When Our Friends Resent Our Success

When Our Friends Resent Our Success

Author: Startups.com May 12, 2025 Duration: 43:01

Ryan and Will discuss the surprising reactions founders often face when they achieve success. They explore how unexpected resentment from friends and peers can arise, why it happens, and how to navigate these tricky social waters. Through personal anecdotes and practical advice, they delve into balancing humility and openness about success while staying true to oneself. Tune in to learn about managing relationships as you climb the ladder and handling the inevitable pushback with grace.

Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast 
https://www.startups.com/community/startup-therapy
Website
https://www.startups.com/begin
LinkedIn 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/startups-co/

Join our Network of Top Founders 
Wil Schroter
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilschroter/
Ryan Rutan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-rutan/

What to listen for:
00:31 The Unexpected Reactions to Success
02:54 Personal Stories of Resentment
07:57 The Impact of Success on Relationships
12:32 Social Media and Validation
14:01 Processing Success and Insecurities
19:34 Navigating Conversations About Success
21:04 The Validation Loop Dilemma
21:21 Caring About Others' Opinions
21:57 The Spectrum of Self-Presentation
23:17 The Insecurity Behind Social Media Influencers
25:34 The Cost of Flaunting Success
29:04 Extreme Humility and Its Consequences
32:19 Balancing Humility and Pride
37:01 The Art of Humble Bragging
40:39 Avoiding Resentment Through Humility
41:46 The Power and Responsibility of Success
42:38 Join the Startups.com Community


Building a company is far more chaotic and personal than any business school case study lets on. Startup Therapy from Startups.com digs into that reality, moving past polished success stories to focus on the raw, unvarnished journey. Hosts Wil Schroter and Ryan Rutan, who have each navigated these trenches themselves, lead conversations that feel more like essential conversations between founders than a standard interview show. They tackle the specific pressures that come with trying to transform an idea into something meaningful-the financial strain, the team dynamics, the personal sacrifices, and the frequent moments of doubt that rarely make the keynote speech. This podcast operates on a simple premise: the best guidance comes from those who have been there, not from abstract theory. Each episode is a candid session, dissecting the professional hurdles and the intense emotional toll that founders manage daily. You’ll hear direct talk about fundraising fails, partnership conflicts, burnout, and the small victories that keep everything moving forward. It’s a resource for anyone in the thick of building something, offering practical perspectives and a sense of shared experience when the path gets especially tough. The dialogue is straightforward and focused on actionable insight, providing a genuine look at the resilience required to change the world, one startup at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Startup Therapy
Podcast Episodes
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Ever feel like you’re working nonstop and still falling behind? The discussion argues founder happiness and decision-making improve fastest by recalibrating expectations, because “happiness = reality ÷ expectations.” Usi…
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Duration: 34:11
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Duration: 35:04
What if the thing that looks like a distraction is actually the move that saves your startup? This episode breaks down why the “stay focused at all costs” advice can be risky when you’re still figuring out what actually…
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Duration: 36:07
What if failure isn’t something to avoid, but a skill to master? This episode breaks down why startups can’t be built on certainty—new markets, new products, and new teams mean you’re guaranteed to be wrong a lot. The go…
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Duration: 37:36
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We wanted efficiency. We got isolation. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:45
How has the relentless pursuit of efficiency, aided by tools like remote work, Zoom, Slack, and AI, affected our human connections? In this episode, we're exploring the cost of optimized workflows on our humanity. We del…
Are startups the future of employment? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:03
What will AI do to everything? In this episode, we explore how AI is set to create a surge in new startups, reshaping employment as we know it. As jobs get displaced, the concept of big employment shifts, giving rise to…
The Founder Hard Reset [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:53
Ever felt like vacations just aren't cutting it when it comes to startup burnout? In this episode, Ryan Rutan and Will Schroter dive deep into why burnout is inevitable for founders and how quick fixes like vacations oft…