The Founder’s Paradox: How to Balance Certainty With Uncertainty
We are living in uncertain times. You could say this has always been true — life is unpredictable and so are we. People are complex. There is confusion and chaos,…
Founder's paradox
In this series, we challenge concepts that may seem contradictory. Healthy organizations thrive by examining conventional thinking and delving deeper.
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The Founder’s Paradox: How to Stay Focused When Other Opportunities Keep Tempting You
It takes courage to have a single focus. I have been thinking about this a lot lately. Because while it takes chutzpah to set really ambitious goals, that is not where…
The Founder’s Paradox: How to Know What Decisions to Make and What Should Be Left for Others
We make decisions all the time. Some are small, subtle, you could even say reflexive — grab a coat in case of rain, scoop up the kids’ backpacks rather than waiting for…
The Founder’s Paradox: How Do You Throw Credit When the Big Idea Was Yours?
Few actions spark real disgust at work. But I can think of one that never fails to cause a personal fury. It is when someone takes another person’s idea and presents it…
The Founder’s Paradox: How to Prioritize What Others Need When Everyone Is Focused on You
Gravity is what holds our world together. It is the force that draws objects together — literally bringing us down to Earth. But the word gravity can also be used to…
The Founder’s Paradox: How to Add Complexity and Avoid It
More customers, more people, more process, more technology — leading to more success. And success leads to financial gains which can be reinvested to grow more customers,…
The Founder’s Paradox: How Do You Respond Instantly When You Are Super Busy?
You are so busy that you are tired. Really tired. Seven-days-a-week, 12-hours-a-day tired. And you still have more to do, more than seems possible for just one person.…
The Founder’s Paradox: How to Create Space for New Ideas in a Company That Is Already Wildly Successful
What does it mean to “create space”? It is interesting because the word “space” is both vague and specific. It can be a blank area or a boundless expanse or even the…
The Founder’s Paradox: How to Say No When Big Customers Say Yes
It is harder to say “no” than it is to say “yes.” This is not just my opinion. There is significant research devoted to this concept. Acquiescence bias, social…
The Founder’s Paradox: How to Reject Work/Life Balance and Still Have a Happy Team
I reject work/life balance. I always have. But some people find this hard to understand at first, which is why I share my perspective on the topic fairly often. So, it…
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