Founders & Purpose: Why Your Scoreboard Doesn’t Define You

Every Thursday, founders from all over the world gather for Startup Church.

It’s a midweek reset—a moment to step away from the noise of startup culture and align ourselves with something greater: God’s purpose for our lives.

Last week, we dove into three themes that every founder wrestles with.

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1. Do you only like yourself when you’re winning?

This is a trap too many founders fall into.

When the revenue graph is up and to the right—you feel unstoppable.
When it flatlines, you question your worth.

The danger is obvious: you tie your identity to your scoreboard.
And when the scoreboard isn’t flattering, you stop liking yourself.

But here’s the truth:
Your value isn’t defined by winning.
It’s defined by whose you are, not what you accomplish.

When you anchor your identity in God instead of outcomes, you can celebrate wins without being enslaved to them—and survive losses without being destroyed by them.

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2. When a founder finds purpose… they find themselves.

Something powerful happens when you finally discover what you were put on this planet to do.

You stop hiding behind titles, roles, and masks.
You stop living for applause.

Instead, you begin to like who you see in the mirror—
Not because you’ve “made it”…
But because you finally know why you were made.

You become real. Transparent. Free.

Because purpose gives you permission to be you.
Right where you are.
Mess and all.

So how do you find purpose?

You start searching—and never stop.
And if you’re faith-driven like me, you spend time with the Creator.

He always reveals why He put you here.
It’s always more than you think.
Bigger. Better. Eternal.

And once you know…
→ He leads.
→ You follow.
→ And the impossible becomes possible.

Your best life isn’t the easiest life.
It’s the purposeful one.

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3. Purpose isn’t just about where you’re going.

Too many founders treat purpose like it’s a finish line.
But it’s more than destiny—it’s direction.

Purpose makes every chapter matter.

Even the painful ones.
Especially the painful ones.

Those chapters shape you. Sharpen you. Prepare you.

You become the Timex founder:
“Took a licking, kept on ticking.”

And one day, you’ll look back and realize—
Even the hardest seasons weren’t wasted.
They were part of the story God was writing all along.

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Final Word

Founders, your scoreboard doesn’t define you.
Your mistakes don’t disqualify you.
Your scars don’t diminish you.

Purpose makes it all matter.

The wins.
The losses.
The in-between.

And when you walk with God, every chapter of your journey is leading somewhere greater than you could ever imagine.

See you next week,
Gerald

P.S. Cohort #10 of our Elevate Startup Incubator kicks off October 28th.

12 weeks. Live sessions. High accountability. No excuses.

I’ll be working directly with founders who are serious about growth, purpose, and funding.

👉 Who wants a seat at my table?