Entrepreneurs, how do you define your Founder IQ?

I ask this because during my time in the startup arena, I’ve rarely heard anyone speak about founder competencies as a personal prerequisite to launching a company.

Common sense tells us we need a competent pilot to fly us to our destination, or a seasoned captain to steer our ship — someone with seamanship.

Yet when it comes to our own entrepreneurial journeys, where we are the skipper, most founders overlook this critical area.

Why? Because first-time founders are often obsessed with their idea. It’s far more exciting — and glamorous — to work on a shiny new product.

Founders tend to have a can-do attitude and believe they’ll figure it out as they go. They rarely pause to reflect on their life, or on the demands of the founder role, until they hit a crisis — or worse, fail.

But founder competency is vital to startup success. A product idea, no matter how promising, will not thrive if the founder falters at the helm.

To me, Founder IQ includes not just tangible skills, but also the inner qualities and resources required to navigate the founder’s journey wisely. You don’t need to excel in every area from the start. But you do need to be aware — and intentional — about where to grow. The goal is to strengthen your self-management, leadership, and decision-making capacity before the stakes get too high.

Let this essay be a starting point for your development as a founder. May it help you — and your venture — thrive through both calm and storm.

Proper planning prevents poor performance.

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