Startup Therapy

By Startups.comBusiness

Startup Therapy episodes

May 17, 2021Why Nobody Returns Our Sacrifices?
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.

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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
00:48 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
41 min
May 12, 2021Even in Failure, Founders Deserve True Respect
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.

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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
00:19 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
35 min
May 10, 2021Can I Lead Without Being Liked?
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?

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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
00:30 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
44 min
May 07, 2021When to Admit "I messed up."
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.

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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
00:09 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
32 min
May 03, 2021Who is "Qualified to be a Founder"?
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.

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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 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
43 min
April 26, 2021How to Sell the Vision
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.

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Resources:
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
41 min
April 19, 2021Manage Downside First - Big Opportunity Second
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.

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Resources:
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
38 min
April 12, 2021Why Money Can't Buy Happiness
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.

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Resources:
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
31 min
April 05, 2021Is This the Right Cofounder?
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.

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Resources:
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
50 min
March 29, 2021 How Transparent Should I Be With My Staff?
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.
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33 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…