Entrepreneurs can often bend the world to their will, but it's crucial to differentiate what they *wish* will happen versus what *must* happen due to inevitable trends. Building on the 'must happen' landscape provides a more robust foundation for a startup's long-term success.

Many founders start companies simply because they want the title, not because they are obsessed with a mission. This is a critical mistake, as only a deep, personal passion for a problem can sustain a founder through the inevitable hardships of building a startup.

Instead of optimizing for a quick win, founders should be "greedy" and select a problem so compelling they can envision working on it for 10-20 years. This long-term alignment is critical for avoiding the burnout and cynicism that comes from building a business you're not passionate about. The problem itself must be the primary source of motivation.

Canva CEO Melanie Perkins plans using "Column B" thinking: envision a perfect, magical future state without constraints, then work backward to build a ladder of small, actionable steps to get there. This contrasts with "Column A" thinking, which starts with current resources and limits vision.

It's a fallacy that smaller goals are easier. For new ventures, a bigger, more ambitious vision is more differentiated and interesting. This makes it easier to recruit top-tier talent and attract key partners, which in turn simplifies execution and creates a flywheel of momentum.

After burning out, Bumble's founder returned with renewed purpose by reframing the company not as an app, but as a "vehicle to deliver love." This elevated, mission-driven perspective—seeing the company as a means to a greater societal end—can be a powerful tool for leaders to overcome fatigue and reconnect with their work.

Before convincing investors or employees, founders need irrational self-belief. The first and most important person you must sell on your vision is yourself. Your conviction is the foundation for everything that follows.

The founder's motivation for leaving a stable corporate career is a clear, personal vision: sitting in a rocking chair at his plant store when he's old. This tangible, lifestyle-oriented goal provides a powerful 'why' that transcends financial metrics and justifies entrepreneurial risk.

Borrowing a quote from Shopify's CEO, Mike Cannon-Brookes emphasizes that a founder's key responsibility is to counteract the natural decline in ambition that occurs as a company grows. They must constantly push the organization to remain bold and hungry.