The Startup Founder Morning Jam

A morning routine shapes your day and for startup founders, it’s crucial. Everyone has a ritual to kickstart productivity. Mine? My morning playlist. Curated tracks that each tap into different moments of my life filled with curiosity, ambition, and drive.

So for something different this time, I decided to dive into 10 songs from my playlist. Each represents something unique. Perhaps you’ll find something to add into your own playlist.

Hunger on the Hillside?—?J.Cole

Power of belief distilled into music. Life throws challenges. Mornings suck. Days shine. But hunger remains constant. No matter where I am, putting on this track reminds me of the Bay Area hills. That is all I need to put everything aside and get started.?

Can You Hear the Music?—?Ludwig Goransson

Oppenheimer’s montage: cinematic perfection. It captures the relentless pursuit of knowledge, exploring the universe’s depths and atomic power. The score transports me back to watching that awe-inspiring sequence. To remind me the pursuit into the unknown is exactly what we were made for.?

In Motion?—?Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross

The ultimate coding anthem. Press play, features flow. Binary notes weave through intricate loops. Kids in a small Harvard dorm with enough power to change the world. Even without the film context, it’s a symphony of productivity.

Selling An Experience?—?Christopher Nicholas Bangs

WeWork’s origin story fascinates, regardless of later controversies. This track from WeCrashed encapsulates the entrepreneurial spark. You hear ideas form, conversations flow, pieces fall into place. The vision finally coming into fruition.

Mark II?—?Ramin Djwadi

I personally think Ramin’s Iron Man score outshines his Game of Thrones work. This track embodies the essence of engineering that inspired my career. Heavy guitar riffs make you itch to build and make some amazing stuff.

Gonna Fly Now?—?Bill Conti

Rocky’s iconic steps pale compared to the training montage this song accompanies. It fueled a generation of boxers and strength trainers. Its power endures. Even if I am not drinking raw eggs anytime soon.?

Iron?—?Woodkid

This one is for the history buffs. This song captures the gravity of going to war. No, we’re not on a literal battlefield. But it ignites the morning adrenaline rush. Doesn’t hurt that it accompanies one of the best trailers I have ever seen.?

Superstar?—?Lupe Fiasco

Seize the moment. Face fear head-on. “If you are what you say you are, a Superstar, then have no fear.” Master your craft. Become an expert. Then let the world know.

Work It (Soulwax Remix)?—?Marie Davidson

Peloton anthem? Perhaps. Productivity powerhouse? Absolutely. Reserve this for complaint days, quitting days, down-in-the-dumps days. It makes Saturday work feel sweeter.

Voodoo Mama?—?Justin Hurwitz

Unrelated to work or entrepreneurship. Pure energy. Blood-pumping rhythm. An instant mood lifter.

Music shapes my day, setting me up for success. These 10 tracks scratch the surface. I got my full Motivation playlist on Spotify for those want any more.

Featured Events

Events that I host, will be at or think might be worthwhile to check out

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San Francisco

09/04 - The Thought Experiment Lab [public] - Register

09/04 - Foundry x Pear AI Happy Hour - Register

Toronto

09/04 - Italia360 Demo Day - Register

09/10- 2024 Smart Start Pitch- Register

New York

09/04 -Inside: Antler - Register

09/10 - -1 to Adobe & Behance with Scott Belsky- Register

Check out this Podcast Episode!

You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Music, and Google Podcasts

In this episode of Building Blocks, we sit down with Vivian Zheng, a product leader who has made waves at Snap, TikTok, and Databricks, and is now embarking on her own entrepreneurial journey.

She shares her insights on building industry-leading products from the ground up, the nuances of achieving product-market fit, and the challenges of scaling two-sided marketplaces like TikTok's Branded Mission.

Thanks for reading,

Daivik Goel

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