The Reboot Podcast

"I am not what has happened to me, I am what I choose to become." - Carl Jung Amir Salihefendic, the founder and CEO of Doist, is the creator of the powerful and popular productivity tool, Todoist (which is awesome). He comes to Jerry feeling torn between two seemingly different directions for his business. On one side, he feels the ambition to do big, world changing things and to be on every smartphone and desktop. But on the other side, as the son of entrepreneurial parents who owned a grocery store, he knows how important it is to just keep the business alive and take care of yourself and your family (and to be grateful for that) - to not put your family, your health, yourself at risk. The ambitious path with burnout or the steady, safe path with possible regrets? He has wrestled with this as something he must decide, but what if there isn't a choice? Or what if there is a 3rd option he's not seeing? Jerry and Amir explore this apparent conflict, talk about his upbringing and his family's escape from the war in Bosnia when he was young, and in this exploration they uncover a new path forward for Amir and the business, one of integration. Links Amir Salihefendic on Twitter - https://twitter.com/amix3k Doist - https://doist.com/ Todoist - https://todoist.com/ Todoist on Twitter - https://twitter.com/Todoist Reboot.io Podcast # 7 Depression and Entrepreneurship – With Jerry Colonna and Rand Fishkin - https://www.reboot.io/episode/depression-and-entrepreneurship/ Parker Palmer - http://www.couragerenewal.org/parker/

A few weeks ago, we released our first Reboot Extras in collaboration with NextView Venture's Traction Podcast. Today we're happy to bring you part 2 of that conversation. In today's Reboot Extras, NextView's Jay Acunzo really takes on the role of a skeptic (and plays it quite well). He challenges Dan with a question that we sometimes hear from founders and startup leaders: "Does the soft, interpersonal and relational stuff really matter?" Or the more common form of pushback: "yes, yes, I know I should think about that stuff - but I'll do that when we're further along and I have more time." It's the idea that if I'm not seeing a measurable impact on my bottom line RIGHT NOW by investing in the health of my team and co-founder relationship, then how can it possibly be worth my time? [Spoiler: The best time to do this type of work? Now.] We also explore several big challenges facing founders in an effort to debunk the myth that the "soft stuff" is less important than the "harder" skills we typically hear more about. We believe the startup world needs less "how tos" and more self-reflection around the question: "how am I personally showing up?" And this is perhaps the most important question startup founders can ask themselves - after all, one of the biggest reasons startups fail is due to Co-Founder conflict. Subscribe to the NextView blog (and podcast): - http://www.nextviewvc.com/blog Sign up for the Reboot.io Podcast and more - http://www.reboot.io/signup Follow Dan and Jay on Twitter: - http://www.twitter.com/jayacunzo - http://www.twitter.com/danputt

"Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance." ― Steven Pressfield "The War of Art" Semil Shah has done remarkably well as a one-man shop, but he is wrestling with the challenges of growing his business and being with his growing family of 5, while continuing to grow himself. Adding to those challenges, there's also a sneaky voice for him, one that can drive him and also hold him back, one that is saying to him: "You don't belong here, yet." At the end of the day, we are not that different because we all have a version of that voice, often referred to as impostor syndrome, but the opportunity for all of us lies in how we are with that voice. Jerry and Semil explore that voice, and how shifting his relationship with it can help him be a better man and a better investor - the very things it and he are after. Links Full show notes: - https://www.reboot.io/episode/46-we-are-not-different-with-semil-shah/ Semil Shah on Twitter - https://twitter.com/semil Semil Shah's blog - http://blog.semilshah.com/ Getting Things Done by David Allen - https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity/dp/0142000280 Writing Therapy in Impostor Syndrome - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impostor_syndrome#Therapy Impostor Syndrome - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impostor_syndrome Fred Wilson - https://twitter.com/fredwilson

This is our first Reboot Extra bringing you more Reboot content, ideas, and stories from more Reboot Voices. What happens when you and your co-founder experience conflict or strife but don't address it up front? When something festers and is ready to boil over, how do you bring it back down to a good place? This is Part 1 in a series about the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur in a special collaboration with NextView Venture's podcast: Traction. Specifically, we'll tackle issues of communication, leadership, and mental well-being. Dan Putt of Reboot joins NextView's VP of platform Jay Acunzo for this series. Subscribe to the NextView blog (and podcast): - http://www.nextviewvc.com/blog Sign up for Reboot Podcast and more - http://www.reboot.io/signup Follow the guys on Twitter: - http://www.twitter.com/jayacunzo - http://www.twitter.com/danputt

"Wisdom, then, is a deeper way of knowing. Wisdom is the art of living in rhythm with your soul, your life, and the divine. Wisdom is the way that you learn to decipher the unknown; and the unknown is our closest companion. So wisdom is the art of being courageous and generous with the unknown, of being able to decipher and recognize its treasures." - John O'Donohue from "Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom" We are so fortunate to welcome Brad Feld and Fred Wilson back to the Reboot Podcast. Jerry, Brad, and Fred have a friendship and history that goes back 20 years, and the wealth of experience between them is truly incredible. In what we hope will be a series of conversations, Fred, Brad, and Jerry share stories from the past, moments where they were pushed to their limits physically and emotionally. They talk about the critical steps they've taken to being an effective and supportive board member and investor, and how the lessons from past painful experiences show up in the values of their firms. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode, so please check out the show notes at reboot.io/podcast Links Full show notes: https://www.reboot.io/episode/45-whats-love-got-to-do-with-it-fred-wilson-brad-feld Jerry's post on this episode. https://www.reboot.io/whats-love-got/ Fred's first episode of Reboot Podcast https://www.reboot.io/episode/investing-in-trust/ Brad's first episode of Reboot Podcast https://www.reboot.io/episode/live-beyond-compare/ Fred Wilson on Twitter ­ - https://twitter.com/fredwilson Fred's Blog - http://avc.com Union Square Ventures ­ - https://www.usv.com/ Brad Feld on Twitter ­ - https://twitter.com/bfeld Brad's Blog ­"Feld Thoughts" ­ - http://www.feld.com/ Foundry Group - http://www.foundrygroup.com/

"Our capacity to fail is essential to what we are." Costica Bradatan http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/15/in-praise-of-failure/ Startups fail. We hear it all the time. Failure is good. We hear that all the time too. But we rarely hear about the pain, the shame, and second guessing. And even worse, we rarely hear about what opportunities may lie for our own growth in something ending beyond the pivot and lessons learned. A startup failing is not proof that something is broken within you. In fact it's an opening and opportunity to find something new within you and for you. Nick Russell was co-founder and CEO of UK based We are Pop-up. Nick joined Jerry on the very day he handed over the keys and closed up shop on his startup of 3+ years. In this discussion, Jerry and Nick talk about what he's experiencing now, what he learned and wishes he had done differently, and a surprising path forward for him. It's a path that could be helpful for you in your own transitions. For show notes and Nick's email address go to reboot.io/podcast Links Nicholas Russell on Twitter - https://twitter.com/bettercity We Are Pop Up - https://www.wearepopup.com/ We Are Pop Up on Twitter - https://twitter.com/wearepopup "Let Your Life Speak" by Parker Palmer - https://www.amazon.com/Let-Your-Life-Speak-Listening/dp/0787947350 Pema Chodron - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pema_Ch%C3%B6dr%C3%B6n

There is real suffering out there, suffering that is causing violence. What are some of the causes of the suffering and how might we address those? It's a true honor to welcome entrepreneur, creator, and educator Konda Mason to the podcast for an important and timely conversation with Jerry. This discussion was recorded last week, and we thought it was really important to get this out sooner rather than later, particularly given the events in Orlando. Konda and Jerry address some of the source causes of this suffering, this pain, and what opportunities might lie in remembering we're all in this together. This conversation will challenge you on your privileges and inspire you find new ways of connecting with people from all backgrounds. Links The Whole Person Economy - http://www.thewholepersoneconomy.com/konda-mason/ Konda Mason on Twitter - https://twitter.com/swamikondananda Impact Hub Oakland - https://oakland.impacthub.net Spirit Rock Meditation Center - https://www.spiritrock.org/instructordetails?calendarinstructorid=54375

Parker Palmer is a man whose teachings mean so much to us and our work at Reboot, so it's wonderful to welcome him back to the podcast for a new conversation with Jerry. Jerry invited Parker back to explore some important questions: - What is the role of community in responding to a toxic environment? - How do I respond when my leader hasn't done their work and is leading from that place of shadow? - What does it mean when a leader is using organization to resolve unconscious issues? As is always the case when Parker and Jerry get together, this is a conversation packed full of deep lessons on leadership, the shadow, the importance of relational trust, and the incredible power present in community. This episode will leave you with new profound questions and answers about yourself, your role in your organization, and the power you hold, but may not yet accept. Links Parker Palmer - http://www.couragerenewal.org/parker/ "To Bless the Space Between Us" by John O'Donohue - http://www.amazon.com/Bless-Space-Between-Us-Blessings/dp/0385522274 Nelson Mandela - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela Rosa Parks - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Parks "A Ritual to Read to Each Other" by William Stafford - http://williamstafford.org/spoems/pages/ritual.html

"As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Marianne Williamson "A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles" John Guydon is an entrepreneur and speaker who owns his power more than most. He shares with Jerry his story and how he can't help but tackle big problems like finding missing children and directly discussing and addressing the economic gap that exists between Black Americans and other communities. Links John Guydon on Twitter ­ - https://twitter.com/Guydon The Lassy Project - http://www.thelassyproject.com/ The Dark Dollar - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5555176/

"The way to start would be, first, when we feel the tendency to blame, to try to get in touch with what it feels like to be holding on to ourselves so tightly. What does it feel like to blame? How does it feel to reject? What does it feel like to hate? What does it feel like to be righteously indignant?" - Pema Chodron There's something calming about finding a target for our blame. It's like in this moment of being lost in a rough sea of chaos and uncertainty, a person to assign the fault is like an unsinkable lifeboat to grasp. We climb aboard, take a deep breath, and relax. We do this as individuals, we do this in organizations, we do this as a society. But what incredibly valuable opportunities lie in resisting the urge to assign blame? What might we learn in what didn't (or did) work if we explore a bit more? Jerry is joined today by author and CTO Dave Zwieback to talk about just that. Dave, in his book "Beyond Blame," explores the fallacy of blame, how it fails to identify the immense complexity and interdependency of the world around us, and the real cost of rapidly assigning fault. If we pause and explore, we may just find that blame often prevents us from doing the very thing we want most - to learn and to grow. Links Dave Zwieback on Twitter - https://twitter.com/mindweather Beyond Blame by Dave Zwieback - http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Blame-Learning-Failure-Success/dp/1491906413 The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni - http://www.amazon.com/Five-Dysfunctions-Team-Leadership-Fable/dp/0787960756 Daniel Kahneman - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Kahneman John Allspaw - https://twitter.com/allspaw Truth and Reconciliation Movement - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_and_reconciliation_commission#The_South_African_TRC_and_after