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????????????????: ???????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????????????????????? Founders face constant negativity. However, your greatest threat may not be market volatility, fierce competition, or funding challenges. Instead, it may be how your brain processes these events and situations. At the heart of this challenge lies negativity bias—a cognitive prejudice that can silently sabotage your entrepreneurial journey without you realizing it. This post explores how understanding these insights can help you build greater innovation and resilience in your startup journey. ???????????????????? ???????? Negativity bias occurs when two pieces of equal information are weighed, but the negative one carries far more impact than the positive For instance, we fixate on one bad comment in an otherwise glowing review. This bias makes us dwell on potential flaws, paralyzing our ability to act. What’s the best way to respond to negativity bias? ??Seek positive input from advisors, team, and experts. Record your triumphs. ??Recognize and announce team accomplishments regularly. ??Challenge and question the negative thoughts in your mind. Negativity bias can hold us back and must be actively countered. ???????? ?????????????? ???? ???? ???????????????????? Optimism is self-fulfilling: when you believe things can work out, you push yourself to find the optimal path. While I don't advocate for blind optimism, I do believe that many crises create opportunities. “?????????????????? ???????? ??????'???? ???? ?? ???????? ??????????, ?????? ?????????? ??????'???? ???????? ????????????, ?????? ??????'???? ???????????????? ???????? ??????????????.” – Christine Caine When something terrible happens, you may not control its immediate impact, but you can control your response and outlook. Many successful startups emerged from a crisis. Some examples: Instagram transformed from a confusing check-in app called Burbn to a photo-sharing platform that was acquired by Facebook for $1 billion. YouTube shifted from an unpopular video-dating site to the world's most popular video-sharing platform. Shopify evolved from an unsuccessful snowboarding equipment store to a leading e-commerce platform powering millions of online stores globally. ?????????? ???????? ???????????? Embrace the opportunity that optimism provides. “?????????????? ???? ???????????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????????, ?????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ????????????.” – Roy T. Bennett Optimism isn't naiveté—it's about maintaining control. You can acknowledge setbacks, face challenges, and feel your emotions while still believing in a better future and working toward it. By countering negativity bias while embracing optimism, startup founders can unlock new levels of innovation, resilience, and success in their journey. #leaders?#founder?#adapt?#startups

?????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????? Are you a NYC finance leader looking to meet peers, share ideas, and maybe swap some battle stories? Join the New York Tech CFO Group on ??????????????????, ?????????? ???? from 5:00–7:00 PM in the Flatiron District. The registration link appears in the first comment! ?? #leaders?#founder?#finance #startups

. "????????-??????????, ???????????????? ???? ??????????????, ???????? ?????? ???????????????? — ????????'???? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????, ???????? ???????? ??'?? ???????????????????? ???? ????????." – Anonymous* Most founders face anxiety, especially introverts. The way you manage it will shape your effectiveness as a leader. This post explores anxiety, its challenges, and strategies for better coping. ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????????????????? ?????????????? Anxiety manifests in many ways, and you might not recognize all of them as symptoms of anxiety. ????????????????????, you may be unable to relax, get tired quickly, and have difficulty sleeping. You also may get headaches, nausea, and muscle aches. ??????????????????????, you may experience increased irritability without a clear cause, impacting your work relationships. ????????????????, you may have trouble focusing, worry excessively about everyday decisions, or be haunted by a constant fear of failing. ???????????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? The pressures of entrepreneurship can make introverts even more anxious since they are already prone to anxiety. ????????????????, the introverted brain is more sensitive to external stimuli like noisy crowds and requires time alone to recharge, which is rare for founders. ??????????????????????, introverts are deep thinkers who process experiences thoroughly, which may also lead to overthinking and worry. ??????????????????????, they often experience a greater awareness of negative feelings. Notably, many introverts don't experience excessive anxiety, and some extroverts may develop anxiety disorders. ?????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ? Being a founder is full of stress. How do we know if it's our work or our predisposition causing anxiety? One indication is being anxious when it seems unwarranted, e.g. you feel nervous before ?????????? meeting. ? While a brief burst of nervousness before a big event may help you focus, constant nervousness is detrimental. ? Using the right approach, you can transform normal, short-term anxiety into focused energy while reducing unwanted effects. ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ??????. Describe your anxiety (in writing or talking). When you can name your "enemy," you gain some agency. ???????? ??????????????. Join founder groups to gain advice and normalize feelings. ??????????????????????. Learn meditation, breathwork, and yoga to reduce symptoms. ??????????????. Spend time with friends, hobbies, and interests to refresh and get a new perspective. ????????????. Invest in exercise, sleep, and diet to improve how your body copes. ? These tips may be useful with ongoing, low-level anxiety. However, engage a professional if you need more support. When you understand how anxiety affects you and develop strategies for wellbeing, you set yourself up for long-term success. #leaders?#founder?#adapt?#startups

??????????????'?? ??????????????????: ???????????? ???????????? In this weekly series, we review valuable resources offering key insights for startup founders. ???????? ???????????? ???????????????? by Elad Gil is the definitive playbook for scaling startups from 10 to 10,000 employees. Gil offers practical, battle-tested strategies on executive hiring, organizational design, M&A, and hypergrowth challenges. The handbook features chapters such as The Role of the CEO, Managing the Board, and Structure and Hyper-Growth, enriched with interviews from successful founders and VCs like Reid Hoffman and Sam Altman. The advice includes, "When hiring executives, look for people who have the experience that would make them a good fit for the next 12–18 months." Gil emphasizes that executives should have "cross-functional empathy" across various teams. In an interview for the book, Keith Rabois shares a valuable insight: for senior roles, meet with five people who excel in that position to understand what skills and approaches are needed for your company. Finally, the book introduced me to the idea of a ???????? ??????????—a document that outlines how team members can best collaborate with an executive by detailing their working style, decision-making processes, and expectations. Look for the book details in the first comment below. ?? ??????????????'?? ?????????????????? distills complex resources into clear actions. #leaders?#founder?#adapt?#startups

???????????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????????? is the weekly Build Scale Grow newsletter. We deliver insights to over 7,300 ambitious leaders. Many founders face a common challenge: "I don't know what I don't know." We feature successful founders and operators sharing hard-earned wisdom. Each issue combines our concise analysis of a pertinent topic with an outsider’s Expert Tip with linked learning resources. Recent issues we've covered: ·?How top founders turn fear into fuel ·?Introverted leaders and their quiet powers (and flaws) ·?How early VC talks uncover blind spots · The startup scaling paradox: Letting go to grow To subscribe, click on the link in the top comment! ?? #leaders?#founder?#adapt?#startups

??????????????'?? ??????????????????: ???????????? ???????????? In this weekly series, we review valuable resources offering key insights for startup founders. ????????????????????: ???????? ?????? ???????? by Ray Dalio is a blueprint for decision-making that champions radical truth-seeking and systematic problem-solving. Throughout the book, Dalio shares frameworks and stories, including honest self-critiques—like when his executive team had to point out how he was undermining his own leadership values. Dalio believes that pain becomes constructive when we face and learn from it rather than avoid it. Fighting our instincts can be incredibly formative. He observes that successful leaders continuously seek their optimal path and adapt to leverage their strengths. Dalio defines leadership maturity as the ability to pass up good options in favor of better ones. Finally, he emphasizes that individual incentives must align with group goals (and both must constantly evolve). Look for the book details in the first comment below. ?? ??????????????'?? ?????????????????? distills complex resources into clear actions. #leaders?#founder?#adapt?#startups

?????????????????????? ????????????????, ?????????? ?????????? ????????????, ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????? While extroverted founders often engage enthusiastically with the public, introversion can be a powerful advantage when used strategically. It's worth noting that personality exists on a spectrum, with many people falling somewhere between introversion and extroversion. That said, understanding both the strengths and challenges of introversion allows founders to leverage these traits effectively. ???????? ???????????????? Introverts excel at focused, analytical thinking and processing information thoroughly before making decisions. This thoughtful approach leads to well-considered strategies and solutions for problem-solving, innovation, and planning. However, they may feel they need more time to process information to make decisions. This can lead to slowing down other parts of the startup. ???????????????????????? ???????????????? Introverted leaders are often exceptional listeners who understand stakeholders' needs and pain points deeply. They build meaningful connections with team members, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and heard. However, their tendency to listen more than speak can sometimes be misinterpreted as judgment or insincerity. ???????????????????? ?????????????????????????? Introverts communicate deliberately, often leading to more effective interactions. The flip side is that their limited casual conversation may make them appear distant. ?????????? ?????? ???????????????????????? Introverts excel at deep concentration, leading to high expertise and effective completion of complex work. Their self-motivation and preference for autonomy can inspire team members to take ownership. However, they might not appear commanding in high-pressure situations. And sometimes, confidently taking charge is exactly what’s needed. ???????? ?????? ???????????????? Introverted leaders typically maintain composure, especially during stressful times. Their steady objectivity inspires confidence in their team. However, this calmness might be mistaken for disengagement or apathy. ???????????????????? ?????? ???????????????????? Introverts' introspective nature generates unique viewpoints and innovative ideas. Their creative problem-solving abilities are particularly valuable for addressing founder challenges. However, their selective sharing of thoughts might make them appear aloof and turn off others. ?????????????? ?????? ????????-?????????????????? Introverted founders often show strong empathy, strengthening team cohesion and conflict resolution. Their self-awareness enables them to adapt their leadership style as their business grows. However, their reserved nature might be misinterpreted as a lack of care. Introverted founders can build successful startups by leveraging their strengths, managing others' perceptions, and partnering with extroverts. #leaders?#founder?#adapt?#startups

??????????????'?? ?????????????????? In this weekly series, we distill complex resources into viable actions. ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????????? by Ben Horowitz is a brutally honest guide for startup founders. Drawing from hard-earned wisdom, Horowitz shows how to navigate the toughest challenges of building and leading a company. He emphasizes that success comes from making difficult decisions, confronting struggles directly, and persisting through the darkest moments. In fact, the most challenging times often yield the greatest results, and effective leaders must remain visible and transparent during these periods. He makes a crucial distinction between wartime CEOs, who face existential threats and must focus intensely on survival, and peacetime CEOs, who can prioritize growth, empowerment, and fostering broad-based creativity. Look for the details ?? #leaders?#founder?#adapt?#startups

???????????????????????? ???????? If you're not actively pursuing your own vision, then you're likely following someone else's priorities. Design your life around what truly matters. Build Scale Grow offers a free download to unlock your full potential as a founder and achieve your goals. A founder's journey thrives on clear focus and decisive execution. “?? ???????? ?????????????? ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?? ????????.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Building new habits will strengthen your resilience and success. Get started by clicking the link in the first comment! ?? ? #leaders?#founder?#adapt?#startups

?????????????? ??????????: ???????????? ???????????? A strong story can be powerfully motivating. “?????? ???????????????? ?????????????????????????? ?????? ???????????????????? ??????????????????????. ???????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ??????????????.” – Alejandro Cremades Alejandro recognizes the power and persuasiveness of stories, which connect us on a visceral level because they can evoke fear, joy, and connection. An exciting story will help you relate to others' emotions and needs by combining information and inspiration. ????????'?? ???????? ????????????????: Spend 5 minutes (yes, right now) to outline a story about your business to better persuade stakeholders. ?????????????? ?????????? delivers actionable ideas from world-changing innovators. #leaders?#founder?#adapt?#startups