Startup Therapy

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 Newsletter

https://www.startups.com/newsletter

Resources:

• 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 Newsletter

https://www.startups.com/newsletter

Resources:

• 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 Newsletter

https://www.startups.com/newsletter

Resources:

• 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 Newsletter

https://www.startups.com/newsletter

Resources:

• 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 Newsletter

https://www.startups.com/newsletter

Resources:

• 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 Newsletter

https://www.startups.com/newsletter

Resources:

• 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 Newsletter

https://www.startups.com/newsletter

Resources:

• 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 Newsletter

https://www.startups.com/newsletter

Resources:

• 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 Newsletter

https://www.startups.com/newsletter

Resources:

• 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 Newsletter

https://www.startups.com/newsletter

Resources:

• 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