Wil Schroter

About

Wil Schroter is the Founder + CEO @ Startups.com, a startup platform that includes Bizplan, Clarity, Fundable, Launchrock, and Zirtual. He started his first company at age 19 which grew to over $700 million in billings within 5 years (despite his involvement). After that he launched 8 more companies, the last 3 venture backed, to refine his learning of what not to do. He's a seasoned expert at starting companies and a total amateur at everything else.

Articles

The Lies Founders Tell About Retirement

What is the real definition of retirement for Founders? Whatever it may be, what matters the most is we get to do what we love doing but this time with less stress, less pressure, and time isn’t measured.

The Problem with "Local Advice"

It’s natural for anyone to seek advice from people who we think know more than we do but it doesn’t necessarily mean that what they know is beneficial for Founders.

Why do I Feel Like Time is Running Out?

Getting things done right away is good. But, when all of your efforts are countering your real goals and are only causing you anxiety and stress, maybe you should reconsider which priorities are urgent and which ones are pretending to be.

The Value of Many Tiny Financial Wins

The mentality of all your daily sacrifices, struggles, and losses eventually leading to getting rich is wishful thinking (sometimes). Why not work on achieving small but steady financial wins, instead of staying broke for years in the hopes of getting rich all at once?

We All Fake it ‘Til We Make it

You can’t fake real success. But, in the early stages of your Startup, you can run it in a way wherein your mindset is bent on believing you can make it until you’re finally there.

Founder Consequences

As a Founder, every single word, phrase, and statement you utter has consequences. When you speak, make sure you’re ready for the pros and cons, and eventually, how it will affect your Startup.

My Unhealthy Relationship With Work

Nope, this isn’t about love. This is about developing unhealthy relationships with family, friends, and anyone within your social circle because your toxic work life is making everything else toxic.

The Goal is NOT to be a Startup

Sure, Startups get more opportunities to grow and funding offers to expand. But you can’t stay in this phase forever.

When Competition Doesn't Matter | Startups.com

How many times has your competition kept you up at night? A new feature here, seed funding there – but how much of a threat are they, really?

We Can't Fight at Home and at Work

As said many times, don’t bring your work problems home the same way you can’t let your personal issues affect your work performance. You can’t deal with issues from both ends because it's unhealthy.

Let's Kill the 40 Hour Workweek

If you work for 30+ hours each week, what would you worry you won’t get done? Now, if you won’t sit eight hours in the office — can you possibly do more somewhere more comfortable than in your office? The answer? YES!

How to Find Minimum Viable Happiness

In most cases, Founders find happiness when they feel safe, when their efforts are validated, and when people appreciate their accomplishments. It doesn’t require much, yet the effort put forth to achieve happiness is basically blood, sweat, tears, and years of hard work.

The "No Man's Land" of Funding

What happens when funding is scarce? In the world of Startups and the struggles of keeping your business running, the fight is for you not to win. It’s more of a fight for you not to lose!

What Does Founder Success "Feel" Like?

Most people focus on hiring more people, settling in a bigger office, or getting additional funding as a form of success. But for most Founders, at the early stages of their business, it’s all about taking away liabilities one at a time.

The Risk of Trading Vulnerability for Opportunity

At the early stages of a startup, Founders often seek to partner with a co-founder in the hopes of growing the company. But what Founders don’t realize is that it may be too early to look for a partner, or even too risky.

Can a Founder Take a Sabbatical? | Startups.com

I need a hard reset. I'm thinking about doing something more extreme like a sabbatical, but is that really an option for a startup Founder to take a sabbatical?

Am I Lying or Just Being Optimistic?

Having a strong conviction that what we’re building will lead to success mixed with a strong sense of positivity and optimism can often feel like being dishonest if we haven't actually achieved anything — but honesty and optimism don't have to be a competing moral quandary.

Stop Glorifying Hustle Porn

The adrenaline to overexert and overwork yourself so you can get more things done is a hustle that no founder should be investing into. Here’s why.

Our Startups Amplify Our Social Lives

Wherever you may be, you’ll always meet another founder. Surprisingly, your Startup is helping you build these connections, a space where you can meet and create relationships with people who share the same experience as you and probably have similar views as well.

We Only Get to be Great at One Thing

Oftentimes, Founders are stuck in the idea that they need to add more features to make their product appealing and saleable. Instead, our focus should be on making sure that we’re doing the core product right — and nothing else matters.

Flee Your Overpriced City

Years ago, when a business needed to expand, they often moved to a big city, brought key employees in, and raised funding to cope with a much higher cost of living. But times have changed.

In Our Darkest Hour Where Do We Find Hope?

Despite the onslaught of negativities, failures, and success seemingly slipping away, when a Founder remains optimistic, they can always redirect focus on what to do next.

Great Ideas All Start As Dumb Ideas

It’s no surprise that most of the successful Startups today started off as a completely bad idea. As it turns out, given the right circumstances, the dumbest idea can become the most profitable company.

Why is Everyone Counting My Money?

We worked for it, sacrificed our health and time, and at some point, even settled for less compensation for the company to grow. Still, Founders can't flaunt the money we make because some people find it appalling just because they don’t have it.

← Previous

Page 9 of 18