Startup Therapy

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