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Founder Mode
Ever feel like you're juggling too much? You've got to balance team building, product speed, design, user needs, and your life outside of work. Trust me, you’re not alone. The biggest puzzle I've solved is how to keep momentum. I need enough attention or feedback to take the next step. I don't always need to figure out the end state.
1. Speed vs. Design: Why Getting to Market (Fast) Matters
I've led teams that spent months perfecting every pixel. Then, I watched other founders ship simpler versions in weeks. They grabbed attention and acquired customers first.
- Speed doesn’t mean sloppy. It means building the core features that solve a problem. Worry about fancy visuals later. Solve that problem with great attention to detail. Pick the most critical user problems to attack first. Get to a testable beta ASAP.
- Design still matters in the long run. Once you start to scale and move out of beta with more real users, you can refine your interface. The key is getting actual feedback sooner, not polishing in the dark. It also lets us improve the UX, UI, and functionality in parallel vs. in sequence.
For example, I’m focusing on consistent content (social and newsletter). This is a fast way to iterate on ideas, see what folks like, and adjust as I go. My writing isn't perfect yet. Still, I’d rather share my thoughts now than wait until every word is perfect someday.
2. “Build It” vs. “What They Want”: Finding the Right Audience
There’s a classic debate:
- “Build it, and they will come.” This is about having conviction in your vision. Acompli was a great example of how we bet on improving mobile email even before people asked for it. We knew from personal experience the pain points and picked a few key workflows to improve. Sharing these became the way we built an initial loyal user base.
- “Build what customers want.” This is the “solve a clear pain point” approach, like Instacart. People hate grocery shopping, so the problem is clear. How to make that seamless and scalable was very hard and took years to perfect. Super complex and very different customer preferences and complexities of a four-sided marketplace.
But how do you know which path to choose?
- Audience + Data = Clarity. The more attention you get from social media, newsletters, or informal chats, the easier it is to tell if your idea resonates. Starting from an audience and their feedback can help you use data to point to the right path. Users tell through their words or actions what we should build next.
- Mix Both Approaches. Trust your gut when you see a big opportunity no one else does. But use feedback to confirm you're on the right track. I saw this post from John Rush on X that made it easy to see. For example, solving a personal pain point at work often leads to the best ideas. Those can be great businesses. You see and feel the pain personally and you know that other companies will need the same.
I’m trying something new in 2025: sharing my work with greater openness and regularity. By “building in public,” I’m learning which newsletter topics land best. Sometimes, I’ll trust my intuition and write about a random insight. Other times, I’ll listen to your feedback and expand on what’s already hitting home.
3. Marketing & Attention: The Hidden Growth Lever
You can have the best product in the world, but if nobody knows it exists, it’s like shouting into an empty room. That’s why attention is a superpower. If you can build an audience, your product will stand out in a crowded market. Be consistent, helpful, and authentic to do this.
- Authenticity Wins: Be yourself. The internet is huge, and people who connect with your style will find you if you keep showing up. Warts and all just being yourself is always easier as well.
- Start Where You Are: Maybe it’s one LinkedIn post a week, a blog or a short video on product features, or your learnings. You don’t need to be everywhere. Show up regularly where it feels natural.
4. Balancing Life and Work: Fuel for Long-Term Success
If you’re too tired or burned out, you won’t have the energy to build or even post about it. I've lived both extremes. I've worked caffeinated 15-hour+ days with no breaks. In my 20s, I napped under my office desk on late nights. I've also worked out in the mornings, eaten healthy meals, and cut late-night screen time. Guess which version of me built better? Those late-night sessions felt productive at the moment. But the quality of the thinking and work isn't the same after a full night's rest. Sleep is the best performance-enhancing drug.
- Set Boundaries: Being a “creator” or founder doesn’t mean you’re on call 24/7. It’s okay to unplug. Stepping away from challenging problems can help you find better solutions. You need good systems to ensure things don't fall apart.
- Schedule Non-Work Time: Blocking out evenings for friends, family, or a good book isn’t lazy. It keeps you sharp.
- Use Systems: Tools like Google Calendar, Notion, and Asana help me plan my week. They remind me to make space for both building and personal downtime. My EA from Athena and I made a schedule with my 'perfect week' it's the ideal state of my calendar. It's rare we hit this perfectly. But, it helps us plan. It also protects downtime by knowing the best time for various activities.
5. Why I’m Building in Public (and Why You Should, Too)
This newsletter is part of my plan for a public view into thoughts, struggles, and experiments. Along the way, a natural audience forms—people who resonate with my style and journey.
- Real-Time Feedback: I quickly see what hits home when I post an idea. No more guessing in a vacuum. (Thanks to all of you who have replied or given suggestions and critiques!)
- Authenticity and Trust: People see the process, not just the polished product. That builds credibility faster than any ad campaign. Several have asked more about my process and the 'why.' I will cover that in future emails. In short, it's become a great conversation starter.
- Compounding Growth: Each post or update becomes a magnet for like-minded subscribers. Over time, that’s how communities form. i.e., I've still not hit my goal of two emails a week or even on a consistent day and time yet—however 700 subscribers in the first month!!
The takeaway? You don’t have to be an “influencer” to build in public. You must share what’s on your mind, what you’re learning, and what you’re creating. That honesty pulls in the people who care.
Key Takeaways
- Speed vs. Design: Launch fast and refine as you go. Perfection can wait.
- Product vs. User Demand: Trust your vision, but listen to honest feedback.
- Marketing = Attention: Building in public and being authentic accelerates your reach.
- Life-Work Balance: Protect your energy so you can continue creating.
Keep building, keep sharing, and remember: your story is as powerful as your solution.
-kevin
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