Vulnerability is a strength that feels like weakness from the inside.

It should be harder for you to imagine reading your journaling prompt to your cofounder. That shit is vulnerable. Being open and honest and clear with other people about what we’re really thinking and feeling feels like an exposure. It makes us want to hide.

So why do we think being vulnerable is a weakness? Level 3 conversations take strength. They take courage. They take bravery.

If you believe vulnerability is a weakness - that belief will block you from scaling. That belief system - ‘I’m weak if I share my feelings’ - is rooted in fear and limits your actions. It will disable you from ever having a level 3 conversation. You’ll never be able to build strong, reciprocal, healthy relationships because you’re preventing yourself from entering them. The only exception is if you plan to build a billion dollar company all on your own with no relationships - no employees, no investors, and no users that you would ever need to work through any tension with.

Founders scale their relationships when they remember their vulnerability is a strength.

I invite you all to adopt this into your belief systems because it unlocks action instead of throttling it: I am strong because I’m vulnerable. My strength allows me to lean into difficult conversations with uncertain outcomes - to say what’s true for me even if it’s risky. My vulnerability proves that I trust myself enough to know that my feelings and needs are worth sharing. And it shows that I’m brave enough to try trusting that this person can handle them. Even if this conversation doesn’t go well - I trust myself enough to know I can handle the consequences. These are great, trust-generating beliefs for a healthy founder psychology.

Vulnerability is a muscle - start getting your reps in.