February 29, 2024

Episode 533: Killing It! Acceptance As The Fastest Path Forward

58 minutes

In This Episode

In this next episode of our special series, Killing It!, hosts Jason Henrichs and Alex Johnson sit down with Matt Harris, current coach, consultant, advisor and Bloom Credit (credit data solutions) co-founder. Starting a company is hard, at any age, Matt was 22 when he began his journey. It's not just having an idea for your startup, financial backing, energy and good people around you, as most know, it's all the hurdles and discoveries of everything you need to fix and do, that affects your idea, along the way. The journey, and roller coaster, comes with lots of stressors and takes its toll. It can be difficult to step away or step aside. How do you process? How do you separate your identity from the company after investing so much of yourself in it.

The founding journey is hard but doesn't have to be. Accept what is. 'Failure' (whatever that may mean, and it's different for everyone) is not the end of the story. This candid discussion is a master class for startup founders; coaching founders, rather than just investing in their businesses, has become an impactful and authentic way for Matt to make even more change in the world.

Read the entire transcript here.

Podcast Content:

Chapter 1: [00:00] Welcome and Introduction

Brett King introduces the theme of the episode, featuring Matt Harris of Bloom Credit, discussing the entrepreneurial journey and mental health.

Chapter 2: [05:00] The Origins of Bloom Credit

Matt Harris shares how Bloom Credit started, its mission to tackle credit report inaccuracies, and the challenges of building a fintech infrastructure company.

Chapter 3: [15:30] The Emotional Toll of Startup Life

A deep dive into the psychological and physical impact of entrepreneurship, as Matt reveals his diagnosis of complex PTSD and its root causes.

Chapter 4: [25:45] Decoupling Identity from Work

Matt discusses the struggle of separating personal identity from his role as a founder, and the difficult decision to step away from Bloom Credit.

Chapter 5: [35:20] The Transition Year

Matt describes the year-long process of transitioning out of his CEO role, finding a new leader for Bloom Credit, and preparing for life beyond the startup.

Chapter 6: [45:00] Healing and Rebuilding

Insights into Matt’s recovery process, including movement therapy, breathing exercises, and the importance of restoring a sense of safety to his nervous system.

Chapter 7: [55:10] Coaching Founders: A New Path

Matt explains his transition to coaching, addressing mental health and productivity challenges for founders while helping them build sustainable practices.

Chapter 8: [01:05:30] Addressing Hustle Culture

A critique of grind culture, with Matt presenting evidence-backed strategies for improving productivity by working smarter, not harder.

Chapter 9: [01:15:00] The Importance of Acceptance

Matt reflects on the power of acceptance in overcoming failure and navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurial life.

Chapter 10: [01:25:00] Closing Thoughts

The hosts wrap up with key takeaways from Matt’s journey and advice for founders facing similar struggles, emphasizing resilience and self-awareness.