How to Think Like a Founder
Readtime: 3 minutes
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Most people think of founders as people who build startups.
But I think of them differently.
To me, a founder is someone who takes initiative. Someone who sees opportunity, thinks creatively, and acts decisively – regardless of their job title.
And here’s the kicker:
You don’t need to start a business to think like a founder.
You just need the mindset.
Because founder-thinking leads to more impact, faster career growth, and a deeper sense of ownership over your work.
Today, I’ll show you how to make that shift with five mindset upgrades you can start using straight away.
Let’s dive in.
1. Own the Outcome (Not Just the Task)
Most professionals complete tasks. Founders create outcomes.
If you’re given a slide deck to build, a founder doesn’t just think “how do I complete the slides?” – they think “what’s the most compelling way to move the audience?”
This shift makes you proactive, not reactive.
Ask yourself:
“What is the result I’m really being asked to deliver?”
Then go do that.
2. Think in Experiments
Founders never wait for perfect. They try things, fast.
If they have a new idea, they test it. If it works, they scale it. If not, they adjust.
You can do this too.
Want to improve your team’s weekly meeting? Don’t overthink it. Test a new format next week. See how it lands. Tweak from there.
Thinking in experiments helps you move quickly – without overcommitting or overplanning.
3. Ruthlessly Prioritise
Founders have 1,000 things they could do. But they only have time for what moves the needle.
So they cut ruthlessly.
Ask yourself:
“If I only had half the time, what would I focus on?”
This question forces clarity.
As I shared in Newsletter 35, the Not-To-Do List is a gamechanger. Most professionals are overwhelmed not because they’re lazy – but because they haven’t filtered hard enough.
Do fewer things. Better.
4. Build Leverage
Founders look for systems. They don’t want to work harder. They want to build something once that works again and again.
This could be:
A playbook others can follow
A recurring template that saves hours
A repeatable process you can delegate
Ask yourself:
“What could I build once that keeps working without me?”
That’s leverage. And that’s how you go from being a worker to being a builder.
5. Act Like a Value Creator
Founders aren’t focused on doing “their job”.
They’re focused on creating value – for users, customers, investors.
You can do the same by identifying what really matters to your boss, your team, or your organisation.
Ask yourself:
“Where can I create the most impact?”
That’s what separates the high performers from the high potential.
In Summary
You don’t need to run a business to think like a founder. You just need to think differently.
Here’s how to get started:
Own outcomes, not tasks
Think in experiments
Ruthlessly prioritise
Build leverage
Act like a value creator
Make these five shifts and you'll stand out – no matter your job title.
On a Personal Note
When I left my partner role at KPMG to start my business, I had to think like a founder from day one.
But what’s surprised me most is how many of these mindset shifts would have helped me years earlier.
I could have made faster progress, had more impact, and enjoyed more freedom – all without leaving the corporate world.
If you're ambitious, you don't need to wait. Founder-thinking works in every role.
Start where you are. Think like an owner. Act like a builder.
One Quote to Get You Going
“Entrepreneurship is a mindset, not a job title.”
That’s all for now.
See you in a couple of weeks,
Mostyn
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