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Subject: This Weekā€™s Insights: Founders, Vision, and Betting on Yourself

This week has been packed with valuable insights and thought-provoking discussions for anyone building something great. Hereā€™s a summary of the key topics weā€™ve touched on, just click on the RED topics to read:

1. Comparing Yourself to Others

Comparison is natural, but it only becomes powerful when it doesnā€™t breed envy. Itā€™s healthy to recognize those ahead and behind you on the journey, learning from both. Iā€™m far from done with what God has planned for me, and I encourage you to compare without coveting.

2. Solo vs. Co-Founder ā€“ Whatā€™s Right for You?

Should you go solo or find a co-founder? Both paths have their pros and cons, but itā€™s important to know that 65% of startups fail due to co-founder disagreements. As a solo-founder, you may have full control, but donā€™t rush into partnerships unless thereā€™s deep trust and aligned vision.

3. Bootstrapping Success: Ryan Bartlett of True Classic

Ryan Bartlett turned $3K into a $250M business with smart, sustainable growth. He avoided the traps of excessive spending and stayed customer-focused. His bootstrapped success story is a great reminder: less can sometimes be more.

4. Heroes vs. Idols

We all need heroesā€”not to worship, but to inspire. As founders, letā€™s aim to be heroes for others. Heroes show whatā€™s possible through courage and grit, while idols are often superficial. Choose the path of a hero who can lead by example, flaws and all.

5. From Ideas to Icons

Ideas are the spark, but vision is what fuels them into movements. Founders need to become the brand they serve, with authenticity driving the movement. Look to the heroes who have come before, but rememberā€”you must lead your own movement with purpose.

6. Betting on Yourself

Founders who bet on themselves pour everything into their visionā€”time, energy, focus, and money. Henry Schuck bet $25K on himself and built ZoomInfo into an $8B giant. When you believe in yourself, donā€™t hesitate to invest in yourself. I bet on founders who do.

7. Vision: If You Canā€™t See It, Youā€™ll Never Have It

Vision is what separates dreamers from doers. You must imagine success in vivid detail and then build it. If you donā€™t have a clear picture of where youā€™re going, neither will anyone else. Think bigger, dream bigger, and let your vision lead the way.

8. Raising Big, Pre-Revenue

Yes, itā€™s possible to raise or even exit pre-revenue, but itā€™s rare. Less than 1% of startups achieve this. The key to success is a strong team, a compelling vision, and a solid network. Remember: focus on whatā€™s probable, not just whatā€™s possible.

All of the posts and discussions from this week are included below. Feel free to click on any of them to dive deeper.Ā 

Let these insights inspire you, and as alwaysā€”dream big, bet on yourself, and keep pushing forward!

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š—”š—²š—²š—± š—µš—²š—¹š—½, reach out.

- Gerald Duran
Founder & Managing PartnerĀ 

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PS ā€”Ā Follow me,Ā Ā Gerald DuranĀ for daily startup and VC mentorship, š—°š—¼š—ŗš—¶š—»š—“ š—¶š—» š—µš—¼š˜ from CanaGlobal's faith-driven venture studio and startup incubator.

The Wrap-up Video

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