Blog

Founder Mode – Episode 1 – Luck is a Skill, You Can Manufacture It

by Jason

Episode 1: In this first episode of Founder Mode, hosts Jason Shafton (Google, Headspace) and Kevin Henrikson (Acompli, Outlook, Instacart) break down the idea that luck isn’t random—it’s a skill you can manufacture. Through candid stories from their experiences at Google, Microsoft, and early-stage startups, Jason and Kevin reveal how successful founders intentionally create their own opportunities by taking risks, building strategic relationships, and rapidly experimenting. The conversation highlights the true essence of “founder mode,” emphasizing a relentless bias for action, deep customer focus, and the growing importance of AI tools for entrepreneurs. Whether you’re just starting out or leading at scale, this episode delivers actionable insights and inspiration to help you shift into founder mode and start making your own luck.

Listen to Founder Mode – Episode 1 now!

apple podcast logo
youtube logo

Founder Mode

Top Articles

Frank Growth – Episode 212 – Getting Your Mind Right for Growth with Dan Kessler

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Frank Growth – Episode 212 – Getting Your Mind Right for Growth with Dan Kessler

Episode #212: Dan Kessler — Building organic growth beyond paid acquisition How to build consumer app growth without defaulting to paid media. For founders and operators scaling consumer subscription apps and looking for durable growth levers. Dan Kessler joins Jason Shafton to break down how he thinks about consumer growth across partnerships, product loops, and...
Frank Growth – Episode 214 – Why Billionaires Pay Him a Retainer with Leigh Rowan

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Frank Growth – Episode 214 – Why Billionaires Pay Him a Retainer with Leigh Rowan

Episode #214: Leigh Rowan — Building a premium service business without ads How to grow a premium service business through trust, referrals, and client retention.For founders and operators building high-touch services and trying to scale without paid acquisition. Leigh Rowan, founder and CEO of Savanti Travel, joins Jason Shafton to break down how he built...
Frank Growth – Episode 213 – Buy a SaaS, Skip the Startup with Doug Breaker

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Frank Growth – Episode 213 – Buy a SaaS, Skip the Startup with Doug Breaker

Episode #213: Doug Breaker — Buying a SaaS instead of building from zero How to acquire a profitable SaaS with minimal upfront capital.For operators considering ownership but hesitant to start from scratch. Doug Breaker, CEO of Shoeboxed and former CEO of MD Hearing Aid, explains why he chose to buy a 20-year-old SaaS company instead...
Frank Growth – Episode 211 – Kill the CMO Role with Elia Wallen

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Frank Growth – Episode 211 – Kill the CMO Role with Elia Wallen

Episode #211: Elia Wallen — Building a $2B travel platform by serving SMBs How a founder built a multi-billion dollar company in an overlooked market.For operators deciding whether to chase hype markets or serve ignored customers. Elia Wallen is the founder and CEO of Engine, a business travel platform that grew out of his earlier...

See more

Browse Categories

See more

Ready to unlock your growth?

Book Free Call

We take a custom approach to your growth goals by assembling and leading the best-in-class marketing team to support your next stage.