Authenticity fuels you. Inauthenticity drains you or, worse, kills you slowly.
By Mark Russell Filaroski
To 90% of Founders Who Will Fail:
Here’s a hard truth — authenticity fuels you. Inauthenticity drains you or, worse, kills you slowly.
Not everyone will value your time, expertise, or skills. Some may even go out of their way to tear you down. So what? Honestly, who cares what “they” think? Trust me, they couldn’t do what you’re doing if they tried. I’ve seen it: people crumble with 1/10th the responsibility. They’ll gripe about the product, then fumble the product role. Happens all the time.
Controversy-stirrers and agenda-pushers? They’re always around. Don’t let them shake you. People who lack integrity dig their own grave — every single time. The best thing you can do? Keep your head down and stay on your path.
Now, here’s another hard truth: just because someone’s in the room doesn’t mean they belong there. Don’t assume anyone has what it takes to build a startup or hold a critical role just because they have a title — make them prove it, day in and day out.
I see founders getting it wrong all the time. They hire people, toss them into a job, and say, “Have at it.” Sorry, but that’s not how it works. Even the best of the best need oversight. Tiger Woods has a coach over his shoulder every single day. Just because you don’t see it on game day doesn’t mean there isn’t serious guidance and accountability every step of the way.
What matters — what really fuels you — is working in a way that’s true to who you are. When you’re aligned with your own values and goals, you tap into a powerful, sustainable energy that gets you through anything. It’s the kind of energy that makes even the impossible feel like a challenge worth taking on.
Inauthenticity, on the other hand, comes with a steep price: burnout, frustration, and that now-common “mental health” chatter. And we’re seeing a lot of it because too many people are trapped in roles that don’t align with who they really are.
Before you take on a role or hire someone, ask yourself: Does this align? Do you and your team agree on goals, how you’ll reach them, and how success will be measured? Because every single checkbox matters.
One of the best co-founder interviews I ever had was with a VP of Engineering from a startup now worth $30 billion. Why was I convinced he was the real deal? He spent four weeks making sure we aligned on every last thing. I’m talking worksheets, spreadsheets, ideation frameworks for X, Y, and Z. It almost felt like he was about to ask my opinion on parrots in the rainforest, but that’s what it takes. This guy wanted to make sure we’d thrive on every level before he committed.
Bottom line? Authenticity isn’t just a buzzword.
It’s your edge as a founder or the founding team. If you’re not bringing it, you’re faking it. And eventually, the cracks show.
#FounderMindset #Authenticity #Resilience #Focus