What does it really take to build something new when there’s no blueprint, no certainty, and no external validation?

In this episode of Tenacity with Sonia C., Sonia sits down with Sam Berman, founder of LARC, to talk about the internal war of entrepreneurship, the emotional cost of building, and the mindset required to keep going when doubt, isolation, and pressure hit hard.

Sam shares how LARC grew from a napkin sketch into a company serving some of the largest organizations in the world. He breaks down why obsession matters, when founders need to pivot, how to validate an idea early, why integrity matters more than skill when building a team, and what unresolved personal weight can do to a founder’s ability to lead.

This is a practical conversation about resilience, conviction, market validation, decision-making, and the discipline required to keep building when the path is unclear.

Key Takeaways

• The real battle in entrepreneurship is often psychological, not operational.
• Obsession can fuel endurance, but it does not replace market validation.
• If the market gives no traction, founders need to pivot honestly rather than romanticize the struggle.
• Big ideas require founders to dismantle “I’m not enough” thinking and stop playing small.
• Teams matter because founders do not need to have every skill themselves.
• Integrity is a stronger hiring filter than raw skill.
• Founders need to make decisions, move, and course-correct instead of waiting for certainty.
• Emotional discipline matters because fear, anger, rejection, and doubt can distort leadership.
• Unresolved personal weight does not disappear under pressure; building often brings it to the surface.
• Bold outreach can open doors, even with very large companies.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands