2am. Wide awake worrying.
“Will we make payroll for 100 people this month?”
No One Prepared Me for This
Not the MBA.
Not the consulting job.
Not the books or podcasts with titles like “10x Your Startup in 6 Days.”
When I became a founder–CEO and started my own tech-driven ad agency, I expected a steep learning curve.
I wanted the business to grow.
What I didn’t expect was how much I would need to grow and change, in order to make that happen.
The founder journey forced me to confront my own beliefs, my leadership style… even the story I told myself about who I was.
It wasn’t just about scaling a company.
It was also about growing into ever new versions of myself.
Back then, lying awake worrying about payroll, I wish I’d known what I know now.
I was carrying the full weight of the business on my shoulders. I thought that was what strong leadership looked like. But for my own sanity and for the business to grow I needed to start sharing that weight with my leadership team.
That shift ultimately reshaped me into a being a better leader and the business took off.
Since then, I’ve worked with many founders and leaders.
All very different.
But under the surface, I see many similar journeys.
Moments like:
• Getting your first big win and worrying it’s a fluke
• Leading others while still figuring yourself out
• Questioning who you are as the business outgrows you
• Facing big opportunities… and wondering if you’re ready
So I mapped it out and created: The Founder Psyche Curve, where leadership grows to grow the business – see below.👇
Not just the company milestones (which is what all the textbooks tell you), but the leadership journey too.
The messy, human evolution that happens where your business growth and your personal growth coalesce.
Some stages are thrilling. All are anything but easy.
And they are all are part of the ride:
• The Spark – "Big idea. No roadmap."
• The Grind – "Wearing all the hats. Burning all the fuel."
• First Breakthrough – "Validation... and vulnerability."
• Show Me the Money – "Funding brings growth and pressure."
• The Messy Middle – "Too big to wing it. Too small to chill."
• Identity Shift – "You can’t just do anymore. I have to lead too."
• Growth Crunch – "Scale, complexity, risk, repeat."
• What’s Next? – "Exit? Burnout? Legacy? Reinvention?"
Where are you on this journey?
I’d love to hear your story.
🛠️ Over the next few weeks, in between my usual rambles on LinkedIn, I’ll be unpacking each stage in more depth.
Real stories. Raw lessons. Practical tools you won’t find in a textbook.
If you want the full series, DM me and I’ll send it your way.
I’ve been in the trenches as a founder/leader many times.
I’ve faced the doubt, the chaos, and the internal rewiring.
And I’m here to help you navigate your own growth, with fewer scars.