This is an uncomfortable truth…

First-time founders chose the wrong metric - almost always.

You want to do it faster than anyone else.

THEY DID IT IN TEN YEARS.

I AM GOING TO DO IT ONE.

You optimise for more stress.

Not more joy.

With unrealistic timelines come inevitable speed wobbles.

They come in different flavours:

Stress.

Anxiety.

Burn out.

Or all of the above.

I did this on my first start-up.

But NOT my second.

I learnt another way.

When you no longer need the approval of the crowd, you can play a different game.

You learn to play the long game.

You realise it takes time to build something to be proud of.

And it’s ok.

In fact, it is very much better than ok.

It’s fun.

So, here’s my advice to you.

The destination isn’t all it is cracked to be.

How much fun you had getting there is THE THING.

‘You don’t sing to get to the end of the song.’