In this episode of Founder Problems, hosts Zach Oshinbanjo, Lee Zuvanich, and Sarah Schumacher discuss the challenging decision of whether to shut down or pivot a business. Zach shares a recent realization, and they all reflect on their personal startup experiences, emphasizing the significance of community support, understanding opportunity costs, the role of luck, and maintaining a balance between perseverance and practicality. Zach offers advice on the logistical aspects of closing a business, offering insights on how to move forward effectively.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to Founder Problems

00:12 Meet the Hosts

00:51 Season Two Kickoff

01:19 The Reality of Failure

02:28 Balancing Multiple Ventures

03:28 The Importance of Adaptability

05:55 Economic Challenges and Business Longevity

07:15 The Role of Investors

17:38 The Value of Community Support

18:58 Opportunity Cost and Decision Making

23:01 Recognizing When to Pivot

25:10 Navigating Career Pivots

25:46 The Myth of Overnight Success

26:14 Quitting vs. Starting Anew

28:14 The Emotional Toll of Shutting Down

30:55 Learning from Failure

36:40 The Importance of Proper Closure

38:58 Embracing New Beginnings

40:15 Reflecting on the Journey

43:21 Celebrating Endings and New Starts

Mentioned in this Episode:

• 36 Hours of Pain
• Pipeline Entrepreneurs
• Boddle Learning on Startland News
• Betty Rae's Ice Cream in Kansas City
• Shatto Milk Company in Kansas City

Founder Problems is a podcast by and for real-world, fed-up founders. Three entrepreneurs in the messy middle share hot takes, actionable steps, and resources to navigate the challenges of running a business—no promises of 10x growth or swooning investors. Every founder’s journey is different, so take what works and make it your own.

Learn more at founderproblems.com.

Just a quick note to say we're taking a short summer break and will return in July.

Founder Problems is a podcast by and for real-world, fed-up founders. Three entrepreneurs in the messy middle share hot takes, actionable steps, and resources to navigate the challenges of running a business—no promises of 10x growth or swooning investors. Every founder’s journey is different, so take what works and make it your own.

Learn more at founderproblems.com.

In this episode, Sarah Schumacher, Zach Oshinbanjo (and joining later, Lee Zuvanich) experiment with a new format about our own, recent founder problems: tedious admin work, the art of saying no, and staying afloat when founder brain pulls you in twenty directions. We discuss Sarah's quest for operational efficiency, Zach's strategic life overhaul, and Lee's struggle with octopus-esque multitasking, in hopes it will provide you with useful tips on leveraging technology, refining your focus, and being a pragmatic pessimist (or at least some commiseration).

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to 'What's Your Problem?'

00:38 Sarah's Week: Enhancing Operations

02:11 Zach's Week: Finding Focus

11:04 Lee's Week: Juggling Responsibilities

20:10 Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Mentioned In This Episode:

• The Focus Myth Episode
• Zapier

Founder Problems is a podcast by and for real-world, fed-up founders. Three entrepreneurs in the messy middle share hot takes, actionable steps, and resources to navigate the challenges of running a business—no promises of 10x growth or swooning investors. Every founder’s journey is different, so take what works and make it your own.

Learn more at founderproblems.com.