Battling burnout as a startup founder | Taylor McLoughlin, Ambient co-founder

On this episode of NY Seed Round, Justin speaks with Taylor McLoughlin, a multi-time founder who has personally battled and effectively managed burnout.
They tackle the serious issue of 'founder burnout,' identify its significant signs, and discuss practical coping mechanisms. Taylor also introduces Ambient, his latest startup, an AI Assistant purposed to assist Chiefs of Staff with workload management, prevent burnout, and maintain balance within the entrepreneurial universe.
Time stamps:
0:43 - What is Ambient?
1:02 - The art of the pivot
3:24 - How designing product roadmaps in the era of Gen AI is like Legos
5:12 - Selling to Chiefs of Staff as an ICP
9:13 - Competing against gorillas like Asana
11:21 - Taylor’s experience with founder burnout
14:21 - Telling signs burnout is impacting you as a founder
16:00 - His response to Sam Altman’s beliefs on burnout
17:15 - Taylor’s tips for tackling burnout without giving up
19:42 - Is burnout a rite of passage for startup success?
22:34 - Taylor’s hack to getting your heart rate down when you’re nervous in the moment
24:12 - Why investors should care about burnout with their portfolio founders
25:53 - Biggest influences in Taylor’s journey as a multi-time founder
Links:
- Connect with Taylor on LinkedIn: / taylorsmac
- Learn about Ambient: www.ambient.us/

[@karlbstewart1159]

this is so brilliant. i wish more leaders across the board knew about this. i hope by listening/watching this, that we can reduce burnout as a "rite of passage." it would be amazing if we helped leaders be sustainable as they build their leadership playbooks, from day one. some people will not recover well once they experience burnout, and the business and all relationships are impacted once a leader moves into the phases that lead to burnout. thanks, Taylor and Justin. rubbing fingers together is an excellent way to slow down internal Saboteurs, called PQ Reps from Shirzad Chamine's work. just one min in stress can quiet the amygdala stimulation in the brain and move you to the prefrontal cortex.

[@nyseedround]

It’s not focused on enough.