Feb 24 2025 32 mins 7
In this episode of the Startup Therapy podcast, Ryan and Will chat about how startup success isn’t always a straight path. They use Mark Cuban’s story as a prime example, showing why sticking it out for the long run is so important—because success can happen at any time in a founder’s career. They also talk about how those early small wins can build up to something bigger and why setting strict timelines for success doesn’t really make sense. At the end of the day, one big right moment in a 50-year career can be a total game-changer.
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Startup Therapy Podcast
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https://www.startups.com/begin
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Wil Schroter
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilschroter/
Ryan Rutan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-rutan/
What to listen for:
00:07 The Reality of Founders' Success
02:00 Mark Cuban's Journey to Billionaire Status
06:35 The Importance of Small Wins
10:15 Financial Stability and Early Success
15:57 The Value of Consistent Small Wins
18:02 Success Doesn't Have a Timeline
18:12 When Does Success Happen?
18:20 Examples of Late Bloomers
18:45 The Myth of Early Success
19:59 The Impact of Timing
20:44 The Internet Era and Young Wealth
21:40 Outliers and Unrealistic Expectations
25:13 Consequences of Chasing Quick Success
27:28 The Value of Longevity in Business
30:02 Unexpected Success Stories
31:46 Staying in the Game
32:36 Join the Startups.com Community