Thread by @dunkhippo33

Some Monday thoughts on burn out in startups. We've all been there. There's SO MUCH TO DO in a startup.

How do you avoid burning out? >>

https://twitter.com/dunkhippo33/status/1358649288637648897?s=20

1) Mindset: Unpopular opinion - one of the biggest reasons founders burn out is their startup isn't their life's mission.

I thought about my ad startup in terms of a 5 yr horizon. Think about @HustleFundVC as a 30-40 year mission (hopefully longer).

2) What is a problem you want to work on for 30+ years? And if what you're working on is not it, then maybe you shouldn't be working on it?

You have to have something that will keep you going through all the ups and downs for decades not years.

3) Startups just take a long time to build. You need a longer-term mentality than you might think.

Too many startups sell too early. (I did!)

It takes at least 2 decades to build something great. Look at your fav cos that are now having BIG impact. They are all over 15yo.

4) Long term thinking also helps you prioritize. What do I need to do RIGHT NOW? Vs what can I push off for a year.

There are often features / new products in your co that you want to build now but it's better to wait 5 years until your current focus is big.

5) This allows you to focus on what is truly important. If something isn't going to move the needle 10x, should you be doing it?

Probably not. You should ignore it. Say no.

Less is more.

6) Ppl often debate are startups marathons or sprints?

They're both. Sprints within a marathon. There are going to be many times when you will need to sprint. When you're closing a deal. When you're pushing something impt on a deadline.

But it's 30+ yrs...

7) So imagine you have to do a bunch of sprinting within a marathon...how would you run the race differently vs sprinting just 800m?

You would probably sprint when you need to. And then cruise when you don't. That's how to play it in a startup.

8) In fact, it's impt to REST. Most founders don't do this well. (I don't do it well). But at least have it in mind.

The best athletes ALL rest a LOT. The best musicians ALL rest a LOT. They all spend 7-9 hours sleeping.

But ppl in this industry do not. That's a mistake.

9) You all know this already, but better rest and better sleep makes for increased speed, better creativity and problem solving. You just do things better, faster, and more easily with sleep and rest.

Why do most founders not rest/sleep?

10) In part, because there's this stigma in the industry. That you always need to be burning the midnight oil. And "hustling".

But running around ragged all the time IS NOT effecting.

Sprinting when you need to and then cruising the rest of the time is hustling.

11) This shows up in tactics too. Take email - I used to feel this pressure (mostly self-imposed but also driven by the industry culture) to respond as immediately as possible to all emails.

But then you are just on this email hamster wheel. And that is inefficient.

12) Distinguishing between what you ACTUALLY really need to do vs what you feel pressured to do is important.

(For email, btw, I now use the Yesterbox system to make this faster):

https://twitter.com/dunkhippo33/status/1255649053217419264

13) Besides getting more rest, it's also important to be energized. You're going to need high morale (for most of the 30 yrs) -- for you and YOUR TEAM.

But startups are ups and downs and mostly downs. So how do you get through it?

14) First off, when you're in a rut, you need to focus on getting out of it. I've been there.

It's the days that you don't feel like getting out of bed and you just want to read your phone.

Or you just feel tired all the time even though you are resting.

15) Take a break. Stop working. Get your head back in the game.

2-6 weeks in the grand scheme of 30 years is nothing. Give yourself permission to do that.

If you are burnt out, you need to stop being burnt out before you get continue.

16) How do you get energized? People, mission, and lifestyle are the big drivers.

People: do you LOVE your team and the ppl around you in your personal life?

17) If the answer is no to any of these ppl, you need to make a change. A negative energy person can bring a whole team down.

Firing in your professional life is hard. Firing in your personal life is harder.

18) But you have to be honest with yourself if this is what's happening. If your entrepreneurial journey is at odds w any of your team members (either personally or professionally), you have to decide whether they go or you stop your startup. Otherwise it's just not going to work

19) Mission: it's impt to have a strong mission that gets your whole team (and you) excited.

It's ok if your startup / startup activities are not sexy or exciting. Your mission could even be as simple as: "Treating ppl right."

But it has to be something ppl can rally around.

20) Team members don't get excited about tactics -- not for years or decades. Ppl get excited by impact that they can have on others.

This is what mission should be about.

21) Lifestyle: The usual - eat healthily, exercise, and do something fun -- too many ppl lead the deferred life.

But, if you really are analytical about your personal performance - just like athletes and musicians - you'll find that all these things will improve your work.

22) Measure your own output. There are some days that I can do things faster than others. What do they correlate with?

For me: sleep & exercise. Exercise is easier for me when I eat better.

Startups are a performance sport, & having lifestyle discipline makes ppl better.

23) It doesn't mean going crazy. You don't need to be a triathlete waking up at 4am to run 10 mi. Or do yoga while journaling. Just a normal even-keeled lifestyle. It's the typical startup undulations in sleep / sugar / lack of movement / emotions that make you crash & burn out.

24) Next, get a "coach". Maybe many. Doesn't necessarily need to be a paid coach.

Work with different ppl (mentors) who can help make you better in key areas. You become a better athlete by training on specific things. Not just haphazardly working out.

25) For some ppl, the best use of your time will be to practicing oral communications - for sales and fundraising. For others, it could be getting feedback on writing. Or whatever.

Figure out what you need to work on to make your co 10x better. OR find someone else to do it.

26) When I was a founder, I thought that startup coaches were a floofy concept.

But if you are post-seed and have some money, a good startup coach is a good investment to help you with your own training as CEO / founder.

27) In summary:

-Think in 30 year timelines.
-Focus. Say no.
-Sprint only when you need to.
-Surround yourself w/ supportive ppl.
-Inspire w a strong mission.
-Get lots of rest. Eat healthily and be active.
-Improve yourself in areas that will 10x your co or delegate to others