Most founders are either running TOWARD something… or FROM something
ANOTHER DAY
ANOTHER STARTUP THOUGHT
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Words I like: "Startups don’t just reveal your idea — they reveal you."
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Lately, I’ve been noticing a pattern.
Not in the headlines.
Not in pitch decks.
But in conversations with founders.
Sometimes when I talk to them, I can sense it — that quiet energy behind what they’re building.
Why they started.
How they move.
What keeps them going when no one’s watching.
And the more I observe, the clearer it gets:
Most founders are either running toward something… or from something.
It sounds like a throwaway insight.
But when you really sit with it — it explains a lot.
If you're running from something…
You might be running from:
→ A toxic job.
→ A micromanaging boss.
→ The feeling of being undervalued.
→ A system you don’t believe in.
→ Capped salaries.
→ Politics, meetings, performance reviews…
So you say: “Screw it, I’ll build my own thing.”
And that’s fair.
A lot of great companies were born from frustration.
But there’s a trap here.
When you build out of escape mode, your brain is focused on avoiding pain, not creating meaning.
So you move with urgency.
Not because you're inspired.
But because you can't stand still.
You start optimizing for freedom over direction.
→ You say yes to any customer who pays
→ You launch something just to prove you can
→ You chase growth because slowing down feels like going back
→ You might even fall into get rich quick schemes disguised as "hustle culture"
The danger?
You might build the very thing you were trying to leave behind — just this time, you're the boss.
And now the pressure is 10x heavier.
I’ve seen this play out.
Startups where the team’s always reacting, always chasing, always slightly misaligned.
Because the core of the business wasn’t built on vision — it was built on resentment.
So, the product ends up more like a lifeboat than a rocket ship.
If you're running toward something…
This feels different.
There’s a sense of pull instead of push.
Maybe it’s…
→ A product you wish existed.
→ A passion you can’t stop thinking about.
→ A group of people you feel called to serve.
→ A better way of doing things.
→ A future you genuinely believe in.
You tend to have a vision — a clear picture of what you want to build, who it’s for, why it matters.
You might move slower at first and question more things.
But it’s more intentional and sustainable.
→ They obsess over the customer, not just the tech.
→ They make deliberate trade-offs.
→ They say no to shiny distractions because they know what they’re building for.
And even when things get hard (and they always do), they keep going — because they’re anchored to something real and meaningful
It’s not about escaping.
It’s about arriving.
I’m not here to say one path is better than the other.
Honestly, many of us start by running from — and that’s okay.
But it’s worth checking in with yourself.
The key is noticing when it’s time to shift gears.
From running away → to running toward.
Because your startup will reflect your reasons.
If you’re driven by fear, people feel it.
If you’re guided by purpose, people feel that too.
“People” here means:
Your team.
Your customers.
And worst of all — yourself.
Lately, I’ve been asking myself:
(And perhaps, you should sit with these questions this week too!)
“Am I building out of excitement or out of fear?”
“Is this decision fueled by vision or avoidance?”
“Would I still do this if no one clapped?”
”Do I like the direction it’s taking me?”
That kind of clarity doesn’t come from books or advice.
It comes from pausing long enough to listen to yourself.
Trust me, it affects everything — how you hire, how you sell, what kind of culture you create.
Either way, just make sure you’re not running in circles.
Talk soon,
Gracie from What A Startup
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PS: Funny how “I’m done with this BS” can turn into “Wait… did I just build my own BS?” — If you know, you know!
The “ps” is my favorite!