Matt Munson

The mythical CEO

There is no perfect in leadership. Why then is it so damn hard to accept our own imperfections?

Comparing our insides to everybody else's outsides

Looking back, I can see that in my earliest days as a founder and CEO I was comparing my insides to everybody else’s outsides. That was not a recipe for success.

founder psychology

The myth of the impervious leader

Those founders you read about in the press and idolize? Yep, they are up at 3 AM too.

founder psychology

The power of negative visualizations

A simple addition to your morning routine to help fight founder-burnout and improve resiliency

founder psychology

What entrepreneurs can learn from professional poker players

A mental model for reducing self-criticism and becoming a more effective leader

startup operations

How to leverage clear goal-setting to supercharge your company

The benefits of relentlessly prioritizing the things that matter most (and the catastrophic consequences of refusing to say ‘no’)

founder psychology

Why leaders must own their sense of worth.

To avoid burnout and scale as leaders, we must take back the judgment of our own worth

burnout

You are not talented enough to work 80 hour weeks. And that's ok.

If Lebron is this serious about rest, maybe you should be too?

founder psychology

Why is it so hard to be happy?

My own complicated relationship with happiness.

founder psychology

Escaping the misery of self-comparison

Struck with self-loathing every time you hear of someone else's success? You are not alone.

management

The magic your meetings are missing

Leverage the power of check-ins to level-up meetings and bring your team closer

founder psychology

How to make friends as a founder

Founder burnout, depression, and loneliness are rampant. Too many founders struggle in isolation. Let's bring that to an end.

founder psychology

How to overcome imposter syndrome and kick more ass

Practical steps for moving through the fear that you are not enough

press

New Sanity Pod Episode - Inc’s Lindsay Blakely

Lindsay has spoken with hundreds of founders over her years as a reporter and is in a unique position to help us normalize parts of the founder experience that can be hard to see clearly in our own heads.

founder psychology

The dangerous cycle of tying your self-worth to your company

What if your deep care that your company succeed is actually the greatest impediment to such success?

board management

How to build a great startup board (hint: your board is not your boss)

How to turn your board into your greatest ally, get more support, feel less alone, and do your damn job.

habits

A powerful morning practice for imperfect leaders

In 2014, I was facing the loss of a child, a messy divorce, and single-parenthood while leading a fast-growing company. This is the morning routine that helped get me through. It has served me to this day.

founder depression

An argument against gutting it out on the hard days

We applaud grit, long-hours, and blowing through walls. But great entrepreneurial work tends to come more from creative insights and thoughtful reflection.

ceos

Why CEOs should work 40-hour weeks

If the data is correct, you are not doing yourself any favors by grinding it out after 5 o'clock.

productivity

Distraction is Killing Your Business (and stealing your joy)

Startup folk are renowned for geeking out on productivity hacks and innovating on the future of work. But most miss the easiest gain of all.

ceos

I am a professional CEO coach. And sometimes I lose my shit too.

A lot of CEO’s I work with carry questions of self-worth. This morning, I found the same questions exploding in my own head. Here is my effort in my own journal to coach myself back to center.

cofounder issues

The unspoken pain of co-founder relationships

Cofounder relationships are at the heart of most startup stories. But like most marriages, there’s as much pain and struggle as joy and collaboration. Often more. Why is no one talking about this?

purpose

This Question Unlocked My Life's Purpose

I thought it was going to be just another casual meetup with a friend for Saturday brunch. But that ended up being the morning I discovered my life’s mission. And it has changed everything. Here’s the question that changed it all.

burnout

Are You Valuable if You Don't Get Shit Done?

This time of isolation and slowness has me facing a lifelong message I carry: that my value is tied to my productivity. If I work hard and have output to show for it, I matter and deserve to exist. That message no longer serves me. It might not be serving you either.

ceos

Handling Layoffs with Grace

In 2016, we laid off 80% of our staff. The remaining team stuck together, scaled the business, and sold it three years later. Here's how we got through the layoffs and how you can too.