Startup founders are known for their life hacks: spiritual practices like fastingexperiment with stoicismnot to mention the alteration of the mind effects of ayahuasca– all in the name of building a business. Another one to add to the list: a radical self-inquiry.
It is no longer enough to have an idea and a solid business plan. Being an entrepreneur today means embodying a philosophy. One cannot simply be self-aware, transparent, or honest; it must be radically so. It’s a double-edged sword: increased mental clarity and self-awareness are usually a competitive advantage. But the pressure to reach the pinnacle of self-actualization is dangerous when it leads founders to view their company as the ultimate definition of their self.
Much of this comes from how America defines “the entrepreneur”: a heroic, superhuman figure, something from Greek mythology.
“There is an archetype, particularly in the United States, and that then translates to Europe and many other parts of the world, around the notion of a leader,” said Brad Feld, a venture capitalist at Foundry Group . said during a panel on mental health and entrepreneurship Boulder Startup Week. This archetype incorporates the misconception that leaders are blameless and incapable of showing vulnerability and weakness.
Feld’s colleague, serial entrepreneur Tom Higley, said that “startup CEOs tell stories about who they are and it’s kind of a manufactured story, it’s a marketing story, it’s the one that’s supposed to work for them.” Obsession with this “iconic American entrepreneur” narrative proved too difficult for some to handle alone.
A number of entrepreneurs have turned to Jerry Colonna, a well-known executive coach whose clients include executives from Etsy and Soundcloud, for help navigating the nuts and bolts of running a business as well as on the psychological/emotional aspect. Colonna supports founders by engaging them in “radical introspection” sessions.
Radical introspection is exactly what it sounds like: a deep exploration of the self. This is usually a very uncomfortable process, like that which occurs between a counselor and a client in an attempt to improve self-awareness. In the context of Silicon Valley startups, the motivation is more secular; it is a means to an end: embodying the iconic entrepreneur philosophy and generating financial returns.
On a Gimlet Media PodcastColonna shared that in the high-pressure environment of a startup, its founders inevitably end up revealing what he calls qualities of shadow. “If you’re not aware of what I often call radical introspection,” he explained, “the culture that’s created around you is going to reflect pretty much your worst traits. Your dark qualities as a leader. The parts of yourself that you want to put aside.
“One of the most beneficial things we founders can do for the long-term health of Gimlet (Media) is to deal with our own emotional baggage,” said Alex Blumberg, co-founder of Gimlet Media, in the episode of his podcast titled: Shady Qualities with Column. “Take him out into the light, search him. Take a close look at what’s inside.
Although Blumberg and others may have good intentions, Silicon Valley’s relentless quest for personal fulfillment is geared toward an end goal (success, recognition). Any philosopher will tell you that the search for self is about the journey, an end in itself. In fact, failure—facing perceived peer disapproval and ego dissolution—is perhaps the best path to self-realization. This requires real confidence in yourself. Of course, that’s not the message a founder wants to hear.
