5 tips to maintain a positive founder mindset

Studies show that the mindset of startup founders can determine whether their businesses succeed or wither. But startups are pressure cookers. When things get tough, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or doubt yourself. That’s where the right mindset can make all the difference.

Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Square and Twitter, said it best: "You are the most important person in your company. Take care of yourself first." – Jack Dorsey, CEO of Square and Twitter

Here are five tips for developing a positive mindset as a founder.

5 tips for creating a positive founder mindset

1. Believe in yourself

Picture this: you’re baking a cake, but halfway through, you think, “This won’t work. I can’t bake.” What happens? You’ll probably give up, and the cake won’t even make it to the oven.

For founders, it’s the same. Self-belief is the starting point for success. Albert Bandura, a famous psychologist, discovered that believing in yourself can boost your confidence, reduce stress, and even improve your performance. There is also a psychological aspect to self-belief.

But there’s a catch. Too much self-belief can lead to overconfidence. Imagine you’re so sure the cake will turn out perfect that you don’t measure the ingredients. Disaster! Founders who ignore risks or skip feedback can make the same mistake.

2. Focus on the positive

It’s tempting to fixate on what’s going wrong—no investors, a product not working—but that’s a recipe for stress and despair.

Instead, focus on the wins, however small: positive feedback from customers, finishing a tough project, or even just showing up every day.

This isn’t about ignoring problems. It’s about balancing them with the good stuff so you don’t lose sight of why you started the business in the first place.

3. Embrace failure

Failure is a part of the startup journey, and it's essential to embrace it rather than fear it.

Every successful founder has experienced failure at some point, and it's these failures that have helped them grow and learn. Here are some reasons why embracing failure is important:

a) Learning: Failure is often the best teacher. By embracing failure, it means you are able to learn from your mistakes and apply those lessons to future endeavours.

b) Innovation: Failure is also a necessary part of the innovation process. Many successful innovations come from a series of failures and iterative improvements.

c) Resilience: Failure is a natural part of the startup journey, and it's important to build resilience and a capacity to handle setbacks.

d) Growth: Embracing failure can lead to personal and professional growth. Failure can be a humbling experience, but it can also be a catalyst for growth and self-improvement.

4. Prioritise self-care

The saying “You can’t pour from an empty cup” holds true for founders. Running a startup is demanding, and neglecting your health and well-being will only lead to burnout.

Self-care is a necessity, and it includes:

• Getting enough sleep: Sleep is your body’s way of recharging. Without it, you’re running on empty.
• Eating well: A balanced diet fuels both your body and mind. Proper nutrition supports better decision-making.
• Exercising regularly: Physical activity reduces stress and increases energy levels.

Taking care of yourself enables you to bring your best self to your business. A healthy, rested founder is a better leader.

5. Surround yourself with a supportive network

Building a startup can be a lonely journey, and it's crucial to have a supportive network to lean on. Your network may include family and friends, fellow founders, and mentors.

Surrounding yourself with people who believe in you and your vision can help you stay motivated and focused on your goals.

"Mental resilience is arguably the most critical trait of a world-class performer, and it should be nurtured continuously." – Josh Waitzkin, author and chess player

Academic studies by Cardon, Wincent, Singh, & Drnovsek (2009) have also demonstrated the importance of the right mindset for startup founder health.

One study found that "entrepreneurial passion, optimism, and resilience are significant predictors of entrepreneurs' well-being."

In other words, having a positive outlook and the ability to bounce back from setbacks is critical for the mental health of startup founders.

Putting it all together

The startup journey is a marathon, not a sprint, and maintaining the right mindset is key to crossing the finish line.

When you believe in yourself, focus on the positive, embrace failure, prioritise self-care, and surround yourself with a supportive network, you can overcome the challenges of the startup journey.

This will let you take your startup to where you want it to be.