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- Avoiding Tough Conversations?
Avoiding Tough Conversations?
Mintlify's Mindset Maintenance Meetings
Tim He
September 08, 2024
TL;DR
Hey, I’m Tim! ☕
Let’s try something new.
I usually dig into the latest news or unpack how billion-dollar cofounders work their magic, but today, let’s chat about something a bit more down-to-earth.
Hopefully these insights hit closer to home, so they’re not just relatable but also easier for you to put into action.
Here’s the one thing to remember: a study of 10,000 companies found that 65% of high-potential startups die because of cofounder conflicts.
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Let’s get into it ⤵
DEEP DIVE
“The number one cause of early death for startups is cofounder blowups.” — Sam Altman, who’s going through a cofounder rollercoaster
Minty Mindfulness
This is a LinkedIn post by Han Wang, cofounder of Mintlify.
Top Takeaways
Shutting down your startup is like putting down your dog. Neglecting your cofoundership is like forgetting to feed your dog.
Realizing that your biggest threat is implosion is a paradigm shift most companies never make. Think Apple vs Microsoft in the early days.
This is the first time I’ve seen Han post about cofounderships. It has 4x his average engagement — people share when they care.
A solid cofoundership is the foundation on which you can focus on tackling external threats like your competition. Together.
Actionable Advice
Han recommends weekly “emotional debt” meetings to address cofounder issues, big or small. Build this structure into your routine.
Once it becomes a habit, it can evolve to become more impromptu, casual feedback sessions. I find this makes it less awkward as well.
I challenge the cofounder who’s less ready to take the lead — you grow in proportion to the level of responsibility you voluntarily take on.
Hold weekly celebrations to balance things out. Make sure “non-work” meetings aren’t just seen as opportunities for venting.
Psst… enjoying this? Share this link with a friend. You could save a cofoundership.
Related Resources
In local news, my friend Kent is shaking things up with shitpitch events across the US. Pitch your startup or back one — with a twist.
If you want your startup to stay alive, check out this essay by Paul Graham conveniently titled “How Not to Die.”
Putting off an uncomfortable chat? Flip over the rocks and deal with those creepy, crawly things underneath with this article.
Check out Thentrepreneur for breakdowns from top startups and find out what’s trending with other founders at Foundcy.