Episode description

In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan discuss who founders are really competing against. Founders are often never satisfied because they constantly set new, self-imposed benchmarks and goals. They compete against a changing definition of success, driven by their ego and perceptions of their peers. As they reach one milestone, they quickly construct new challenges, making it challenging to ever achieve lasting contentment in their entrepreneurial journey. Finding a balance between ambition and recognizing their achievements can lead to greater satisfaction and a healthier perspective on success.

Sign up for the Startups Newsletter

https://www.startups.com/newsletter

Resources:

• Startup Therapy Podcast 
• https://www.startups.com/begin
• Join our Network of Top Founders 
• Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan

What to Listen For

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:24 A founder's rollercoaster of satisfaction
• 03:51 Why successful founders are never satisfied
• 05:45 Peer competition
• 10:37 The problem with comparison
• 15:25 Competing for our own safety
• 20:49 “We create a much more unsafe environment…”
• 22:36 Competitors ability to affect your safety
• 24:10 Endless chase of success
• 28:34 Ego vs. Contentment
• 33:38 Why we can’t find the finish line