The Surprising Decisions That Make or Break Founder Credibility in Your First Two Years
Protect your decision-making process more than your decisions
You’re going to make mistakes in your first two years. That’s guaranteed. What matters more than the decisions themselves is whether people can see the thoughtfulness behind them.
When I decided to turn down a partnership opportunity that looked great on paper but felt misaligned with my values, I lost some short-term opportunity. But explaining my reasoning, both privately to mentors and publicly in my writing, built long-term trust.
Carol Dweck’s research on growth mindset applies here. Founders with fixed mindsets protect their decisions because admitting error feels like admitting inadequacy. Founders with growth mindsets protect their decision-making process because they know good thinking leads to good outcomes over time, even when individual decisions miss the mark.
