Being a Founder: A Duality game

There is no balance

In this game, nothing is ever stable. If you dream of being a founder, remove the so called "work-life balance" from your dictionary. It’s impossible. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar. From the second you open your eyes to the second you close them, the only thing you’ll be thinking about is the business. Your brain won’t switch off—even when you’re sleeping. I wish someone had told me this earlier.

Reality distortion

When 1 thing goes right, 10 others go wrong.

But you have to smile and keep convincing people that your company is primed to be the most disruptive business of the decade. Deep inside, you're paranoid about the other 99 things that could go wrong. That one thing going right is what gives you the fuel to fix the bad things and keep going.

Intensity

Being a founder is the most intense job you can imagine—more intense than being a top athlete or artist. Yes, you heard me right. And the reason? When those guys aren’t performing, they can switch off and relax. Plus, they have contracts and money coming in every week. You have nothing, and the reality is that all your efforts and sacrifices could lead to zero payouts. Nothing is guaranteed in this game.

Lonely

Being a founder is a lonely job. I didn’t see this one coming because I thought: I’m going to build this company, hire people I like, and set my own schedule. But the reality is completely different. Most of the time, everything feels broken. But you can’t make excuses. You can’t tell your team. There’s no “If we could only do this” or “If only this could happen.” There are no miracles in this game. Only two options: either you figure out or you live without it.

Ask

Being a founder isn’t something you’re born with. At the beginning, you won’t know what you’re doing—and that’s okay. Ask for help, or just do it. You’ll be better off. Books and podcasts don’t work. Tricks and tips don’t either (at least for me). The best way to learn is by talking to other founders/mentors and experimenting. Be direct and willing to ask for what you want. But be aware: there’s a 90% chance you’ll get a no.

Firing

One of the hardest things you’ll have to deal with is firing people. It makes you feel bad. You hate yourself for days or even weeks. Because you made the decision to hire that person, and now you have to let them go. You have to accept that you made a mistake and trust that next time, you’ll get it right.

Faith/Doubt

As a founder, you are the company, and the company is you. Your faith in the vision keeps you moving forward, even when everything feels uncertain. But doubt is always there, whispering in the background, reminding you of all the ways things could fall apart.

Faith is what pushes you to take risks, to believe in the impossible, to convince others to join you on the journey. Doubt keeps you grounded, forcing you to question your assumptions and always plan for the worst. Both are necessary.

Thanks for reading!