What's the biggest insight you learned recently?
You’ll get better results from leaning into strengths rather than shoring up weaknesses. This goes for your team. If someone isn’t great at something, stop trying to make them do it. Instead, figure out what they’re amazing at, and double down on that.
What motivated you to become an entrepreneur / leader?
I love learning by doing. Being an entrepreneur forces you to do things outside your comfort zone and grow. Being a leader means you need to be human and vulnerable to connect with team members and grow together.
What should leaders understand about their own role and responsibility?
You don’t need to know everything, but you do need to instill confidence and trust in your team. Be honest and follow through on your commitments. You set the tone for your organization, be thoughtful about it and consider the whole team when you say things and do things.
What do you wish you had known 10 years ago?
There’s no such thing as an overnight success. Most things of value take 5+ years to build and to generate value. Maybe 10+ years. Keep that in mind when you’re choosing your next endeavor or partner(s) to work with.
What personal habit or behavior helped you accelerate your personal growth?
Genuine curiosity. Following a thread based on your own curiosity will help you learn about any topic and build meaningful relationships with the people around you. Don’t be too busy to take the time to dive into a topic and feed your curiosity so you truly understand it (the 5-why’s is a great methodology for this).
What’s a guiding principle that informs the way you build and run your business?
Be generous, set high expectations. Make yourself available to your team, pay them as much as you (responsibly) can, and let them thrive. Provide the guardrails and set clear goals and expectations. But don’t burn people out; if you add more to their plate, then something else needs to come off.
We’re building the largest library of insights and wisdom by and for founders and entrepreneurs.
Once a month we'll send you the latest interviews straight to your inbox. No fluff, just value. For free.
Here’s More, From Other Founders Around the World
What's a question you like asking — yourself or others?
I like asking, "What can I learn from this experience?" This question helps me reflect on challenges and successes, fostering continuous improvement and a mindset of growth and learning.
What’s an important guiding principle that informs the way you build and run your business?
“Lead by ideas, not by hierarchy.” The “position” of a person has nothing to do with the ability to contribute great ideas to improve the company. You should always strive for a company culture where everybody can talk to everybody.
What shift in perspective has allowed you to see things differently?
Understanding that you cannot control the decisions other people make, you can only influence and inform them. Not every deal or decision will go your way and this mindset helps avoid self-loathing, anger, and depression.
What was a pivotal moment where your business made a big leap forward?
Understanding the 80/20 principle or even 64/4 and that it's a law of nature applicable everywhere. It's one of the biggest levers for doing more with less or in less time. (E.g. 20% of the streets in the world handle 80% of the traffic.)