ceos - Matt Munson

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

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.

management

The magic your meetings are missing

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

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.

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.

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.

ceos

The Weightiness Every Leader Knows

You aren't alone. One of the defining experiences of being a startup founder was the heaviness I carried at every waking hour. And I see and hear it in every other founder I speak with.

fundraising

Struggling to Raise Venture Capital? The step you may be missing.

Most founders I meet have a missing step in their plan for raising capital. The result is frustration and isolation.

cofounder issues

10 Questions Every Cofounder Team Should Discuss

Most early-stage companies fail because of cofounder conflict. Here are 10 questions to help create alignment early.

ceos

$17M raised, and I was fried.

I realized in October of 2016 that I was burned out and wanted a path out of the CEO role. Here’s my own story and the secret internal dialogue I’m hearing as a coach to other founders.

entrepreneurship

How to Price Your B2B Product

One of my clients emailed today for guidance on what to charge her first customer. Here’s the advice I gave.

leadership

The Away Debacle: Is Judgment the Answer?

While the leaders are culpable, might our mob mentality reaction be inhibiting us from changing the systemic issues that encourage this kind of behavior?

startups

So You Wanna Advise Startups? Here’s How to Do More Good Than Harm.

The advisory relationship is one of the most helpful and misunderstood relationships in the startup world. Here’s how to get involved if you’re a domain expert and a mensch and why to stay the fuck away from founders if you’re not.

startups

How to find great advisors for your startup (and avoid the shit ones)

The advisory relationship is one of the most helpful and misunderstood relationships in the startup world. Here’s my personal take on how to get the best out of an advisory relationship from either side.

coaching

Why I’ve Decided to Start Coaching Startup Leaders

I spent 7 years running my last venture-backed startup. I don’t know if I would have survived without the help of the leadership coaches who came alongside me and helped me transform the way I understood the role of a leader. The work changed me as a person, as