In today’s fast-paced business world, entrepreneurs often find themselves caught between the drive for success and maintaining personal balance. This tension was beautifully captured in a recent podcast conversation where the guest, Mads Rossau, shared his philosophy:

I don’t do things that’s only half done. Either we don’t do it or we do it fully. I don’t care if it’s business, work, having fun, drinking. It’s either 100% or we’re not doing it.

This all-or-nothing approach is characteristic of many successful entrepreneurs, but it can sometimes lead to what’s known as “founder disease.” The symptoms are familiar to many business owners: isolation, overconfidence, resistance to change, lack of self-awareness, self-absorption, and detachment from company culture. These challenges often emerge when entrepreneurs become so deeply involved in their ventures that they lose perspective – unable to “see the forest for the trees.”

One particularly interesting insight from the conversation was about work-life balance. While many might criticize entrepreneurs for their intense focus on work, Mads offers a different perspective: “I think if you find something you truly love and enjoy, and as long as you still take some time for the people you love, I wouldn’t say it’s a problem.” This challenges the conventional narrative about work-life balance, suggesting that when work is fulfilling, the traditional boundaries become less relevant.

The discussion also explored the critical difference between effective and ineffective leadership. Mads shared a compelling story from his management experience in retail, where he implemented a simple practice of acknowledging one person for one thing every day. The result? When he wasn’t present on weekends, productivity suffered, but when he was there, operations ran smoothly. This highlights how good management can transform workplace dynamics compared to bad management. The key insight: “You want people to want to work with you, not because of fear.”

This philosophy aligns with Denmark’s approach to work, which Mads referenced. Despite having one of the highest GDPs per capita globally, Danes typically work just 37 hours per week. Their efficiency per work hour is among the highest in the world, achieved not through pressure but by “letting people shine for a certain amount of time and then go do what you want.” It’s a powerful reminder that productivity isn’t about hours worked but about effectiveness during those hours.

Leadership sets the tone for any organization, and as the conversation revealed, it “always comes from the top.” One of the most impactful tactics for leaders is surprisingly simple: be willing to get your hands dirty. As Mads put it, “Probably one of the best tricks for any manager to get or leader to get a quick boost amongst employees… just grab the mop, start mopping the floor.” This symbolic action demonstrates a willingness to work alongside your team rather than merely directing from above.

The podcast also explored the dynamics of founding partnerships. Unlike solo founders, Mads prefers building companies with partners, explaining that having others who depend on you increases accountability and ultimately chances for success. However, this approach comes with its own challenges, particularly around communication: “That’s more difficult than communicating downwards is communicating across or upwards… because you got to agree to some extent with whatever the person is saying and find some sort of agreement.”

In his current venture, an AI agency called Intersect AI, Mads is applying these leadership principles while helping businesses build automations. His long-term vision includes creating a business-focused large language model, giving companies more control over their AI tools rather than remaining dependent on platforms that might change pricing or terms unexpectedly.

Perhaps the most powerful message from the conversation was Mads’s parting advice: “Just try.” He encourages entrepreneurs to reframe how they see obstacles – not as walls, but as “speed bumps along the journey.” Often, the barriers we perceive in our minds are much larger than the actual challenges we face. By taking that first step, we discover which problems are real and which are merely imagined.

This counterintuitive wisdom might be exactly what many aspiring entrepreneurs need to hear. In a world that often glorifies planning and preparation, sometimes the most valuable action is simply to begin, learn as you go, and adjust your course accordingly.

#everlasting #coaching #entrepreneurship #CEO #founder #purposedrivenbusiness #CEOdisease #Foundersymptom #Founderitis #nicovandevenne #podmatch

• Interested about what I'm saying?
• Want to learn more about Everlasting Fulfilment and how it can improve your life?