Being Leveraged Means Having Zero Choices

<p>In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about being leveraged and how it affects Startup growth. Early on, founders tend to believe that choosing an investor is an option. Yes, this is possible for people in the top 5 percent or those that haven been in this route more than once. But if you belong in the other 95%, which most of us are, we don’t get to choose. We get lucky when someone takes interest in investing in our Startup. So wise up and ‘choose’ well!</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Sign up for the Startups Newsletter</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.startups.com/newsletter"><strong>https://www.startups.com/newsletter</strong></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Resources:</strong></p><ul> <li> <a href="https://www.startups.com/community/startup-therapy">Startup Therapy Podcast</a><strong> </strong> </li> <li><a href="https://www.startups.com/begin">https://www.startups.com/begin</a></li> <li>Join our <a href="https://www.startups.com/community/founder-groups">Network of Top Founders</a> </li> <li>Send an email to <a href="mailto:therapy@startups.com">therapy@startups.com</a> </li> <li>Check in with us on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/startups-co/">LinkedIn</a> | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilschroter/">Wil Schroter</a> | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-rutan/">Ryan Rutan</a> </li> </ul><p><br></p><p><strong>What to Listen For</strong></p><ul> <li>00:00 Intro</li> <li>00:33 How much choice do we really have as founders?</li> <li>02:37 It’s a privilege to be able to choose your investors</li> <li>08:40 The real point of leverage</li> <li>13:33 Sometimes time is what you need for leverage</li> <li>18:21 Creating a healthy work-life balance isn’t simple for founders</li> <li>25:31 You only get one or two options</li> <li>27:21 When the money is not worth it</li> <li>29:47 Are there other options to saying YES?</li> <li>32:16 Getting investment is easier for second-timers</li> <li>36:38 Putting your chips on one person</li> <li>38:31 Have clear goals and expectati