HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT INVESTOR

Founders make their biggest mistakes when they treat funding like a transaction instead of a relationship.

The check comes fast, the deal looks good, and suddenly you’re in a long-term partnership with someone who doesn’t share your values or your vision. I’ve seen what happens when this goes wrong. It’s not just tension in a board meeting — it’s the beginning of a slow drift, or worse, a total derailment.

Every strong founder-investor relationship I’ve seen is built on three things:

Character: Do they do what they say they’ll do? Are they transparent and grounded in integrity? Or do you sense hidden agendas?

Competency: Are they offering insight, experience, or network access that sharpens your thinking and helps you grow? Money is table stakes — great investors bring more.

Connection: Do they believe in your Forever Agreements? Do you walk away from meetings aligned and energized or stressed and second-guessing?

Read more in How to Choose the Right Investors.

When all three are present, you’ve got a shot at building something great together. But if even one is missing, no amount of capital is worth the trade-off. Desperation leads to bad deals, and bad deals are hard to undo.

So before you say yes, ask yourself: Is this someone I’d want beside me ten years from now, through both the good and the bad?

PERSPECTIVES

“Chase the vision, not the money. The money will end up following you.”
— Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos

MARK MY WORDS

The investors you bring on board don’t just fund your company. They shape your decisions, your board dynamics, and your day-to-day realities as a founder. The quality of that relationship will either create friction or accelerate your success.

If you’re still figuring out your strategy, your Forever Agreements, or your Ideal Customer, pause before raising capital. Because if you’re not clear from the start, it won’t end well. And if you get this wrong? It’s not just a rough board meeting — it’s like a divorce, only worse.

Take your time. Be deliberate. The right investors will help you build something that lasts.

TUNE IN

Consistency vs. Intensity: Building a Culture That Lasts
Too much hustle breaks teams, and too much structure slows them down. In this episode, I discuss how founders can use systems to apply intensity without burning people out.

You’ll learn:

• Why intense effort without structure leads to burnout
• How consistency fuels sustainable high performance
• What the “Extra Mile” really looks like when done right
  

[Watch Now]

ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD

In case you missed it, here’s more from Founder’s Framework:

Why Founders Get Stuck, and How Ego Development Can Help

Some founders stall out because of their mindset. This article explores the stages of ego development and shows how growing as a leader is often the foundation for long-term progress.

[Read Now]

The 1964 single, "Can’t Buy Me Love” hits the right note this week because it captures the truth that money can’t replace trust, alignment, and shared vision in relationships.