We are launching a new curated newsletter!~
Founder Foundry Digest #1 (16/04/25)
Hey Founder 👋,
We are launching a new curated newsletter for Founders. As founders, it’s often hard to keep up with new resources and stay on top of our game. We just don’t have time to go around looking for information!
Here comes our curated newsletter, where we handpick 5 articles on certain topics that we think are relevant and change our perspective as founders. We keep it short and if you want to read more, you can head to the full article.
Any feedback on our picks of the week, give us a shout!
Philippe.
PS. Feel free to unsubscribe if you are not interested in receiving this.
Founder Foundry Digest #1 (16/04/25)
Productivity for First-Time Founders (No Hustle Culture Here)
Let’s be real — building a startup is like juggling chainsaws while riding a unicycle on a tightrope… blindfolded. Your time, energy, and mindset are your most precious resources. And this week’s curated reads are here to help you protect those resources fiercely and use them smartly.
We’ve handpicked 5 powerful articles that go beyond surface tips — they’ll help you rewire your approach to productivity, leadership, and energy management as a first-time founder.
🧠 Leadership Stress Is On the Rise — Here’s How to Fight Back
Founder Insight:
First-time founders often carry invisible weight — investor pressure, personal identity tied to startup success, imposter syndrome, and the constant pivoting of early-stage life. This article shines a light on why leadership today feels so much heavier — and how to fight back with sustainable habits.
Why It Matters for You: You’re the emotional thermostat of your startup. If you’re burned out, the whole team feels it. Stress isn’t a badge of honor — it’s a red flag. Instead of trying to "power through," start asking:
"How can I build recovery into my daily routine?"
Actionable Moves:
Add buffer zones between meetings.
Embrace active recovery like walking, journaling, or short meditations.
Use the "Power Hour" method: 60 focused minutes followed by 10 minutes of decompression.
🧠 Reminder: Resilience is your secret weapon, not overwork.
🛠️ 7 Management Skills Modern Leaders Need
Founder Insight:
In the early days, founders wear all the hats. But transitioning from "doer" to "leader" is one of the hardest mindset shifts — and this article breaks it down beautifully.
Why It Matters for You:
Modern founders must be emotionally intelligent managers, not just visionaries. Leadership today is about communication, empathy, and trust-building. And yes, those are skills, not personality traits.
Actionable Moves:
Learn to give radical, kind feedback. (Check out Radical Candor by Kim Scott.)
Build psychological safety with your team — create a space where it's okay to say, "I don't know yet."
Shift from micromanaging to coaching — help your team learn to make decisions.
🧠 Reminder: Leadership isn’t about knowing all the answers. It’s about helping your people find theirs.
🎮 How to Gamify Work for Better Productivity
Founder Insight:
When you're the boss, there’s no one giving you a gold star for showing up. That’s where gamification becomes powerful. It turns mundane tasks into micro wins that build momentum and dopamine — your brain's motivation fuel.
Why It Matters for You:
As a founder, especially in the early stage, you're doing a lot of unsexy, repetitive work — cold emails, bug fixes, financial planning. Gamifying helps you stay consistent even when the “big win” feels far away.
Actionable Moves:
Break big goals into “level-up” milestones.
Use a habit tracker (like Habitica or Notion templates) that rewards consistency.
Create a "win jar" — record small wins daily to review weekly. Momentum breeds motivation.
🧠 Reminder: Fun doesn’t make you less serious — it makes you more sustainable.
🕒 Why Scheduling Issues Kill Flow (And How to Fix Them)
Founder Insight:
If your calendar looks like a Tetris game gone wrong, this is your wake-up call. Scheduling is productivity architecture — it either builds flow or destroys it.
Why It Matters for You:
When you're switching between investor calls, design reviews, and Slack notifications, your cognitive load skyrockets. Fragmented time equals fragmented focus. The real productivity boost comes not from working more, but from protecting focus blocks.
Actionable Moves:
Use the “maker vs. manager” time framework (Paul Graham).
Consolidate meetings into 2 days per week. Leave the rest for deep work.
End each day with a 15-minute calendar cleanup for the next.
🧠 Reminder: You don’t need more hours. You need better boundaries.
😵💫 Why Founders Procrastinate — And What to Do About It
Founder Insight:
You’re not lazy — you’re overwhelmed. Most founder procrastination isn’t about the task itself, but the emotional weight attached to it. Fear of failure. Fear of not doing it perfectly. Fear of starting.
Why It Matters for You:
Your startup's success lives on the other side of consistency. Procrastination is often a clue that something feels too big, too vague, or too risky. Instead of shaming yourself, investigate the resistance.
Actionable Moves:
Use “The 5-Minute Rule” — commit to just 5 minutes of the task. Most of the time, you’ll keep going.
Ask: “What’s the very next physical action I can take?”
Keep a “procrastination journal” — track what tasks you avoid and why. Patterns will emerge.
🧠 Reminder: Clarity is the cure for procrastination.
Check out our website for more resources for founders → founderfoundry.com