Let's add another one to the series of entrepreneurial advice that just really irritates me. Today, I'm going after "improve 1% every day" — you know, that meme or mantra about making tiny little improvements every day because they supposedly compound into something massive over time. This one is infuriating, and I'll tell you why: … Continue reading The 1% Improvement Myth: Why Customer Conversations Beat Micro-Improvements Every Time
Category: Mental Health
Many Heads, Not Many Hats: The Founder’s Identity Crisis
We often joke in entrepreneurship about founders having to wear many hats. But I think that metaphor is wrong. It's not about swapping hats. It's about growing entirely new heads. Not just the cover of the head — the head itself. A new brain that thinks different, speaks different, prioritizes different. And somehow, these heads … Continue reading Many Heads, Not Many Hats: The Founder’s Identity Crisis
The Currents of a Founder
I was reading Brandon Sanderson's latest novel, Wind and Truth, when I came across a sentence that stopped me cold: "A stronger current makes for stronger fish." That's it. That's what entrepreneurship is. We're constantly encountering currents that either facilitate what we want to accomplish—the businesses we want to build, the lives we want to … Continue reading The Currents of a Founder
The Art of Productive Procrastination
As I sit here writing this article, I should probably be doing something else. Something more impactful. Something that actually moves my business forward. But here's the thing about being a solopreneur: nobody's going to tell you what to do or in what order to do it. If I don’t keep myself accountable, nothing will … Continue reading The Art of Productive Procrastination
Tipping Over
These last weeks have been a bit much. What do they say? “Take a break before the break takes you?” Well, I got quite close to that this week. https://share.transistor.fm/s/736a01c0 I've been quite active working on Podscan in many different ways, and it has been overwhelming at times. I found a way to cope with … Continue reading Tipping Over
Unexpected Downtime: Stress as Enhancement vs. Stress as Panic
My therapist recently introduced me to the concept of stress as enhancement in exposure therapy. The basic idea is that a little bit of stress can focus you to a point where you make new neural connections and realize new (and beneficial) insights that help you change for the better. Well, I was able to … Continue reading Unexpected Downtime: Stress as Enhancement vs. Stress as Panic
“Authenticity” in the Digital Age
There’s a cardinal rule to effective digital writing. You have to write for attention first, then add whatever message you might have. Lead with value, lead with insights, and start with the outcome. That’s how writing for social media works right now, and it begs the question: is this still authentic self-presentation? Cory Zue pondered … Continue reading “Authenticity” in the Digital Age
Take a Break
Instead of writing a lengthy article this week, I pointed my iPhone at my face, clipped on a wireless mic, put the puppy in the background of the shot, and hit record. I share my thoughts about forcing yourself to take breaks, even when you feel like you shouldn’t. I dive into the times in … Continue reading Take a Break
Founder Mental Health Pitfalls
This week, I chatted with Patrick Campbell about his exit of ProfitWell to Paddle for $200 million. One of the most mind-blowing things I experienced during that conversation was hearing Patrick tell me that he feels he needs to build something else to prove that this exit wasn't just a fluke. I did not expect … Continue reading Founder Mental Health Pitfalls
Realistic Building in Public for Introverted Founders
As an introverted entrepreneur or creator, sharing your work and process in public can be challenging. Many of us tend to hunker down and focus on our products or projects, often to the exclusion of building an audience or engaging with potential customers or clients. But sharing your work and process in public has many … Continue reading Realistic Building in Public for Introverted Founders