Takeaways from coaching CEOs, founders and VCs
1–10 of 118 posts
Re: Takeaways from coaching CEOs, founders and VCs
#2"Who are you willing to continue to become, even after you’ve accomplished some success? What are you willing to risk, to continue going in the direction that is calling you?"
This is a really provocative and powerful post, you have a unique coaching perspective being grounded in somatic trauma therapy.
As a fellow male (British) ex-startup founder I can certainly relate to being disconnected from my emotions. What are some of the most effective means for encouraging your conversation partners to start listening and tune in?
Also, what might be some questions to ask a potential coach to see if the relationship would be a good fit?
Re: Takeaways from coaching CEOs, founders and VCs
#3"Who are you willing to continue to become, even after you’ve accomplished some success? What are you willing to risk, to continue going in the direction that is calling you?" This is a really provocative and powerful post, you have a unique coaching perspective being grounded in somatic trauma therapy. As a fellow male (British) ex-startup founder I can certainly relate to being disconnected from my emotions. What a…
I'd like to reframe this, I think there's only one way to know if someone is a good fit for you - to have a proper, real, deep coaching session. As a software founder I have the idea of a "trial" baked into me, so I think this is no different here. I sometimes coach people for weeks at a time (there's no payment), so that both of us know whether this is right for us (I have the privilege that money is not an issue for me). So that I think is the most powerful, because at that point someone can truthfully commit and go all in and I think for a coaching partnership to be successful, that's the only way in my mind. When someone asks me I often say "let's coach and you can make up your mind after...", this really takes the pressure off, which can otherwise dilute a process that I think is honestly, holy in my book. In other words, if there's a coach you think could be helpful, ask them for a free, full-on coaching session so you can understand if there's a good fit.
And the most effective means to tune in in my experience are simply finding ways to slow down. Pausing, in talking, in walking, being in places that are less crowded. Tuning in during a walk in a park is much easier than in a busy restaurant. And pointing things out that you notice if someone is really charged about something, although that is a delicate process of course. But that's where I'd start.
Re: Takeaways from coaching CEOs, founders and VCs
#4"Learning to manage your focus, not your time"
I'm a follower of this priority aswell. I can't tame the onslaught, but I can ensure that my focus is spent in the right places.
I'd love to hear more about this topic as I often have issues communicating what I mean by that, as many other people in my environment want to see get things done "one after the other".
Re: Takeaways from coaching CEOs, founders and VCs
#5Thanks for writing this, it’s a great end of the year reminder. Enjoyed your focus on sensations! I did a 10 day silent Vipassna retreat and the importance of sensations was such a revealing insight they drilled down on.
Re: Takeaways from coaching CEOs, founders and VCs
#6I'm surprised when I hear that big CEOs have success coaches.
How can people who became successful through the manipulation and exploitation of humans understand the dark side of human nature so poorly that they don't see these coaches for what they are?
Re: Takeaways from coaching CEOs, founders and VCs
#7I'm surprised when I hear that big CEOs have success coaches. How can people who became successful through the manipulation and exploitation of humans understand the dark side of human nature so poorly that they don't see these coaches for what they are?
Put another way, do you really feel there is nothing you could learn from someone who grew a SaaS business to 20M ARR?
Re: Takeaways from coaching CEOs, founders and VCs
#8"Learning to manage your focus, not your time" I'm a follower of this priority aswell. I can't tame the onslaught, but I can ensure that my focus is spent in the right places. I'd love to hear more about this topic as I often have issues communicating what I mean by that, as many other people in my environment want to see get things done "one after the other".
I had the pleasure of working with a brilliant owner of this media company, and what he did was this : he only gave me one task to focus on. Even if I asked if anything more was coming up I was told not to worry about it. He made sure everything worked out right, so truly a manager / leader in spirit.
The great thing was it created a peaceful atmosphere in the company. Focus is great, and fully agree with the article.
Re: Takeaways from coaching CEOs, founders and VCs
#9Thanks for updating the website Leo and yes you should be ashamed of yourself.
Ill tell a funny because I cant help myself. My (I would say fruitless if I didn't have so much fun) conversations with money-men always end up in the same pattern. First I explain that if they were entrepreneurs they wouldn't be investing in anyone else. They are going to be wrong as a rule when judging one. Then when I have them unbag the emotional state of "wwwhat???" I explain they are just in the game for the game, they try to make more coins from the many coins they already have because that is all they know about life. I want investing in my business to be as fun for them as retirement since that is what I'm really competing with. Fun as in building a better world with happy people, healthy food, a nice green environment and the crazy profits + world domination as a close second. After this they explain they are not looking to have fun, they just want more money then roll their eyes. (One said my plan was so much fun he'd be dead in 2 years.) I change the topic to some horrible things going on in the world and joke how people only care about money. We could design a better land mine or beam advertisements into peoples heads! Imagine the money to be made! If you are hungry the free market waves a sandwich in front of your nose and goes "I have a sandwich! na na naa na!"
Re: Takeaways from coaching CEOs, founders and VCs
#10I'm surprised when I hear that big CEOs have success coaches. How can people who became successful through the manipulation and exploitation of humans understand the dark side of human nature so poorly that they don't see these coaches for what they are?
Put another way, do you really feel there is nothing you could learn from someone who grew a SaaS business to 20M ARR?
I don't think so. The funny thing is that most people who grew companies to such level of success did so without a coach, but now that the hard part is decidedly over, a coach has become indispensable.