How "Founder Mode" became a startup meme

Founder mode. Why is it suddenly everywhere like the newest startup meme? "Founder mode" this and "Founder mode" that. Well, the answer is simple. Founder mode is a term that Paul Graham, the cofounder of Y Combinator, coined after hearing a talk by Brian Chesky, the cofounder of Airbnb.
Founder mode is how startup founders operate. Manager mode is how traditional managers manage business. And in PG's latest essay, he explores the differences between the two modes.
"In effect there are two different ways to run a company: founder mode and manager mode. Till now most people even in Silicon Valley have implicitly assumed that scaling a startup meant switching to manager mode. But we can infer the existence of another mode from the dismay of founders who've tried it, and the success of their attempts to escape from it."
Founder mode immediately had me thinking of Default Alive or Default Dead, another Paul Graham essay that seemed to capture the attention and imagination of the startup world nearly a decade ago.
LINKS
- Founder Mode www.paulgraham...
- Default Alive or Default Dead www.paulgraham...
- Northleft Apparel (not sponsored) northleftlife....
ABOUT SILICON FLORIST ----------
For nearly two decades, Rick Turoczy has published Silicon Florist, a blog and podcast that covers founders, startups, entrepreneurship, tech, news, and events in the Portland, Oregon, startup community. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a startup or tech enthusiast, or simply intrigued by Portland's startup culture, Silicon Florist is your go-to source for the latest news, events, jobs, and opportunities in Portland Oregon's flourishing tech and startup scene. Join us in exploring the innovative world of startups in Portland, where creativity and collaboration meet.
ABOUT RICK TUROCZY ----------
Rick Turoczy has been working in, on, and around the Portland, Oregon, startup community for nearly 30 years. He has been recognized as one of the “OG”s of startup ecosystem building by the Kauffman Foundation. And he has been humbled by any number of opportunities to speak on stages from SXSW to INBOUND and from Kobe, Japan, to Muscat, Oman, including an opportunity to share his views on community building on the TEDxPortland stage ( • An introvert's guide t... ).
All because of a blog. Weird.
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#startup #entrepreneur #foundermode

[@matthiasrossini]

great breakdown! definitely THE trending topic right now in the startup world

[@turoczy_]

I can't get away from it 😂

[@poetryflynn3712]

​@@turoczy_The fact this now has a name is really empowering. I want to be this. I want to be this mode. It's vindicating, and I cried when I first read the article. I felt inspired to program again, and it's exciting

[@turoczy_]

@@poetryflynn3712 I'm glad you found the post resonating with you! It's always important to have these sorts of touchstone pieces that you can return to, time and again. Good luck on your founder journey!

[@turoczy_]

tl;dw Paul Graham's "Founder Mode" hubbub reminds me of the response to "Default Alive or Default Dead" nearly a decade ago