It’s becoming pretty clear we’re not going to be able to raise our next round of funding. I feel like no one is giving any clear direction about what to do from here. Do we keep waiting? Shut it down? Why doesn’t anyone ever talk about this?
How to Find Minimum Viable Happiness
I know that someday my startup can achieve all of my life dreams and make me happy (right?). But right now everything is a mess and I feel like crap. What can I do to get my head around some goals that can get me fired up again to press on?
The Risk of Trading Vulnerability for Opportunity
I’m just getting started and thinking about giving away some equity for a Cofounder and some early investment. It sounds like a lot of startups do this, but is there something I should be considering before I hand out all of this equity I won’t get back?
Stop Glorifying Hustle Porn
I’m getting inundated by Startup Hustle Porn which seems to tell me the only way to grow my startup is to work every waking hour and apparently crush things. Is this really what I’m supposed to be doing?
The Case for Growing Slowly
I wanna go fast! Startups are all about scale and speed (or so I read on Twitter) and my genius idea is no different. How could there possibly be a case for growing slowly if what I really want is a game-changing startup?
Don’t Rush into Your Second Act
I just wrapped up my last startup and I’m totally ready to take on the next one! I just had this great idea 5 seconds ago and I’m running with it! If I just had a good outcome on my first run as a Founder, my second one should be even better, right?
Beware the Absentee Landlord of Equity
I’ve got a cofounder who is leaving the company and has a huge chunk of equity. Am I missing something or do they now get the same amount of value that I’ve got except they never have to work for it again while I slave away for the same benefit for the next decade?
Startup Culture is a Reflection of its Founders
The culture of my startup is starting to head south. People are starting to get real toxic, everyone’s complaining that they are overworked, and the vibe is getting really bad. Where is all this coming from and how do I change course?
Why Cofounders Often Don’t Last
I’m talking to my new Cofounder about how we split up equity but in the back of my mind, it occurred to me that they may not stick with this thing. Should I be concerned that my Cofounder could up and leave some point, and if so, how should I plan for it?
Adding Staff Isn’t a Sign of Success, Revenue is
Celebrating adding staff is like celebrating the cost of a wedding — it’s the liability, not the achievement. If staffing up isn’t a sign of success, then why do so many startups shout from the rooftops about how quickly they are scaling up? Doesn’t adding staff mean that a startup must be doing well? Growth and staffing go hand in hand right?
The Lesson We Get From “Once-Hot” Startups
I’ve watched tons of ‘once hot’ startups come and go, from Meerkat to Quibi, WeWork to Theranos. What are some of the things we can learn as Founders about how to manage our own startups when everyone is telling us how amazing we are? What are some of the pitfalls that come with the new hotness?