F*ck founder mode and the strongman archetype

Looking for some support? If now is the time to consider coaching (or a CEO peer circle), reach out here.

Enough.

Enough glorifying the ones who pretend to have it all figured out.

Enough of the bullies.

Enough of the ego-maniacs.

We are living through a dangerous return of the asshole strongman.

Across the globe, disenfranchised people—failed by democratic systems that didn’t deliver care or opportunity—are handing power to egomaniacs and fakers.

And it’s not just governments.

We’re doing it in the private sector too.

Too many investors are back to chasing the high-ego, low-empathy founder.

We’re throwing around phrases like founder-mode.

I keep hearing leaders wrestle with this false choice:

“Lead with heart” or “be in founder mode.”

Some in Silicon Valley are once gain glamorizing high-ego micromanagement as if it’s real founder work.

It’s not.

It’s insulting to the art of building something meaningful.

And it’s based on a lie. (This is, of course, not what PG actually wrote - but this is how many are describing the advice.)

You don’t have to choose.

You can lead with heart and strength.

You can be decisive and deeply human.

You can care about your team and hold a clear standard.

I don’t want a leader who’s a dictator.

I don’t want a leader who’s a pushover.

We need to stop settling.

Real leadership requires both an open heart and a strong spine.

A true leader offers care, empathy, and soulful vision—

as well as clarity, accountability, and discipline.

One without the other isn’t real leadership.

And it won’t take us where we need to go.

Let’s stop glorifying the ones who serve up:

– All spine, no heart

– Or all heart, no spine

Let’s stop it in the boardroom.

Let’s stop it in the voting booth.

Let’s stop it in our conversations with one another.

Let’s grow up.

At Sanity Labs, we’re committed to training the next generation of CEOs to lead with both heart and strength.

To remind them:

It’s okay to care.

It’s essential to be clear.

And it’s possible to do both.

If you think your team will work hard out of fear—

wait until you see what they’ll do for love.

If you think they’ll crumble when you take a stand—

think again. People are hungry for leadership that’s real.

A great CEO is accountable to:

– Hold the vision

– Recruit the team

– Resource that team with capital, clarity, and care

Our political leaders should be too.

Let’s put an end to the false binary.

Let’s retire the strongman archetype.

Let’s stop swinging between extremes.

Fuck founder mode.

Fuck would-be dictators.

Fuck weak leadership.

Lead with heart and spine.

Vote for heart and spine.

Fund heart and spine.

Ask for heart and spine.

I appreciate that you are here. If you’d like to get these posts in your inbox, you can subscribe here.

If you’re building this way, or would like to, reach out.

We’re training the next generation of leaders—come build it with us.

-Matt

Looking for some support? If now is the time to consider coaching (or a CEO peer circle), reach out here.