Startup Therapy

By Startups.comBusiness

Startup Therapy episodes

September 27, 2021We Only Get to be Great at One Thing
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.

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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
43 min
September 20, 2021Flee Your Overpriced City
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.

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Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast
https://www.startups.com/begin
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Send an email to [email protected]

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
41 min
September 01, 2021In Our Darkest Hour, Where Do We Find Hope?
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.

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Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast
https://www.startups.com/begin
Join our Network of Top Founders
Send an email to [email protected]

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
23 min
August 30, 2021Great Ideas Start as Dumb Ideas
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.

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Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast
https://www.startups.com/begin
Join our Network of Top Founders
Send an email to [email protected]

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
21 min
August 25, 2021Why Is Everyone Counting My Money?
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.

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Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast
https://www.startups.com/begin
Join our Network of Top Founders
Send an email to [email protected]

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?
33 min
August 23, 2021Beware of the Absentee Landlord in the Cap Table
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.

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Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast
https://www.startups.com/begin
Join our Network of Top Founders
Send an email to [email protected]

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
44 min
August 18, 2021Startup Culture is a Reflection of its Founders
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.

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Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast
https://www.startups.com/begin
Join our Network of Top Founders
Send an email to [email protected]

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
39 min
August 16, 2021Why Cofounders Often Don't Last
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.

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Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast
https://www.startups.com/begin
Join our Network of Top Founders
Send an email to [email protected]

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
35 min
August 09, 2021The Case for Growing Slowly
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.

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Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast
https://www.startups.com/begin
Join our Network of Top Founders
Send an email to [email protected]

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
34 min
August 04, 2021Don't Rush Into Your Second Act
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.

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Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast
https://www.startups.com/begin
Join our Network of Top Founders
Send an email to [email protected]

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
34 min

About Startup Therapy

From the publisher's feed

The "No BS" version of how startups are really built, taught by actual startup Founders who have lived through all of it. Hosts Wil Schroter and Ryan Rutan talk candidly about the intense struggles…