![Obsessions Of A Startup CEO Coach [Tim Porthouse]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!I7nv!,w_80,h_80,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F015bf8c6-dc7e-4789-ba60-314765baea1e_1128x1128.png)
![Obsessions Of A Startup CEO Coach [Tim Porthouse]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!I7nv!,w_36,h_36,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F015bf8c6-dc7e-4789-ba60-314765baea1e_1128x1128.png)
Be Careful How You 'Founder Mode'
Paul Graham broke startup internet with his fascinating post that said little. Please don't take the concept at face value! Here's why...
If you somehow missed the blather about Paul Graham’s Founder Mode post; that rock you are under is huge!
Inspired by Airbnb’s Brian Chesky, Graham proposes two modes for running a company: Manager Mode (delegate to smart people and get out of their way) and Founder Mode (wade into the details like Steve Jobs.)
Never has so much been said about a post that says so little!
Concepts Can Be Dangerous
Just ask Ismail ibn Hammad al-Jawhari, a Turkic scholar who believed he understood the concept of flying. In ~1003 AD, he strapped on feathered wings, then lept off a building shouting, “I am flying!”
He died on impact.
Founder Mode Is A Great Concept
One of my clients was in the audience when Brian Chesky spoke. My client said it was epic, but the concept was most relevant to Brian and Airbnb.
You are neither!
Brian is more likely to get Manager Mode wrong, but you are more likely to screw up Founder Mode!
Founder Mode is ‘Christmas For Control Freaks’
The week after Graham’s article, I talked several of my CEO clients down off their own buildings (metaphorically!)
They mistook Founder Mode as a license to take over.
These are actual quotes:
“That’s it, I’m jumping on every sales call!”
“I’m taking over Product!”
“I need to spend a month in every R&D meeting until they get it!”
{3 of my CEO clients in the past two weeks}In fact, Paul Graham predicted this unintended consequence in the third footnote of his post:
“As soon as the concept of founder mode becomes established, people will start misusing it. Founders who are unable to delegate even things they should will use founder mode as the excuse.”
Don’t Be Steve Jobs, Unless You Are
Chesky took his inspiration from Steve Jobs, who famously micromanaged the design of Apple products.
If you’re confident you’re the next Steve Jobs, please do!
Brian Chesky probably is Jobsian, so he gets a pass. Plus, Jobs and Chesky are designers running design-led companies; they should sweat the details.
If you’re not Jobs or Chesky, please pause! These CEOs run big startups and risk the downsides of Manager Mode.
You are more at risk of taking Founder Mode to the extreme and taking over from your team. You risk undermining your people and chasing away A-players.
There’s A More Important Question For Startup CEOs
Stop Founder Moding for a moment and ask yourself this:
What is your highest leverage?
{A more important CEO question}CEO time has a power law curve. Many tasks create 2X or 5X value, but a small number add 100X value.
You can undoubtedly add a lot of value by getting into the weeds of your startup. You’re the founder; you probably performed every job at some point, and you have the role power to get everyone focused.
But exceptional CEOs know they must do the 100X tasks first.
Taking over from your leaders usually creates 5X leverage, at best. But in most situations, there is a way to add 100X value.
Here are some examples from clients who were about to do a 5X task before seeing a 100X alternative:
Call To Action
Before you Founder Mode, do this:
COACHING HOMEWORK:
1) Make a list of your 100X activities. Do those first.
2) Ask yourself, "Why do I want to take over? What do I do that my team doesn't?" Teach that first.
3) When you do Founder Mode, how will you champion the true owner of this task? How will you stay in your lane?
And, please, Founder Mode responsibly!
I coach startup CEOs who want to train like elite pro athletes. If you are struggling with Founder Mode, Manager Mode, or think you can fly, let’s talk!
Thanks for reading,
Tim
P.S. Many of my obsessions stem from conversations with you, my clients. I don’t call you out to preserve anonymity, but please know you are my inspiration and teacher. I am so grateful.