’s a diminishing return in every additional hire 14:28 Each new person that comes in is a burden in some form 16:08 Why do we associate hiring people with growth? 20:11 Putting people on payroll is easy, paying the payroll isn’t 24:33 Look at every choice as a possible liability 26:30 What can we do to keep revenue and stay efficient with staffing?  28:32 Getting additional funding to add people and accelerate things 32:13 If the Startup doesn’t work, you’ll regret adding more people

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the dues founders pay for neglecting their health. Pushing yourself too much, putting your body through so much pressure, and then ignoring the warning signs as they come, you’re unconsciously trading your life for the success of your company. Don’t curse yourself in the process!  Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast  https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:43 When you’re running your life too fast, you’re sacrificing your health 07:50 Processing all of life by not processing it 14:26 Because your body can adapt to anything, you shrug off any symptom 18:07 Early in our careers, we’re not aware of these problems 21:38 Founders rarely have a support structure 25:09 We're responsible for the conditions that created the liabilities 27:18 It’s difficult to admit you’re wrong when you made the bad decision 29:44 A lot of founders have had a massive panic attack at 37 32:28 When you’re deteriorating, why aren’t you doing something about it? 35:31 Your family can help spot the warning signs, but they won’t be  39:14 At your age, how much stamina do you still have? 40:53 How to avoid destroying yourself as your Startup grows 43:21 We assume that we’re the only ones going through it

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about what happens when things work for everyone else but not for you. The effort founders put into our Startup is a sacrifice in all forms and shapes, to the extent of spending less time with family, neglecting our health, or even getting a pay cut just to keep the business rolling. Yes, you are the founder but you’ve become a slave to your own business. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:11 Things are going great for everyone except for you 04:20 Concepts that led to you being a founder 07:17 We're essentially mortgaging our goals without realizing it 12:36 When we take an investor, the investor becomes our boss 15:32 You need to set goals that are unchangeable 21:24 There is a threshold where commitment becomes destructive 26:12 It’s disruptive when you pick up on things your employees didn’t do

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about changing a person’s personality (or the attempt to do so). It’s one of the factors founders cannot control and it’s silly to keep telling the same person what they should be doing more than once. It’s a waste of energy, a waste of time, and definitely a lost cause. Put your time and effort into someone else!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:22 Trying to enforce behavioral change in your people 04:32 Them being a jerk is just reflection of our bad leadership  08:40 Skills: the things you can do, Personality: the things you can’t do 11:59 We keep thinking that we are the solution to the problem 16:54 Set an environment with a healthy culture people can mimic 20:56 Do not allow performance to outweigh the emotional wellbeing of the business 23:03 What would the problem look like if the person isn’t making it worse? 27:49 You shouldn’t be telling people to work harder 33:39 Ask yourself: Am I parenting or managing? 36:35 Personality issues are some of the problems founders can’t control

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about burnout when you’re nearly at the end of your Startup journey. Every sacrifice and risk you’ve taken will become useless if you feel tired and decide to take a break at the most crucial time and that’s when you’re at the last step of closing the deal. The trick is to surround yourself with people who will help you get through this phase. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:55 What happens when we’re near the end of the deal? 05:53 Startup equity is the most expensive currency one can spend 09:31 When you just want to be done with it 11:56 What else can you do to motivate yourself? 17:54 Being vulnerable at this stage doesn’t allow for a second chance 20:21 What happens if you fall apart at the last moment? 24:53 Every hardship loses value if you drop everything now 28:10 There’s no version of a Startup that doesn’t have a burnout 32:01 Don’t go through this process alone 

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about avoiding unpleasant breakups. There always comes a time when you need to part ways with people, friends, staff, even investors. Every bad breakup can seriously damage your reputation in any means possible simply because some harbor vindictive emotions and speak negatively against you. What can you do then to avoid that? Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:22 How many good stories do you remember of breakups throughout your career? 03:55 Your poor actions is what people remember the most 06:21 Letting go of people means having more than one conversation 12:42 Your reputation takes years to build and takes seconds to destroy 17:23 The damage a single blown relationship can do 22:41 How handle breakups that usually end well 25:10 The need to justify yourself and your actions 28:25 It matters if they don’t feel mistreated when the breakup happens 34:04 A little touch can change the tone and reignite a soured relationship 38:58 We have to be structured and strategic with our words

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about what happens after you sell your Startup. Beyond the big paycheck that will certainly make your life better, is the lingering attachment you have for your company and what becomes of it after you give up ownership and control over it. And what about the employees you’re leaving behind? Will they be well taken care of?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:40 This fantasy of reaching this level when you want to sell your Startup 05:35 When you sell, how is everyone else in the organization affected? 08:59 From the one making the decisions to asking permission from someone else 14:01 Realizing that you have to step off the trail is a tough pill to swallow 17:51 It won’t be the same environment and a lot of people won’t stick around 23:26 This is about what to consider when you sell 26:02 Investors will only see you as a fall-in-line employee 32:08 If things were great, why do we want them to end? 39:17 It’s not just you, but the employees within the company 

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about power struggle. A lot of us are used to hearing people telling us what we should and shouldn’t do, what we can and cannot achieve just because these people have tried it or have been in a similar situation. What they don’t realize though is the difference in capacity and skills. What works for them may not work for you, and what works for you didn’t work out for them.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:27 The value in having a level of power and control in an agency 02:45 When having somebody else determine your destiny wasn't going to work for you 11:01 Setting your own path and not allowing anyone to tell you what to do 16:36 Stop listening to what everybody else is telling you to do 23:31 If you can do it once, you can do it again 27:10 What if the investors investing in you aren't what you should be focused on? 28:36 Attaining power that wasn’t handed to you gives a sense of inner peace 33:43 Set your own terms so other people can set their own 37:34 Figure out how to create power for yourself and extend it to the world 

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about regret. Founders are bound to make decisions all the time. These decisions can make or break the Startup, and this is why regret is inevitable. Not all decisions bring a positive outcome, and when the outcome is the opposite of what you had anticipated, it’s part of the risk you’re taking. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:33 Can you remember the first time you felt regret during a trade off? 05:15 The regret didn’t kick until later 07:43 Many of the risks that we’re putting up won’t return 11:39 We assume that we can make up for these risks 14:09 Don’t use the same pattern whenever you experience something new 17:28 When we form habits, we stop thinking about the different outcomes 21:32 Myth: No matter what the sacrifice is, you’ll be able to pay it back in the future 25:52 Going on a vacation but not really enjoying the vacation 27:25 We have to periodically reassess the sacrifices that we make 30:53 Founders are experts at manufacturing anxiety

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about how we get blinded by the early signs of growth. When things go well, we tend to think it’s the golden moment and that your Startup is on it’s way to getting big, only to find out a week or a month later that you’re back at step one. Early stage successes become dangerous when we get blinded by them and start making the wrong decisions.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:20 Early signals that tend to blind us from what we actually should be doing 04:54 It becomes dangerous when we start making decisions based on sudden growth 08:41 When things go well, it increases our vulnerability to make the wrong decisions 14:23 Yes, it’s going well, but you aren’t making any profit 19:24 It’s a mentality problem when we get too excited at the early stages 23:43 External signals sometimes send the wrong message 27:08 Don’t get blinded how well your product is received after launch

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about when is the best time to sell your Startup. It’s a tedious process so you shouldn’t just focus on what’s happening during the negotiations but also the pros and cons after the sale is made. And of course, how much you’re being paid for selling is as important as HOW you’re getting paid. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:11 “What happens if I sell too early?” 06:36 Buyers are often negotiating to pay for a company’s future value 10:17 Whatever cash you’re taking now might be the last cash you’ll ever get in the negotiations 15:10 It’s not about how much but HOW you’re getting paid 17:58 Myth: The maximum amount the company is worth is equal to how much the founder need 27:21 You have to be realistic that you might not be able to sell

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about going back to an office setting. The idea that more work gets done inside the office is no longer as effective as it used to be. An office setting may not be that substantial anymore for Startups. A lot of businesses are being run remotely and by far, they are progressing well.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:28 What happens when we return to our offices? 04:15 In current times, is an office really necessary? 08:47 Myth: We need an office to build culture 15:59 An office is the least likely way to build friendships 23:37 Myth: We need an office to get work done 27:20 Office equals work is no longer true 30:36 Slack and other project management tools can make collaborations happen 35:25 Collaboration versus coordination

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the notion that your current success will be the same for every Startup you build. While you’re in the momentum and when new ideas come in, you’re most likely tempted to venture into another Startup. Right? But, take a pause there and consider the odds of your success.  Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:25 The notion that your current success will be lifetime 04:59 We think about our startup success the way people tend to think about career success 08:05 Sometimes, founders are just done and want to sell fast 14:36 We optimize for cost and revenue over time but unwilling to invest time when it’s over 18:28 We love to assume the outcome in that next hand and just carry forward 22:56 Stick around and work on every angle to achieve exponential liftoff 26:41 Pay attention to what you have in your hand at the moment 30:07 Successful Startups achieve success due to a ton of factors lining up at the same time

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about founders allowing open discussion of socio-political issues inside the workplace. Over the years, societal and political issues are topics that can either encourage healthy discussions and debates within the team or instigate friction and divide within the company. The question is, HOW do we talk about these issues? Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:25 Socio-political issues in a workplace 03:02 It’s important how and where we talk about these issues 05:55 Areas where we can start to have more productive conversations 10:51 Focus has a cost and it’s not that simple 14:44 Some socio-political issues are directly impacting people’s focus 11:39 18:03 Not all founders really care about other people’s issues outside of work 20:28 There are a lot of people in power that just don't understand these issues 25:43 Why this idea of just oppressing everything is just a broken hammer 32:00 Issues aside, what are the employees trying to accomplish? 36:34 Not everyone wants to be pulled into these discussions

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan ask, is it too early to get an advisor? Many Startup companies invest in an advisor to tap into connections that can possibly help raise additional capital. Yet, this investment does not promise successful returns because some introductions don’t end with the results founders are hoping for. The anticipated business meetings are never set.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:28 How often were you asked to be a business advisor? 03:55 What's the guarantee that they want to know you? 07:08 If getting an advisor is just for raising the capital 09:31 One-sided conversations: what’s the biggest thing you can have getting an advisor 12:10 What if you make the introductions and nothing comes of it? 16:18 Ponder first if it’s the right time to invest in an investor 18:46 When people know more than you do, they just seem like geniuses 22:37 You can’t qualify an advice on a topic you’ve never understood 28:58 A good advisor will tell you what questions you should be asking 35:25 Advisors aren’t that bought in and won’t fully care

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about at what cost Startups are built on. What people often see is it’s all about raising money and getting external financial support, that additional funds are more than enough to keep the business going. But what people don’t see is the physical, mental, and emotional health that are being spent alongside a bloating debt. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:24 The true currency spent when building a Startup 05:10 What are the personal costs for the founders? 09:05 Raising more money doesn’t make things any easier 19:31 Our Startups pull our health on different directions 23:58 Founders slowly lose connection with close relationships 29:00 Are you doing better than before you started your business? 33:13 If you’re well-being is failing, your Startup success won’t amount much

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about imaginary debt. A lot of founders are tied to this idea that employees will commit the same level of sacrifice as they would for the company. And that people will appreciate what they do and stick around no matter what happens. But it’s all an illusion. No one can actually match a founder’s willingness to sacrifice everything for the Startup. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:48 When you feel indebted to the people in your team 06:26 Your team’s sacrifice is exponentially different from yours 09:43 Everyone else is going to be looking out for themselves 13:23 Founders find it difficult to get out of unhealthy situations 17:26 There is a point at which feeling indebted has a limit 20:28 No one actually takes care of the founders 25:27 The endless “I can’t” that binds the founders  29:11 Creating your own phantom conversations 30:09 You have zero right to expect that your sacrifices will be appreciated 34:39 Massive loyalty dissolves when a better offer comes 38:31 How to break free from the imaginary shackles

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the most dreaded outcome - a failing Startup. When a business fails, founders often wallow over how people react and what they can say about the situation. The adverse reactions don’t matter. What should matter is who stays to help pull you out of the rubble.  Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:19 Understanding how founders feel when a Startup fails 05:44 When you can’t deal with how people will process the failure 10:22 The Steve Jobs interview and dealing with criticisms 12:05 Do the people you’re concerned about actually have a voice in the situation? 17:14 Only founders who failed can sympathize with you 21:47 Surround yourself with people who knows what you’re going through 25:45 As a founder, how do you reach out? 29:58 When one founder is down, other founders should empathize and help

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the pressures of leading a Startup team. It’s a Founder’s job to make difficult and unpopular decisions, even unconventional ones, which may merit the team's unfavorable reactions. Over time, these unpopular decisions make a Founder less likable. So then, at what point will being likable still matter?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:30 As we lead, how important is it that we're liked? 05:29 Making fundamentally unpopular decisions to grow 11:56 When we’re starting, we build good relationships with people 16:00 You’re a cool boss but you aren’t invited in team lunches 19:23 The expectation for you to say ‘Yes’ all the time 21:47 What about when decisions don’t map back to you? 23:23 Even if you aren’t liked, you have to be respected 28:39 Everyone loves you, but you’re doing a bad job 32:43 Make difficult decisions but still empathize 37:22 As the organization grows, there will be more people not connected to you 39:39 Things you can do to seed some goodwill

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about admitting you made a mistake. Oftentimes, it becomes difficult for leaders, including founders to admit that they’ve made the wrong decision or chose the wrong option. It’s the kind of vulnerability that no one wants to show. But if leaders can’t admit that they are wrong, no one else in the organization will.  Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:09 Founders fundamentally mess up and that’s okay 04:54 The longer you admit that something’s wrong, the worse it gets 10:32 COVID pushed organizations to strategically respond to the situation 16:26 Make people understand why you made a mistake 20:49 If founders can’t admit that “I messed up”, no one else will 23:25 When something goes wrong, it matters how you talk about it 28:23 Vulnerability comes with issues, but comes with benefits as well

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the qualifications of becoming a founder. It turns out; anyone can become a founder. Having the idea and vision for your Startup is easy, but building a business out of nothing, dealing with potential issues and challenges, and getting started aren’t as easy. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  Send an email to therapy@startups.com  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:49 Congratulations on our 100th episode! 02:31 Recalling the early episodes 04:19 The topics are more focused on the Founders 08:43 Who is qualified to be a founder? 13:31 You have to be a guru when you start a business 16:50 Don’t be all things to your Startup 18:27 95% of all Startups is guesswork  22:57 Your expectations should include the iterative process 26:52 There’s just so much we haven’t seen 28:43 Unless you’ve been part of a fundraising process, you won’t understand how it works 33:25 Get third-party perspective 34:30 There's no parody in consequence 

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about selling a founder’s vision. The real struggle lies in convincing people that your vision, your idea can solve an existing problem. Startups often fail when the customers who are supposed to benefit from the product do not understand how it can serve their needs. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:51 Back at a time when people ask: “What the hell is an internet?” 06:15 It won’t matter what you’re selling if the approach isn’t relevant 08:50 Ask yourself: “What problem are you solving?” 14:57 Founders often fail to set the problem that could potentially solve itself 19:14 Looking back into a business proposal that addressed an unrelatable problem 22:53 It’s essential to consider who you’re talking to when presenting your vision 26:49 The people you bring in will have a major definition of the company’s future 28:46 Be ready to explain how your vision will benefit others 31:25 If you can’t clearly define the problem, you can’t move forward 36:26 Do not assume that people can easily connect the dots

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about planning for a downside strategy. Having a downside strategy allows for open conversations to conclude effective upside plans and address issues level-headedly. It’s a clear and sound path for founders to clean up a failing Startup.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin Join our Network of Top Founders  What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:29 Dealing with downsides forces difficult conversations 05:33 Downside strategies are a big part of any Startup 11:05 What is your tolerance for tough decisions? 18:14 Duration and severity of a downside 21:30 Know how to deal with a failing business 26:27 Establishing a threshold can make a difference 29:40 “When we worry about things, we tend to scale up to the biggest worry.” - Wil  32:10 Having a downside strategy allows for a powerful upside strategy 36:09 Build detailed downside strategies and be open to conversations

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the correlation between money and happiness. Being successful and having a lot of money doesn’t equate to genuine happiness. More often than not, it’s a fleeting distraction from other issues that require attention. Money can only give you exhilarating yet passing moments. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:10 Once you have money, are you truly happy? 04:15 With or without money, there’s always an issue to resolve 07:10 Wealth can only take care of the pain, but not buy real happiness 10:22 Money distracts you but can’t fix you 13:52 When the excitement fades, what else is left? 17:55 Spend time on your yourself, don’t get stuck on an outcome 21:48 At the end of the day, you’re still the same person 24:09 Analogy on the happiness of pursuit  27:10 Every milestone reached is often a fleeting moment

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about finding the right cofounder. It remains a challenge for Startup founders to find a business partner that doesn’t just have the best ideas, both should also see eye to eye when it comes to company growth and career goals.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:35 Are you working with the right cofounder? 05:21 Not everyone is cut to be a founder 10:06 The consequences of committing to the wrong person 12:13 Signs that the partnership isn’t working 16:12 When there is friendship but lacking work partnership  23:17 It’s not about perfection, there are shortcomings too 26:41 You can’t test your cofounder until sh*t happens 32:24 Questions to ask when looking for a cofounder 36:06 How to prepare for a new partnership 38:36 Getting into an amicable breakup through conversations 42:08 Present terms that are beneficial for both party 46:52 It doesn’t benefit you yo blowup on someone  

In this Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan ask how much is too much when it comes to Founder transparency? Why many inner workings of your company should be on a need-to-know basis, how being a leader can mean holding your emotional cards close to your chest, and when being completely open can be too much.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the disadvantages of having wealth. People are drawn to Founders who are successful, who have money to spare. Most of the time, people, including family, expect you to settle their financial issues just because you have the money. It reaches a point where you’re expected to spend your money and not expect anything in return. The toxicity is just too much when it happens too often.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:26 Relationships and wealth 05:38 When people is all about wanting something from you 07:51 Some family members expect more from you 13:38 Founders are being judged by their wealth 16:41 Once you give something, you’re expected to give more 19:10 People tend to want to have your money too 23:24 Either way, you’ll be judged by how much cash you have 26:32 Assumptions are made when you have the means and resources 29:45 People with money can’t just give away what they have 33:29 The calls are now about financial matters, no more sincere connections 36:31 Everyone just wants to take from you but not willing to give back

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about commitment. There is a limit to the expectation you can set on others, and that your passion and commitment may not be as intense for the rest of your team. There are certain aspects of your Startup that you’ve got to shoulder on your own. After all, a founder’s superpower is the intensity of his commitment. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/begin What to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:26 What is founder commitment? 03:53 The insane level of expectation founders have 07:22 Startup downside: letting go of people 12:00 Even with commitment, some people aren’t willing to deal with the downside 15:15 Not everyone shares the same expectation within the organization 19:02 Don’t set high expectations for other people 24:58 You can’t manipulate people into sharing your dream 25:57 Commitment is a founder’s superpower  27:16 There are certain things only founders should worry about

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the ugly truth about comparing your success to other businesses. When founders meet, the first person to speak often sets the tone of the conversation; many don’t even want to dig deep into the hardships one must endure to attain success. And is money the only metric for growth?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources:https://www.startups.com/beginWhat to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:25 Drawing comparisons against other founders 03:03 The focus is often on the negative instead of what’s working 06:58 Comparing your performance to others just doesn't’ make sense 11:11 We often see the outcome but not the amount of work done 13:50 How do you perceive where you need to go? 17:04 At what point can you say, “I’m good”? 20:36 When a company grows, the focus shifts internally 23:05 Growth just for the sake of growth isn’t always true 26:12 Doing well with the things you really care about 28:50 Quit glossing over to avoid tough conversations  31:22 When things go down, which parts will matter?

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about getting rich without selling your business. They discuss how getting too focused on getting rich causes missed opportunities, is selling your Startup necessary, the cash stacking effect, and spending money you haven’t earned yet. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources:https://www.startups.com/beginWhat to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:09 Myth: Build big things to get rich 03:55 You miss other avenues for growth when you’re too focused on getting rich 05:31 The cash stacking effect 11:44 Getting regular pay versus never getting paid while running a startup 13:22 Planning to spend money you haven’t earned 16:52 “Aim for the likelihood of the outcome, not the size.” - Ryan Rutan 19:11 The broken idea of how to become rich 23:07 When did you start to feel rich? 28:26 Do you need to sell to get rich? 29:19 If there isn’t a need to, don’t sell

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about getting through a Startup failure. While your mind can make it seem bigger than it is, most people won’t remember when a business shuts down, and that processing your emotions include assessing your failure to get back up! Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources:https://www.startups.com/beginWhat to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:10 What does failure really look like? 04:57 This is how people think about failure 09:21 When you’re focused on not failing instead of succeeding 11:19 Unpacking two filters of Startup failure 15:45 Your Startup failure isn’t as big as you think it is 20:58 What happens when you freak out 22:31 Over time, people forget about a company shutdown 26:34 Process the emotions, but get back up! 29:32 Unpack and assess your failure to manage it

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the hard part of being a founder - nobody understands what you do. Founders need people they can talk to about their job, someone mentally and emotionally willing to support their journey, and why the lack of support can hold them back.  Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources:https://www.startups.com/beginWhat to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:12 Does anybody actually understand what founders do? 03:13 “Communication is the burden of the sender.” 04:52 Imagine being a founder is a job interview 08:25 Americans tend to ask people what they do 10:08 Only founders understand their fellow founders 13:23 It’s different when you cause everyone to lose their jobs 17:13 When you don’t get the support that you need 20:55 This is where founders are held up 25:12 Keep people who truly understand what you do

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the cost of ambition. They discuss the levels in which aspiration is achieved, how starting a business involves: a series of unique conditions, the three basic levers of ambitions, and the uncertainty of the returns a founder has to consider. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources:https://www.startups.com/beginWhat to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:21 There are things that you may not achieve at all 03:25 Not having something sometimes doesn’t matter 05:52 It’s not just ambitions, it involves a series of conditions to reach a certain threshold 11:44 “There are levels to which ambition alone can achieve.” 15:39 The cost of ambition becomes more than just our time 21:42 You know the cost, but what about the returns of your ambition? 26:45 Once you achieve something, how much are you willing to work for the next 32:17 The three basic levers of ambition 

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the truth about Startup shutdowns. Shutdown cycles always happen to Startup businesses, several bad decisions don’t mean a complete failure, and second chances can happen when you’ve asked the critical Why’s.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources:https://www.startups.com/beginWhat to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:59 Startup shutdown is always part of the process 07:05 Shutdowns had been happening even before COVID 12:15 When you assume you’re a failure because of several bad decisions 14:27 How bad was the mindset? 16:47 What was the turning point? 19:56 Rising back after a 48-hour downtime 24:59 Do-overs are what defines some of the great companies 28:46 Tips on how to restart a Startup 34:06 The looming danger when you can’t ask all the critical “Why?” 35:54 It starts with seeing a version 2 of the business to restart

In today’s episode of Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about when it’s too late to launch a Startup. How gained experience equips founders to get through Startup challenges, the liabilities and the stakes involved when founders start late, why our 20’s is the golden decade to test and fail.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources:https://www.startups.com/beginWhat to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:22 When is it too late to launch a Startup? 04:42 Deciding an end-point to your career 07:20 Our 20’s is a one-time get-out-of-jail free card 11:55 Gained experiences in building a Startup is the baseline of future endeavors 18:20 Missing important family moments 22:49 Mishaps will happen but the experience will get you through 25:09 Understanding the consequences of knowing the pattern from start to finish 28:45 You’re less employable at your peak age 31:47 Not all founders started at their 20’s 34:44 Starting in your 40’s is the most challenging times 37:00 50’s is the most expensive stage for founders 41:58 One of the challenges is, if not now, when? 43:09 Why young founders pivot so much 45:45 Passion and mastery produces different outcomes

In today’s episode of Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the emotional toll on Founders when they sell their business, how to spend time when the Startup is gone, losing authority and level of importance, if there’s a way to prepare to become an ‘exited’ Founder. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources:https://www.startups.com/beginWhat to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:25 Some of the potential downsides when selling a Startup 03:38 How much our Startup is tied to our sense of purpose 09:18 Concentration of excitement and purpose 13:21 That feeling of being needed 17:30 The horrible feeling of never being able to do it again 20:20 When you become an “ex” or “former” CEO 26:23 Without a business, how will you spend 16 hours a day? 30:40 Equating work hours to family time 34:12 Preparing to become an ‘exited’ founder

In today’s episode of Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the impact of Founders feeling uncomfortable about sharing their emotions, why you are being put in the wrong light, unpacking emotions to show vulnerability, and the difference between problems and emotions.Listen in for more tips on being an approachable Founder!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources:https://www.startups.com/beginWhat to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:44 Founders not feeling comfortable sharing their emotions 04:41 The pride and ego tide into the business 09:55 Why focus on other aspects of your business 13:30 How to unpack emotions and do something about it 21:15 Our problems and emotions are two separate things 26:10 Most founders keep their vulnerabilities 28:14 How being open impacts founder-team relationship 32:19 When everyone around puts you in the wrong light

In today’s episode of Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about using passion to pursue a business, how to differentiate novelty from passion, why founder burnout is common, and why identifying your theme is important before starting a business.  Listen in to test if you're passionate enough to start a business!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterWhat to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:59 What moment turned into a passion? 05:02 Mistaking novelty as passion 08:42 The problem with purpose we all run into 14:14 When there’s no curiosity and passion, your role changes 17:13 Strategic planning: when growth is the only business metric 22:58 Find a theme that you’re passionate about 31:54 The energy in the early days can fade

In today’s episode of Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Elliot talk about the benefits of a hard reset for a Startup, letting go of liabilities in exchange for a fresh start, and identifying priorities when going through a hard reset. Listen in to know why a Startup reset can sometimes help save a business!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterWhat to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:47 Benefits of a Startup's hard reset 04:16 Outsourcing based on what may happen 08:19 Part of a hard reset is getting fresh talents to join the team 12:27 With a rest, what does the staff look like? 15:12 Take inventory of the stuff that didn't work 18:20 Businesses walking away from monthly liabilities 22:06 Shred expenses and cut old agreements to reset 25:51 Sometimes, a start over is best to be profitable 27:51 If you're thoughtful, can build a more nimble business 30:01 Some hard events push for a reset, for decisions to be made

In today’s episode of Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about why founders need to belong in a therapy group, the benefits of voicing out your worries as an individual, and setting goals for yourself, not just your Startup.     Listen in to know how founders can effectively unload personal struggles!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterWhat to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:58 How lonely are founders? 04:06 The things that founders can't share 10:22 Founders Group at Startups.com 14:37 How does trust develop within the founders group? 21:11 A group can't converse when they have differing ideas 28:35 Empathy for the members is equally important 33:03 The three questions to ask in every session 33:42 What keeps you up at night? 39:27 What do you need help with? 44:52 How can the community here support you? 47:51 Then, the founders talk about their goals 51:23 The point of a clarity call 52:35 Do you justify that every other goal is important, but yours? 54:43 When trust is established, the group can accomplish anything 56:06 Email us or visit groups.startups.com

In today’s episode of Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Elliot talk about how founders struggle to negotiate their compensation, what should happen in cap table discussions, and why founders should rethink how they get paid.     Listen in to get an idea how founders benefit more from their company!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterWhat to Listen For 00:00 Intro 00:50 What's going through your head? 02:21 When it isn't worth it anymore 06:02 The cap table discussion  09:26 When the thing you're most excited about is gone 11:46 Don't disincentivize employees by cramming them down 18:00 Have a conversation with investors to set the process you need to adhere to 21:25 Negotiate comp packages based on milestones 23:27 Founders should rethink how they get paid 25:12 What will make you keep working in the company?

In today’s episode of Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Elliot talk about spending a decade to build a business from scratch, how past success can’t dictate the next success, and why nothing matters until the end goal is reached.     Listen in to learn how founders grow an idea into a successful Startup!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterWhat to Listen For 00:00 Welcome back to the Startup Therapy Podcast! 00:55 How long does it take to reach success? 02:28 The incubator project in 2001 03:39 The split in focus with multiple projects 07:54 How long will it take to prove a good idea? 10:33 Commit time to grow your company 12:03 Every idea is a bad idea unless you act on it 15:59 A problem you are willing to invest in 17:42 The early high-five indicators 18:55 What will a decade cost you? 22:03 "Don't work on something you don't care about." - Elliot Schneier 24:13 Focus and the right idea lead to success 27:04 Past success doesn't guarantee the next success 30:15 How do you explain commitment to new hires 31:22 Nothing matters until you reach the finish line

In today’s episode of Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss why founders should separate themselves from their Startups, the lack of predecessors to guide young founders, what else to focus on besides building the business, and maintaining individuality.   Listen in to learn about individuality and separation from your Startup!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterWhat to Focus on to Get a Hit [00:00:32] Are we a separate entity from our Startup? [00:05:58] For founders, everything should have been right [00:10:04] There's a pattern to follow, young founders don't have that [00:11:24] There's a company that you do, it's not who you are [00:16:01] It actually isn't validation, it's a relief  [00:18:14] Self-inflicted prison: you get stuck in your Startup [00:20:06] It's not always about how your Startup is doing [00:23:30] What do you do when you're not building your Startup? [00:23:30] What can we do for other founders?  [00:26:33] Why is it affecting you at a personal level? [00:29:14] Your Startup is not who you are

Our focus in today’s episode is listening to what investors are actually saying. Wil and Elliot discuss the direct and indirect ways investors say ‘No’, the passive-aggressive questions, when founders become annoying, and how investors should behave.  Listen in to learn how to translate what your investor is saying!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterWhat to Focus on to Get a Hit [00:00:40] Why founders can't understand their investors?  [00:02:24] The NO's that sound 'Yes' [00:06:18] Venture Community vs Angel Investors [00:07:11] From an analyst to a partner [00:09:38] Is it a yes or a no? [00:10:35] Understanding the user pipeline and deal flow [00:12:27] What happens when you press on investors [00:15:45] When investors are interested, they'll blow you up  [00:17:55] Time kills deals [00:19:34] If it's not a resounding Yes, it's probably a No [00:22:04] The tendency to annoy investors when you can't take the hint [00:25:12] Show investors a drastic demand in the product   [00:28:08] How should investors behave? [00:34:28] Always make a statement in a question [00:36:47] Education on a fairly complicated space [00:38:20] The passive-aggressive questions [00:42:00] Investors saying 'maybe' [00:45:10] Investors should be definitive in saying 'No'

Our focus in today’s episode is how to get a hit on your business. Wil converses with Sam Parr, Co-Founder and CEO of The Hustle, a massively successful email newsletter to help entrepreneurs make smart business decisions fast by providing information in an easy to consume format. Wil and Sam look back at the early stages of their Startups, how to gauge financial security, why an early start is an accelerant, tough conversations with investors, and incredible stories of successful Startup businesses. Listen and learn how to get your first million!What to Focus on to Get a Hit [00:00:07] Welcome to the show, Sam Parr! [00:01:18] The early days of the Hustle [00:03:35] The gap between expectations and reality [00:05:57] When you get your first million dollars [00:07:37] The perks of balling out [00:09:41] Business impacts the capitalist society [00:12:31] Doing things that aren't just about safety [00:13:42] Emotional instability, compounding level of anxiety [00:15:07] Possibilities changes your worldview [00:17:42] Success doesn't often equate to happiness [00:19:21] What are the goals? [00:22:27] What was your number for security? [00:25:16] How agency and non-funded businesses grow [00:28:24] Genuine appreciation for the hustle, for the grind   [00:31:54] A Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl [00:35:22] We're built to get stuff done [00:36:33] Remove the timeframe, fulfill your obligations [00:38:59] Tough conversations with investors [00:41:13] Victim mentality to get out of a bad deal [00:42:06] The untold hustle stories [00:44:32] Massive capital gains versus annual cash flow [00:46:09] Stories of small operations minting profits [00:50:28] What can you make that can last 50 years? [00:53:31] When early success becomes an accelerant [00:56:41] Four years from now, a 50 million net worth? [00:58:55] If you're good at setting up a startup [01:01:00] Hiring a person to stir the business  [01:04:00] The perks of financial stability [01:06:45] What to focus on to get a hit

Our focus in today’s episode is transparency of founders about their startups. Wil converses with Andrew Warner, an internet, startup entrepreneur and founder of Mixergy.com. On Mixergy, proven entrepreneurs are invited to teach how they built their startups. Wil and Andrew define the lines between genuine curiosity and transactional conversations in building relationships, how topics and answers have consequences, and getting people to open up about themselves by sharing a little bit of yours. Listen to how transparency can affect business relationships.Episode Resources Mixergy.com - “Learn from Proven Entrepreneurs”What to Listen For [00:00:12] Who is Andrew Warner? [00:02:02] Why aren't founders more transparent about their startups?  [00:02:48] Why do I have to talk about the loser stuff?  [00:05:23] A little bit of a personal backstory. [00:08:15] Being open to others about your vulnerability.  [00:12:24] Everything has always worked until you fail.  [00:14:07] Nobody wants to hear how well you are doing. [00:15:08] If you do not have the tools of being vulnerable.  [00:16:16] People are always craving to be transparent of some things and hide others.   [00:19:01] The moment you're vulnerable, you become less defensive. [00:20:45] What are some areas you don't feel talking about publicly? [00:23:09] When one openly becomes honest and vulnerable, everyone becomes honest and vulnerable.   [00:26:48] Be genuinely curious to get people to open up.  [00:28:34] Do you need to share a little bit to get some during interviews? [00:30:38] Ask a double-barrel question to give some room for sensitivity.  [00:32:00] Being vulnerable makes building relationships faster. [00:34:52] Transactional relationships won't help build real connections. [00:38:33] Actually listen and give leading questions to actually connect.  [00:39:44] When people sit with you more and more, they value your time.  [00:44:34] Incapability of small talk, possibly a fatal flaw. [00:46:49] How to disarm someone so full of himself.   [00:52:32] Ask very personal questions to further relationships.  [00:57:51] The topics and answers that have consequences. [00:59:16] Look for topics that people do not need to defend.  [01:01:46] Be prepared for backfires.  [01:04:18] Do you wish you can take back what you've overshared?  [01:08:30] Tell people if you're uncomfortable sharing something.  [01:09:20] We connect with people with their flaws, it makes us human.

For Startups, what exactly do we owe our employees and to what extent?In this episode of the Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil Schroter & Elliot Schneier redefines the unwritten social contract between employers and employees, the problems that arise when issues remain unheard, and how transparency has changed the leadership approach of Startups. Listen in to hear why transparent leadership builds valuable trust!Episode Resources: Send us your questions - Therapy@Startups.com Email coaching@startups.com for Startups Coaching sessions  What To Listen For: [00:01:14] There's a lot that employees rightfully feel they are owed. [00:03:03] Some employee journeys are their first journey and founders should at least explain to them what they don't know.    [00:07:00] Most major problems are always mapped back to someone who wasn't heard.  [00:10:23] It's easier to just tell people what to do when a problem arises, but taking time to listen to employees builds so much trust both ways. [00:13:05] The paranoia about the concept of communicating in a transparent way.  [00:17:43] Transparency and honesty can be an adequate form of compensation. [00:19:07] Bringing the staff into conversations, makes them feel like teammates instead of cogs. [00:24:03] If you can't attach humility to your leadership, you really start to lose credibility. [00:27:47] Old school draconian type of work environment isn't getting you the top talents anymore. [00:31:43] Listening style of leadership is more natural than the learned-style approach. [00:35:02] Now, people feel comfortable enough to converse organizationally with leaders.   [00:37:33] "Do it because I said so," is a very weak argument.  [00:38:42] That social contract that we owe has created more human relationships, a metric of happiness.   [00:40:49] The more opportunity to have less problems amongst everyone, it's easier to lead a company. [00:43:30] Don't hesitate to reach out to us at coaching@startups.com. 

Are you working yourself into the ground without making much progress, if any?In this episode of the Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil Schroter & Elliot Schneier break down the failure of their company AffordIt, what actually happens when you run out of VC money, and when you should drop the ego & focus on doing what’s best for your mental health instead.Listen in to hear what our VC’s did when we ran out of money!Episode Resources: Send us your questions - Therapy@Startups.com Sign up for the Startups Newsletter - https://www.startups.com/newsletter What To Listen For: [00:00:12] - Welcome Elliot! [00:01:12] - The failure of AffordIt [00:02:42] - What happens when you run out of money from your captial raise? [00:05:19] - Obtaining VC in hard economic times [00:07:35] - What happens if you take on investors and don't become a unicorn? [00:10:12] - How to fail gracefully & maintain relationships [00:11:12] - Is it the investor's job to call when to fold the business? [00:13:08] - What we wished our investors would have done [00:15:35] - The importance of mental health in leadership and why no one cared at the time [00:18:04] - If investors won't advise you in critical moments, who will? [00:22:34] - The group that shatters your ego as a Founder the most [00:28:12] - AffordIt's breaking point [00:31:10] - The perfect person to tell you you're done [00:32:32] - Not sure if it's time for you to fold the tents or have a question? Email us at Therapy@Startups.com [00:36:57] - You don't have to run out of money to fold the tent

Do you really need an advisory board?In this episode of Startup Therapy, Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter talk about why an advisory board is important, how to build your own board of advisors, and creating connections that will lead you to endless opportunities.  Listen in for tips on getting advisors to expand your Startup network. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterWhat To Listen For: [00:00:58] The Advisory Board  [00:02:03] Why is an Advisory Board important? [00:06:02] How do you decide who joins the Advisory Board? [00:07:44] The Board members are interchangeable. [00:13:03] Advisers aren't that hard to get. [00:15:06] How to ask someone to be in the Advisory Board? [00:18:53] Don't get worked up on the number, get worked up on the quality. [00:21:17] These people must have perennial advice. [00:24:40] Connect to people who might be helpful to you and the business. Build a network. [00:25:53] Even if you lack credibility, connections can get you where you need to be.  [00:27:16] One person can give you the answer and fast forward everything. [00:31:08] "If you want to get advice, raise capital. And if you want to, raise capital, try to get advice."

Want to get your best employees to stick around?In this episode of Startup Therapy, Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter talk about how contribution outweighs years of service, capabilities dictate career progression, and why Startups enable accelerated career growth.   Listen in for tips on expanding careers without the hierarchy.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterWhat To Listen For: [00:02:20] Hierarchy isn't necessary for people on the team to grow.  [00:06:34] We want as flat of an organization as possible.   [00:10:05] What happens when you move to another company  [00:11:50] Growth essentially needs to be unpacked. [00:15:31] Cash needs to align with contribution. [00:20:09] Opportunity wherein you can't go to another company because you pay the most in your current position. [00:22:54] Understand what's motivating folks to stay. [00:28:28] The reflection of your progression is through your capabilities.  [00:30:27] Position progression shouldn't have anything to do with managing people.  [00:33:33] Don't look at the years of experience, anyone can level up. [00:36:19] Measure employee value by contributions, not by time employed. [00:39:26] In smaller companies you can get your hands on stuff you couldn't touch before. [00:42:45] People can outgrow the company, or grow faster than the company's growth.  [00:44:55] Title progression is not bound by who's ahead of you.

Have you planned your retirement?In this episode of Startup Therapy, Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter discuss why retirement goals should start now, how early testing changes your plans, and what objectives to set immediately.   Tune in for more retirement opportunities in your Startup game. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterWhat To Listen For: [00:01:06] Retirement is this day and age isn't what it used to be.   [00:03:00] This concept of retirement. The work many of us do just doesn't have the same kind of drudgery that it used that retirement is the safety net from pain.  [00:05:00] It's about spending some more time doing things that you are already doing.  [00:07:56] Our startups should be helping us to get to our goals without necessarily having to sell.  [00:09:11] Deferred living: You can work on a startup for decades and not have it sell, and if you didn't design it towards that every day enjoyment. [00:11:00] Retirement should be the things that you want to do. And the question is, how much of it can I do right now?  [00:12:50] Ease into it, figure out that one thing you want to do.  [00:18:30] It's like popping a bubble. If you just pop the bubble on whatever that dream is and it's still interesting, okay there's something there worth stressing for.    [00:22:05] With retirement, we would have endless choices of what to. But can you spend 16 hours a day with something that isn't a job.  [00:25:00] For any major life event transition, you should be testing, you should be preparing yourself. [00:26:20] Retirement should be something that you're constantly chipping away at, by creating more opportunities to spend the time the way you want it. [00:28:00] If we look at retirement as a gateway, we can't retire. The ability to play tests is there, there's no reason you can't be doing these things. [00:30:18] I don't think there are a lot of hobbies that activate us the way our jobs do. [00:32:34] Do you really think that top performing professional athletes were still playing because they need the money? It wasn't retirement because they achieved financial success, they had satisfied themselves. [00:34:14] There's a huge difference between wanting to retire and wanting to not do something you're already doing.  [00:34:55] The ultimate goal of retirement is that nothing changes, because all along we deliberately planned to get more and more time to do things we want to do. [00:37:00] Instead of waiting for this amazing moment that can change it all, change a number of things year end, year out, eventually the things you want to do during retirement are already in place. 

Does "No" mean never? Not exactly.Today on the Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil & Ryan discuss why saying "No" is just as much discipline as it is a luxury, how to build your confidence in saying "No", and when saying "No" can actually grow your business.Whatever you do, don't say "No" to this episode!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Do you have safety assets for your next milestone bet?In this episode of Startup Therapy, Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter discuss the difference between personal and business safety, an optimized approach to running a Startup, and creating a safety net for every milestone.Listen in and learn how base-level stability can fundamentally change a business. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterWhat To Listen For: [00:00:33] How can I feel safe from Startup scam? [00:02:10] Safety can be achieved at a much lower threshold. Now that I am safe, how do I become rich? [00:06:22] Personal safety vs Business safety [00:09:40] Optimizing approach to building a Startup [00:12:06] What safety looks like as a milestone? [00:13:40] Safety means you can weather a storm. What is a storm to you? [00:17:03] Startup narrative: What safety really is and how important is it for businesses? [00:19:31] Having a safety net allows you to do things you couldn't do. [00:21:11] Establish real, specific milestones  [00:23:45] The safety that businesses should be looking for. [00:25:49] Isolate your milestones, put your bet on something that doesn't impact your safety. [00:27:00] Create base-level stability for the business. [00:29:17] How focusing on getting to that safe point can fundamentally change the business. [00:32:43] Once you're safe, becoming rich becomes a luxury goal. [00:34:00] What do you need to be safe enough to make really big bets? [00:36:18] Figure out exactly what safety looks like.

Eager to prove that your business idea is the next big thing?In this episode of Startup Therapy, Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter discuss how to get more out of short-term goals, finding validation for Startup growth, and why funding doesn’t equal success. Listen in and learn how to optimize probability for the best possible outcome!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterWhat To Listen For: [00:00:36] At what point was not aiming big enough the problem? [00:03:01] Trying to hypothesize how big it could possibly be when you don't even know if it works when it's still small? [00:07:49] You could start with one broken argument that says, well, it's going to take the same amount of time to build… [00:13:37] You don't just set one goal and you kind of hang out until you hit that one goal.  [00:21:15] It now has to be a giant business to somehow have some sense for validation. [00:22:08] You probably also don't need the funding to do a good job in that market. [00:29:26] Make it work in a microcosm and then make it work somewhere else.

Reputation: we all have an understanding of the long term & lasting impacts it has on your standing as a Founder, but how do we cultivate our reputation?Today we discuss why reputation is so important, how your resume & reputation are two very different things, and what the cost incurred if we don't take our reputations seriously.Remember, your reputation is very hard to build & very easy to destroy - so listen up!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

As a Founder, running a Startup is inherently stressful, right? Wrong!Today we discuss why self-imposed stress is often unproductive and imagined, a few tactics to try that will help you leave Startup stress at work, and how to be more present when you are home.Listen in to learn how to relax!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Why is it that as Founders, we feel like we must constantly be chasing something - otherwise we don't feel satisfied?But sometimes happiness isn't just about reaching milestones & crossing finish lines, so today we talk about why you're probably running from your fears, unpack our own flawed logic behind not taking a moment to celebrate our own successes, and you can take that much needed moment to breathe for yourself.Listen in to find peace within Startup chaos!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Is it better to live as a Startup Founder in a major city?In this episode of Startup Therapy, Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter discuss working from home, where to locate a company, and their experiences living in different areas.Tune in to hear the benefits and setbacks of being in a major city.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterWhat To Listen For: [00:00:33] What are the pros and cons of being in a big city at this point?The pros are things like networking locally and easily socializing, the cons are lack of space and the costs are higher. [00:17:52] How has working from home currently changing how people live and work.People will see how easy it is to move and live in different locations. [00:21:39] What’s the benefit of moving to a place with cheaper housing?You can get a palace with is much nicer than cramped city living. [00:32:26] What about the importance of socialization?Socialization is done outside of working together.

Can downsizing your Startup be the right move for you?In this episode of Startup Therapy, Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter speak on the appropriate sizing of businesses, understanding the health of a business, and the importance of communicating these changes with your team.Listen in to foster the longevity of your business.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Do you have tactics that can be deployed to help manage during a crisis?In this episode of Startup Therapy, Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroer talk on the crisis’ they’ve dealt with in the past, what works in managing during those instances, and beneficial communication tactics.Tune in learn how to best communicate amidst chaos!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterWhat To Listen For: [00:00:19] Their experience with going through crisis’ [00:08:00] What happens after a crisis  [00:10:23] How they dealt with the 2000 - 2008 financial crisis [00:12:25] Zirtual financial mismanagement  [00:15:10] Lessons learned from handling crisis’ [00:30:22] On problematic communication during a crisis [00:35:25] Get everybody on the same side of the table

Do you feel like the recession is bringing your Startup to a standstill?In this episode of Startup Therapy, Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroer discuss how to make this recession beneficial for your business, how to delegate and refocus, and why you should buy-in during the recession.Listen in and learn how to optimize and weather the storm!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Does bringing on an investor mean you’re hiring you’re own boss?In this episode of Startup Therapy, Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter discuss, what happens once we close the deal with investors, the nature of the relationship between the investors and the Founders, and the decision of hiring your own boss.Tune in to understand how having investors could alter your business mode.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Have you thought about the inevitability of an employee leaving your Startup?On this episode of Startup Therapy, Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter discuss how former employees can be either an asset or a liability, learning to not take an employee leaving personally, and extending yourself to help them in their career path even after they leave. Listen in and learn how to encourage a happy send-off culture!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Shouldn’t we still have health, happiness, and comfort while trying to grow a Startup?On this episode of Startup Therapy, Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter discuss why it’s important to focus on quality of life as a Founder, giving yourself permission to enjoy and take care of yourself, and the power of quality of life as a form of compensation. Tune in and learn to take quality of life seriously!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

What if we determined that what we're doing now is the thing we want to be doing for the rest of our lives?On this episode of Startup Therapy, Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter discuss the fulfillment of finishing, the dynamic of passion within mastery, and the habit of deferred living.Listen in and learn to take advantage of the moment!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Are you aware that how you respond to difficult situations affects whether or not the best solutions will be created?On this episode of Startup Therapy, Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter discuss emotional intelligence, how your EQ affects business health, and why it’s important as a Founder to be self-aware that your personality influences the organization.Listen in to learn why emotional intelligence is important!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Do you know what it looks like to pace yourself for the long run as a Founder?On today’s episode of Startup Therapy, Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter talk about how to set your pace, how sprinting is an easy trap to fall into, and what happens when you push yourself too hard.Remember, it’s a marathon - not a sprint!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

As parents and potential parents, what should we be teaching kids about Startup companies?On today’s episode of Startup Therapy, Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter talk about how entrepreneurship is not taught formally, the benefit of teaching it at a young age, and how ownership of ideas is important to a child’s intellectual growth.Tune in to learn what can be done to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit in children.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

When is it okay for a Founder to be open with their team and business partners about their personal problems?On this episode of Startup Therapy, Wil Schroter & Ryan Rutan open up about their past & current struggles with anxiety, health issues, and being overly critical with themselves and their Startups.Listen in to hear how we’ve come to learn to deal with our flaws in a healthy and productive manner, it can be done!Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Starting a company is hard, growing a Startup is slow, and frankly there aren't many Super Bowl type moments. Don't get discouraged, instead celebrate the small wins because the small wins daily lead to success over time.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Surely by now we've all seen The Social Network, but how much of a concern is it really if someone tries to steal our idea?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Running a Startup can be chaotic, we know this, but is it true that problems will go away with time? Not necessarily. Some do, some don't, listen in to learn how & when to align your expectations for the unexpected.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Starting a Startup is brutal, hard work - at what point do our companies finally start to pay us back?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

The $0 salary, is it the cool & honorable thing to do, or is it completely & utterly ridiculous? We'll find out today on this episode of Startup Therapy.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

On today's episode of Startup Therapy we answer the question: what happens after we achieve the success we've worked so hard to get?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

We talk a lot about how much time we spend on our Startups, but what about doing stuff that's not Startup related? On today's episode of Startup Therapy we discuss why this important - not only for your own sanity, but for the growth of your company.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

On today's episode of Startup Therapy we're going to talk about the often misunderstood "Side Hustle" - why it's important, where it fits into Startup Life, and how to survive it... or when it's time to quit.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

As Founders, the day you incorporate your company you become a manager. Today on Startup Therapy we talk about why management is important, how no one's truly qualified for this role, and if you, as a Founder, even need to be your own manager.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

As Founders, how can we deal with personal hardships that are often a result of our own Startups - while we're still running them? On today's episode of Startup Therapy, we share very personal stories of our own struggles with health and well-being as we built Startups.comSign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Ever caught yourself thinking - I don't love my Startup like I used to? Today we talk about similarities between relationships and Startups, why it's okay if the passion really has faded away, and a few actionable things you can do about it to help move on.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

It's a fact, most Startups fail...but we never actually think that could happen to ours, right? In today's episode of Startup Therapy we talk about how to bounce back from failure, why it's not as bad as it sounds, and we share our own stories of past failures.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

The Founder's journey can be a lonely one, but it doesn't have to be. In today's episode of Startup Therapy, we talk about why you should consider hosting Founder Groups, how they're helpful, and how they've helped us with our Startups.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

As Founders, we think we know how our products and businesses will look and function for years to come, but as with time it's nearly impossible to expect the unexpected. In today's episode of the Startup Therapy podcast, we discuss what our Startups looked like in year 1, so you might have a better idea of what to expect in your first year too.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

As a Founder, do you find yourself overwhelmed...and frustrated that things aren't moving forward as fast as you like? Startups are often portrayed as a go big or go home affair, and as Founders it's easy to get caught up chasing monumental goals and forget about the daily actions that will actually get us there.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

As a Founder, do you find yourself feeling isolated, anxious, or alone? We've all heard the phrase, "it's lonely at the top", but as Founders we do far more than hear it...we live it. On today's Startup Therapy, we're going to talk about why loneliness is part of the Founder journey and what we can do to minimize the negative impacts it has on our lives, our families, and our Startups.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

As a Founder, does it feel like every time you walk into a room you're being judged before a single word comes out of your mouth? Do you feel like it's always an uphill battle to be taken seriously? On today's Startup Therapy, we'll look at why it takes so much work to be taken seriously and what we can do to thumb the scales in our favor.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

As Founders we value our freedom, but how much? When was the last time you considered the value, and the cost, of your freedom as a Founder? On today's episode of Startup Therapy, we'll discuss both sides of the Founder Freedom coin - the costs and the benefits.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

As Founders, we know that Startups fail, and we end up moving on, but what happens when a Startup's doing really well but we want to move on anyway? On today's episode we discuss the reasons you may be compelled to quit your own Startup, how to fill the role you leave empty, and what life after quitting might look like.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

As a Founder, I've asked myself...can I ever be an employee again? What happens if I'm forced into reporting to someone else now that I've tasted the freedom of Founderhood. Maybe you have too? On today's Startup Therapy, we'll discuss what happens when you have to stop being a boss and start having one.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

As a Founder, when the business is struggling it can feel that that struggle is linked to your personal life, your personal safety, and you could suffer greatly as a result. On today's Startup Therapy podcast we'll talk about how important it is to isolate feelings of startup peril from those of personal safety, for your good and that of the business.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

As Founders we spend a lot of time thinking about what we want to accomplish, but have you ever sat down and really given thought to using the freedom that comes with being a Founder to say, "Here's some things I NEVER want to do again"? On today's episode, we talk about the power of reducing stress by building a Startup we love, in an environment intentionally designed to avoid the things we loathe.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Is remote work bullshit? In today's episode of the Startup Therapy podcast were going to talk about when and how remote work & work-from-home policies can really have a positive impact on a Startup.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Does the idea of building a business worth millions that leaves you, as the Founder, broke seem unfair? On today's episode of the Startup Therapy podcast we'll explore why building something of great value doesn't directly or immediately turn into value for us, as Founders.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Paying people with equity is a time-honored tradition in cash-starved startup land, however, have you ever stopped to consider the real cost? In today's Startup Therapy podcast we'll talk about the real cost of treating equity like cash when it represents 100%  of the future return on your efforts.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

On today's Startup Therapy podcast we're going to discuss why superior managerial skills don't necessarily trump a Founder's passion and knowledge as a company scales, and how to decide what to let go of...and when.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

We all know the value of having a star player on our team or an amazing co-Founder, but what about the opposite? On today's episode of the Startup Therapy podcast, we'll discuss how to handle, identify, and handle toxic teammates before their impact spreads across the organization.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

As Founders, we're all familiar with the concept of an exit plan. In today's Startup Therapy podcast we discuss what you actually CAN plan for,  what happens if you don't plan at all, or if you don't actually want to sell.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

When was the last time you asked yourself - "How much should I actually be working?" Probably never because the answer is obvious, 24/7 right? In today's Startup Therapy podcast we're going to dig into the notion that more hours equal more growth. While there's truth to that assumption, we'll explore how to think quality and not quantity when it comes to your weekly punch card.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Have you ever asked yourself, do I need to raise capital to be successful? In today's episode of Startup Therapy, we'll talk about you why probably don't need to regret NOT raising capital, at least not yet. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

How are you feeling today? Chances are, as a Founder - some version of tired, worn out, mentally foggy, or stressed part of the answer. Today, we're going to dive into burn out. How to see it coming, how to avoid it, and how to recharge when you've gone too far.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

In today's bonus episode, we talk to Steve Blank - the godfather of Silicon ValleyLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

As a Founder, when was the last time you felt like you had no idea what you were doing? Today we talk about why feeling like a fraud is actually a very normal part of Founder life.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Stay longer. Work harder. Sleep less...as startup Founders we've all gone through periods where this felt necessary. Today we'll talk about what you can do to balance life and startup, and why it's actually beneficial for you and your startup to do so.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

As a Founder, you've likely spent years in the build-up to actually starting your company, but how much time did you dedicate to preparing your spouse for the leap into entrepreneurship?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

50-50, even-Steven, when splitting equity equal is best, right? Today on the Startup Therapy podcast we discuss why cutting things right down the middle is rarely fair to start and only gets further out of balance as time goes on.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Why is it everyone talks about starting companies, but nobody ever tells us how to shut them down? Today on the Startup Therapy podcast we'll cover how to wind down a startup with as much grace as possible.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

What if I told you growth doesn't always make a startup better? Today on the Startup Therapy podcast we're going to talk about why the focus should be making our startups better, not just bigger.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

What if the advice you're getting from the smartest people you know...is wrong?Today on the Startup Therapy Podcast we'll discuss how to seek advice, how to ensure you're getting the best advice, and how not to fall into the trap of letting other people's experiences dictate your actions.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Does your startup produce more anxiety than revenue? Does your morning routine consist of running down an endless list of worries? Do you lie awake at night and regret ever starting your business? Today we're going to explore why anxiety is a part of every founder's life.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

As a Founder, should your startup's salary be on par with whatever you were making at your last job? Or should you tough it out and not get paid at all? The answer is probably neither of those options.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

One of the most common questions among Founders is - Do I have to raise money for my startup?What that question generally means is: "Can you tell me how to raise money and where to find it?"Sure, every startup could put more money to use but does every startup need funding?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

What if you could be completely broke, on the verge of bankruptcy at home, while still running a thriving business?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

There are endless stories about Founders cashing out on their startups - but what happens to those Founders after the exit?  Are they happier for it?  If not, then how does that affect the path that current Founders are on?  Wil and Ryan dive into real post-mortems of what happens to Founders after they sell their company, and the painful emotional issues that come with life post-exit.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

When we think about "startup exits" we think about "millions and billions".  But how life-changing could an exit of as "little" as $250,000 be?  A lot more than you might think, which is important because most people are far more likely to get to a $250k exit than millions or billions. Wil and Ryan unpack exactly how $250k could fundamentally change your life and how trying to get to that milestone first could be a more achievable and powerful goal than holding out for the big Willy Wonka ticket.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

A true startup is a meritocracy where big degrees and titles shouldn't determine how capable your team is or how fast each person can grow.  We talk about creating an environment where each team member can put their past accomplishments aside and focus exclusively on what they have contributed to the startup today. Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

If you find yourself focusing more on not losing than winning then it could be time to fold the tents and pack up camp, but when should you make that call?Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

What if instead of focusing our startup around our product or revenue - we started optimizing for our own happiness?  What if our work hours gave us more time with our kids or who we worked with were only the people we enjoyed the most?  It's possible!  The key is thinking about your startup differently by using "personal happiness" as a core tenet of how the company works.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

In the age of "unicorn valuations" and giant funding rounds, the world has lost sight of how valuable a startup can be with even a million dollars of revenue.  Ryan and Wil do a detailed walk through of exactly how important a million dollar business can be to a Founder and how dangerous it is to be lead astray by big numbers that have very little personal value to a you as a Founder.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Many of us play a horrible game of comparison, whereby we compare ourselves to other Founders, other startups, and if we're (un)lucky, the press and social media barrage we see of other people's success.  It's all BS.  The moment we start comparing ourselves to other people's apparent success, we all lose.  In this episode we talk about how to "stay in your own lane" and avoid the fallacy of following false idols in the startup world.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

No one talks about the intense emotional cost of being a startup Founder (so of course we do!)  From missing time with your loved ones to putting all of your chips on a single bet (and losing), we talk about the toll this takes on a Founder and what you can do to help alleviate some of this intense stress in your own journey.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter

Wil and Ryan debunk the myth that startup Founders can work on multiple ideas at once and just pick the best one to run with.  We unpack the issues that come with trying to split your focus and how costly that decision can be.  Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter