Sukhinder Singh Cassidy (Joyus) at Startup Grind Global 2016

TL;DR

The speaker discusses seven key principles for founders and CEO's to think about when scaling themselves and their teams.

Transcript

well first of all it's great to be here I'm trying to figure out if there's anybody in the back row up there I think it's a little empty but but thank you so much for having me I'm super excited to be here I've spoken with startup grind before but never to an audience this big and somewhere in the audience I'm not going to expose him but my first c... Read More

Key Insights

• 😤 Founder CEO's need to know their trademark strengths to build a team around them effectively.
• 🏛️ Always recruiting is a crucial aspect of building a successful startup.
• 🤕 Managing oneself as a founder CEO involves finding a balance between being heads up and heads down.
• 😤 Energy gainers and energy drainers should be identified within the team to maximize productivity.
• 🚠 Being able to switch between managing and being managed is essential for founder CEO's.
• 🏂 Founder CEO's should manage their board and investors, rather than being managed by them.
• ❓ It is crucial to find a confidant or mentor to provide support and guidance on the entrepreneurial journey.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the difference between the conventional thinking on founders and CEO's and the speaker's operating range concept?

The conventional thinking suggests that founders are in the weeds, while CEO's are focused on executive management and vision. However, the operating range concept recognizes that both founders and CEO's need to be able to switch between being in the weeds and being at a higher level, depending on the situation.

Q: How can founders identify their trademark strengths?

Founders can ask the people around them, such as colleagues, professors, or mentors, for feedback on their strengths. Self-reflection and analyzing previous experiences can also help founders uncover their trademark strengths.

Q: Why is always recruiting important for founder CEO's?

Recruiting is crucial for startups to thrive, and founders, as the visionary leaders, are best at selling their company's vision. By always recruiting, founder CEO's ensure they have the right talent at the right time, even for positions that might not be open yet.

Q: How can founder CEO's effectively manage their employees?

Founder CEO's should focus on teaching their employees how to manage themselves. By providing clear expectations, creating agendas, and empowering employees to make decisions, founder CEO's can ensure that they are managed effectively, allowing them to focus on higher-level tasks.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker challenges the conventional thinking on founders and CEO's and introduces the concept of operating range, which involves managing energy and knowing when to be in the weeds or at a higher level.

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of knowing your trademark strengths as a founder or CEO and using that self-awareness to build a team.

• The speaker highlights the significance of always recruiting, managing employees effectively, and finding a balance between being heads up and heads down.

• Lastly, the speaker advises finding a confidant or mentor that can act as a "priest" on the entrepreneurial journey.