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You don’t have to earn your rest. You just have to protect it. 📹 In this clip from our Founder Culture interview, Serita Lewis reminds us that boundaries aren’t about building walls. They are also about keeping the promises we make to ourselves. As a founder, educator, and community leader, Serita has learned how to hold space for others without abandoning herself and that’s a lesson too many leaders learn the hard way. If you’ve been overextending, overcommitting, or over-functioning, this moment is your reminder: Boundaries are a leadership tool. Check out the full episode “The Hero Habit with Serita Lewis of Urbnseek!” available now on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. 🎙️ Founder Culture is the podcast for founders and startup leaders who want to build companies where people actually work well together, not just work hard. This isn’t leadership theory. It’s what happens when real problems create real pressure—and how to build a team that can handle both. Full episodes available on YouTube and all major podcast streaming platforms.
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Work-life balance isn’t just about hours—it’s about alignment. 📹 In this powerful clip, my guest Serita Lewis drops a gem that every founder and change-maker needs to hear: "It's ok for you to define your work-life balance as opposed to what other people think it should be.” As the founder of Urbnseek!, Serita knows what it means to lead with purpose while staying rooted in community and well-being. This clip reframes the conversation around finding balance as an entrepreneur in a way that’s personal and practical, especially if you’ve been trying to juggle it all without losing yourself. Catch the full interview in the latest Founder Culture episode: “The Hero Habit, Pt. 2 – Interview with Serita Lewis” available now on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. 🎙️ Founder Culture is the podcast for founders and startup leaders who want to build companies where people actually work well together, not just work hard. This isn’t leadership theory. It’s what happens when real problems create real pressure—and how to build a team that can handle both. Full episodes available on YouTube and all major podcast streaming platforms.
Still trying to do it all yourself? You’re not alone. 🚨In this week’s episode of Founder Culture, I continue the conversation on The Hero Habit—the mindset that convinces founders they have to carry it all, even when it’s clearly too much. But this time, I’m not unpacking it alone. I’m joined by Serita Lewis, founder of Urbnseek!, a powerhouse community-builder and social entrepreneur whose work proves that building strategic relationships is a leadership skill. Together, we talk about:
This conversation is real, refreshing, and full of wisdom for leaders ready to trade exhaustion for elevation. “The Hero Habit with Serita Lewis of Urbnseek!” available now on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts.  Meet Serita Lewis, Founder of Urbnseek!, a social impact organization rooted in West Philadelphia. As an educator, activist, social entrepreneur, and devoted youth advocate, Serita has woven a narrative of impact throughout her journey, leaving a recognizable mark on the city she loves back. Urbnseek! believes community isn’t just where you live - it’s how you live, connect, and grow! Their holistic approach to community betterment helps companies meet their community impact goals through meaningful activations and experiences designed to positively connect with people in underserved neighborhoods. To connect with Serita Lewis, you can find her on Instagram at @urbnseek or drop her an email at [email protected] 🎙️ Founder Culture is the podcast for founders and startup leaders who want to build companies where people actually work well together, not just work hard. This isn’t leadership theory. It’s what happens when real problems create real pressure—and how to build a team that can handle both. Full episodes available on YouTube and all major podcast streaming platforms.
 Photo Credit: Pixabay via Pexels Do you remember those Hair Club for Men commercials from the 80s and 90s? They always ended with: “I’m not only the president, I’m also a client.” That’s how many founders feel about their business. You didn’t just build a company. You built the solution you wish existed when you needed it most. The product. The service. The technology. The thing that would have made all the difference for you. That personal connection is your superpower. It fuels your drive, helps you push through long nights, and gives you the conviction to keep going when others would quit. But it can also set a trap. For you, the business is a calling so when you see your team treating the work as “just a job,” it doesn’t feel like a small issue. It feels personal. The Behavior: Projection What’s happening here is Projection. Projection is when you subconsciously place your own thoughts, feelings, and expectations onto others, assuming they should think, act, or feel the way you do. As a founder, projection shows up when:
Here’s why it hits so hard: when you’ve lived the problem, your standards aren’t just professional, they’re personal. You don’t just want your team to deliver results, you want them to feel it. You want them to carry the same sense of urgency, the same weight of responsibility, the same passion that drives you. But here’s the truth: they can’t. They didn’t live your story. Even if they’ve faced something similar, it’s just not the same and that disconnect convinces you they don’t care when in reality, they may just care differently. Why It Matters When projection takes over, your passion—the very thing that makes you a powerful leader—can backfire. It turns into pressure. Your team feels like they’re carrying your personal wounds instead of building toward a shared goal. Over time, instead of inspiring them, your fire starts to drain them. This is why so many founders end up saying, “I can’t find good help.” It’s not that talent is missing but that passion is being measured in the wrong way. The Reset Here’s how you step out of the projection trap without dimming your fire:
The Takeaway Your story matters. Your passion is the torch that lights the path forward. But leadership isn’t about cloning your fire or demanding your team shows up the way you do. It’s about creating a space where each person can bring their own light. Together, you shine brighter than you ever could alone. 🎙️Founder Culture is the podcast for founders and startup leaders who want to build companies where people actually work well together, not just work hard. This isn’t leadership theory. It’s what happens when real problems create real pressure—and how to build a team that can handle both. Full episodes available on YouTube and all major podcast streaming platforms.
You don’t need more grit. You need a different mindset. The hustle that built your business won’t sustain it. At some point, doing more stops working and burnout sets in. 📹 This short clip from Founder Culture breaks down a simple reset that is the difference between staying in survival mode and building something that lasts: Shift from "How can I get this done?" To "Who can help me make this happen?" Full episode: “I Don’t Need Help. I Can Handle This On My Own.” available on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. 🎙️ Founder Culture is the podcast for founders and startup leaders who want to build companies where people actually work well together, not just work hard. This isn’t leadership theory. It’s what happens when real problems create real pressure—and how to build a team that can handle both. Full episodes available on YouTube and all major podcast streaming platforms.
You’re not burned out because you’re weak. You’re burned out because you’re doing too much. When founders hit a wall, the instinct is often to do more. But real leadership doesn’t come from overfunctioning. It comes from making space for strategy, for clarity, for others to step in and own it. 📹 In this short clip from the latest episode of Founder Culture, I unpack how to break The Hero Habit—that reflex to keep doing everything yourself—and why it’s quietly stalling your growth. It’s time to stop doing and start leading. Catch the full episode: “I Don’t Need Help. I Can Handle This On My Own” on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. 🎙️ Founder Culture is the podcast for founders and startup leaders who want to build companies where people actually work well together, not just work hard. This isn’t leadership theory. It’s what happens when real problems create real pressure—and how to build a team that can handle both. Full episodes available on YouTube and all major podcast streaming platforms.
Are you leading or just holding it together? There’s a sneaky belief that shows up in a lot of founders (and leaders at every level): “If I ask for help, I’m giving up control.” So you keep doing it all because that’s what got you here. But here’s the thing: Hustle has a ceiling. Leadership breaks barriers. 🚨In the latest episode of Founder Culture, I’m naming the behavior that keeps high-capacity founders stuck in overdrive: The Hero Habit — the tendency to default to doing instead of leading, because doing has always worked. We talk about:
This episode is for you if you’re successful on paper but secretly stretched thin and wondering how much longer you can keep holding it all together. Listen to “I Don’t Need Help. I Can Handle This On My Own.” Available now on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. 🎙️ Founder Culture is the podcast for founders and startup leaders who want to build companies where people actually work well together, not just work hard. This isn’t leadership theory. It’s what happens when real problems create real pressure—and how to build a team that can handle both. Full episodes available on YouTube and all major podcast streaming platforms.
 Photo Credit: Jose Antonio Gallego via Pexels Six months ago, your team was in sync. You were solving problems, crushing deadlines, and even laughing in group chats. You had a rhythm and everyone just got it. But now that you’ve added new team members, something feels different. Your business is growing, which is a win. But now there are side chats, missed messages, and a noticeable shift in energy. You’re second-guessing yourself. Repeating directions. And wondering if people really “get it” the way they used to. Here’s the truth: bringing on new people doesn’t just change the team’s size—it changes its culture. If you’re not intentional, you’ll find yourself leading a team that gets things done but feels completely out of sync. What You’re Feeling is Called Culture DriftCulture Drift is the gradual evolution of norms, values, and behaviors over time. It happens to every team at some point, especially when teams scale quickly, shift roles, or onboard multiple new hires. The biggest challenge is it shows up in ways that are easy to dismiss until they can’t be ignored such as:
So What Do You Do?You don’t wait for things to break. You call a Behavioral Reset. This is a focused moment where you pause and realign your team on strategy, behavior, and all the ways you work. How your team works together is just as important as what they’re working on and a Behavioral Reset helps to clear up the silent expectations and unspoken rules that worked with five people but are causing breakdowns with 15. Here’s how to do it: Bring your whole team together; it is important to include everyone, not just your founding team or leaders. Create a safe space for open discussion and dialogue without judgment or placing blame. Explore these points –
Pro tip: Prepare a method for anonymous communication just in case you need it to get things going. The TakeawayGrowing your business is bigger than more clients, revenue, and products or services. It also means evolving how your team works together. Culture scales by design and it’s your job to lead that evolution—not just react to it. So if the energy’s shifted: Name it. Reset the team. Rebuild the rhythm. Grow with intention. 🎙️Founder Culture is the podcast for founders and startup leaders who want to build companies where people actually work well together, not just work hard. This isn’t leadership theory. It’s what happens when real problems create real pressure—and how to build a team that can handle both. Full episodes available on YouTube and all major podcast streaming platforms.
💡 You don’t need more people—you need the right people. Your best work doesn’t happen when you’re trying to serve everyone. It happens when you’re working with the audience that energizes you, understands your value, and is ready for what you offer. When you stop chasing reach and start honoring resonance, everything shifts: ✅ You stop tweaking your pitch for every call ✅ Your messaging becomes clearer ✅ You lead with more ease and authority Your best audience isn’t just “anyone who needs help.” It’s the people you can serve at your highest level, even on your hardest days. 📹 This clip is from Episode 4 of Founder Culture “I know I need to focus, but I hate saying no.” Full episode on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. 🎙️ Founder Culture is the podcast for founders and startup leaders who want to build companies where people actually work well together, not just work hard. This isn’t leadership theory. It’s what happens when real problems create real pressure—and how to build a team that can handle both. Full episodes available on YouTube and all major podcast streaming platforms.
Saying “no” isn’t selfish—it’s strategic. Every time you stretch your offer to “just help,” you’re not being generous. You’re actually draining your energy, confusing your brand, and training your audience to expect flexibility over focus. If you’re saying yes because you feel bad saying no, that's not alignment. That’s guilt. And guilt is not a business strategy. The more you honor who your work is really for, the more impact you’ll make with less burnout and second-guessing. Saying no isn’t rejection—it’s devotion to your lane and the people you serve best. 📹 Watch this quick clip from the latest episode of Founder Culture: “I know I need to focus, but I hate saying no.” Full episode on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. 🎙️ Founder Culture is the podcast for founders and startup leaders who want to build companies where people actually work well together, not just work hard. This isn’t leadership theory. It’s what happens when real problems create real pressure—and how to build a team that can handle both. Full episodes available on YouTube and all major podcast streaming platforms.
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