Founders vs. Employees: Two Different Creatures

Being a founder and being an employee are two completely different beasts—one is wired to thrive in chaos, the other finds comfort in structure. If you’re not ready to jump headfirst into the messiness of founding, it’s okay—stay an employee. No shame in it. But if you’re stepping into founder territory, here’s a friendly PSA: there’s no room for half-measures.

First up, the “I Don’t Do Dirty Work” Founder. They live for the glam moments—strategy meetings, press releases—but as soon as things get gritty, they’re out faster than a new hire on their first unpaid overtime shift. Founders need to embrace the mundane stuff. If you think “Excel” is a social media challenge, maybe reconsider.

Next is the “I’m Not Good at This” Founder. This one loves handing off tasks they find inconvenient. They play the “help me, I’m not good at this” card—and then poof, they disappear from the conversation entirely. Founders don’t get to outsource accountability. If you want a job where you can delegate and disconnect, HR is that way.

Then there’s the “Google-Is-My-Co-Founder” Founder. They’ll spend hours reading blogs and case studies but won’t spend five minutes talking to customers. Fun fact: your customers don’t live on Reddit. You can’t build a product off Medium articles alone—it’s like learning to swim by reading the manual. Get in the water.

We also have the “Passion-Selective” Founder. They show up for the exciting parts—branding, pitching, ideation—but vanish when it’s time for operations, finances, or legal paperwork. Running a startup isn’t Build-A-Bear; you don’t get to stuff it with only the fun parts. Founders eat their vegetables—and sometimes, they taste like spreadsheets.

And of course, the “I Don’t Like Arguments” Founder. They claim they want to keep things peaceful but avoid difficult conversations altogether. Avoiding communication doesn’t create harmony; it creates chaos. It’s like a silent argument with your partner—you think it’s over, but the bomb goes off three days later. Founders need to face problems head-on, or they’ll just explode when you least expect them.

Then there’s the “Out-of-Office, Out-of-Mind” Founder. Look, we all need time off, but completely disconnecting and ignoring the team? Not a good look. Founders don’t clock out, they log off lightly. If you want leave without any mental baggage, go back to employee life—founders carry the weight no matter where they are.

At the end of the day, being a founder isn’t just about a job description—it’s a lifestyle choice. It’s about showing up, owning your work, and building relationships with your team and customers, even when it’s inconvenient. Founders dive into the chaos willingly and embrace the mess because they know that’s where the magic happens. If you’re not up for it, there’s no shame in staying an employee. Some people love the 9-to-5 rhythm—and others thrive in the midnight madness of founder life.

Because really, if you’re not obsessed with the product, curious about your customers, or willing to do the dirty work... why should anyone else care?