Everyone suffers regardless of their path. The key is to select goals so meaningful that the inevitable pain, uncertainty, and criticism are a worthwhile price to pay. Most people trade this fixed cost for trivial rewards.

Founders often experience extreme emotional volatility, swinging from euphoria after a win to despair after a setback. The key is to understand that neither extreme reflects the true state of the business. Maintaining a level-headed perspective is crucial for long-term mental health and sustainable leadership.

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.

The CEO role is not a joyful or fun job; it's a high-pressure, problem-solving position. Founders who love their craft, like software engineering, often take the CEO title out of necessity to solve a larger problem and bring a vision to life, not because they desire the job itself.

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.

Chasing visual markers of success (cars, houses) often leads to hollow victories. True fulfillment comes from defining and pursuing the *feeling* of success, which is often found in simple, personal moments—like pancakes on a Saturday morning—rather than glamorous, external accomplishments.

Forcing yourself to do uncomfortable work like cold calling is not sustainable. Founders must find an intrinsic motivation—like solving a riddle, righteous anger, or a desire to serve—that pulls them into the work, making the inherent discomfort feel irrelevant in the pursuit of a larger goal.

The pursuit of wealth as a final goal leads to misery because money is only a tool. True satisfaction comes from engaging in meaningful work you would enjoy even if it failed. Prioritizing purpose over profit is essential, as wealth cannot buy self-respect or happiness.

Luckey advises founders to separate personal passions from the problems that need solving for maximum impact. While he enjoyed building Oculus VR headsets, he chose to found defense company Anduril to tackle a more critical, albeit less "fun," problem in national security. This contrasts with the common advice to "follow your passion."