The real founder mode

"Founder mode" is a leadership mindset, popularized by Y Combinator's Paul Graham,

It emphasizes deep involvement in product details, direct problem-solving, fostering innovation, and taking ownership.

It's about leading with speed, context, and a hands-on approach to maintain a company's scrappiness and vision, focusing on results over popularity.

And I appreciate this term, because it does do a great job at distinguishing how founders should operate

From how we're typically taught to operate as LargeCo manager.

But at the same time, the term also always makes me giggle.

Because I know what founders Paul had in mind...

...Steve Jobs...

...Elon...

...Brian Chesky... (Who maybe created the term?)

Pioneers who steer their companies down to every detail.

Who know exactly what to do

Driving the success

By injecting every part of it with their brilliance.

The funny part?

That's not at all how most real founders operate.

ESPECIALLY first-time founders.

ESPECIALLY in the early days.

Let me tell you:

I've been lucky enough to work with hundreds of startups over the past 5 years;

Most founders DON'T micromanage every detail.

Most founders DON'T inject every decision with their brilliance.

Most founders eventually NEED to hire managers and people who know more than they do.

Here's the truth:

Most founders feel pretty unsure a lot of the time.

And pretending that they don't

That all REAL founders lead unabashedly from the front

Is just another way

To make most founders

Feel like not founders at all.

And what's the point of that?


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