Matt Munson

leadership

Sanity Notes #003 : Your metrics are not your worth.

This is a good year to remember that the top-level metrics of your company are not the measure of your worth as a leader.

founder psychology

Sanity Notes #002 : What if you could not fail?

How might you be free to lead and create if your own sense of self was not on the line?

ceos

Sanity Notes #001 : Introducing Sanity Notes

Welcome to Sanity Notes (SN). SN is my new semi-weekly newsletter exploring the hardest parts of entrepreneurship and leadership.

founder burnout

The ubiquity of self-criticism among leaders

Wondering if someone else might be better at your job than you are? You are not alone.

burnout

An argument against rushing

Your presence and creative attention mean more to your people and your work than all the effort you can muster. Maybe it's time to relax.

ceos

What is the CEO's job?

The CEO role is the most-hyped and least understood. Let's get clear on the work at hand.

burnout

For real leaders, dependency is not a dirty word

We have glamorized the solo, impervious leader at our own peril. Real strength comes from reliance on others.

leadership

How to get your leadership team to actually be a team.

An exploration in helping your leaders check their egos at the door and actually work together.

burnout

The surprising power of play

Focus and hard work have their place. But do not underestimate the role of play in the creative process.

burnout

Can you be an entrepreneur without suffering?

We glamorize the entrepreneurial life as one of long-hours and endless strain. But is there another way?

burnout

Fear is the wrong fuel for entrepreneurs

Looking back at my early time as a founder, fear fueled 80% of my actions. Now I am determined to help others avoid that fate.

emotions

Why do we listen worst to those we love most?

Romantic partners, kids, co-founders, employees...often the more we feel is at stake the harder it is for us to really show up.

life design

The biggest mistake founders make in designing their lives

My own miscalculation of this one element is my greatest regret looking back on my time as a founder and CEO.

change

Why is it so hard to change?

Does change feel like two steps forward and two steps back? You are not alone.

founder psychology

The CEO I could not help

One reason I coach is because there was one leader I loved but could not help.

leadership

A Blessing for Leaders

If you are experiencing in your own journey a sense that what got you here will not get you where you need to go, you are not alone.

Want to be a more effective CEO? Stop multi-tasking.

Multi-tasking lowers empathy, reduces memory, and deteriorates your brain. A few thoughts on kicking the habit.

burnout

Asking for help is a superpower

Facing burnout, loneliness, or anxiety? You are not alone. Asking for help may be the best first step.

failure

What if my startup fails?

How to navigate the fear every founder has but nobody talks about.

culture

Build a company, not just a business

Practical steps for building a high-trust, high-function team

imposter syndrome

The mythical CEO

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

founder psychology

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