Founder Mode can be a double-edged sword. It’s the mindset you use to lean in, tackle challenges, and drive your company forward. But the same intensity that helps you navigate the Stages of Development can also become overwhelming — for both you and your team. The key is knowing when to step in and when to step back.
Here are 5 strategies for navigating Founder Mode successfully:
As your company scales, you should master the ability to shift between modes and recognize when Founder Mode is serving you — and when it’s not. By fully owning this balance, you’ll lead with clarity, empower your team, and build a resilient company you’ll love forever.
PERSPECTIVES
“To some degree, you control your life by controlling your time.” — Conrad Hilton
“I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.”
― Wayne Gretzky
MARK MY WORDS
In the early stages of building your company, Founder Mode is like a superpower — it keeps the wheels turning. You’re solving problems, making things happen, and burning the midnight oil to push the company forward. But as growth sets in, that all-hands, all-hours, all-you mentality starts to crack. What worked before now feels like it’s grinding you and your team down, creating friction and bottlenecks.
The goal here isn’t to abandon Founder Mode. (I wouldn’t have written an entire series about it if that was the case.) It’s about knowing when to flip the switch — when bold moves and decisions need to be made. But it’s just as crucial to know when you’ll switch back out of Founder Mode and let your team drive. Shifting in and out of Founder Mode with intention takes practice and discipline, but with the right people in the right seats in your organization, you’ll grow without burning out.
FOUNDER TOOL KIT
Annual Planning Checklist Starting the year with a solid plan is how you drive real progress for the year. Teams that begin with clarity and alignment build momentum quickly.
If you haven’t started your annual planning yet, this checklist will help your Senior Leadership Team get organized.
You'll learn:
How to run effective Annual Planning Meetings
Strategies for setting SMART goals and aligning your team
Ways to inspire and engage your entire organization
I cohost the Founder's Framework Podcast with Cole Abbott, our Brand Strategist at Ninety, to share practical insights for founders. We focus on helping leaders grow, align their teams, and scale effectively.
Topics include:
Climbing the Stages of Development
Building agreements-based cultures
Overcoming common roadblocks
If you're looking for actionable advice tailored to founders, give us a listen.
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