--- title: 7 Behavioral Traits of a Startup Founder | Tentho description: What separates the winners from the losers when it comes to scaling a business? Discover 7 behavior traits of a great startup founder. image: https://tentho.com/hubfs/7%20Behavioral%20Traits%20That%20Make%20Great%20%20Startup%20Founders%20%281%29.png --- [![Tentho | Small Business Accounting Services](https://tentho.com/hubfs/Artboard%202@3x.png)](https://tentho.com) - SERVICES ## SERVICES Unlock Your Business Potential with Tentho's Services ### [Accounting / Bookkeeping Streamline your finances effortlessly with our meticulous accounting and bookkeeping solutions.](https://tentho.com/accounting-services) ### [CFO and Advisory Services Empower your business decisions with our expert financial guidance and strategic advisory services.](https://tentho.com/fractional-cfo) ### [Tax Services Maximize your savings and stay compliant with our personalized tax planning and preparation services.](https://tentho.com/business-tax-services) ### [Payroll Administration Simplify your payroll process and ensure accurate, on-time payments with our efficient payroll management solutions."](https://tentho.com/payroll-processing-services) - [INDUSTRIES +](https://tentho.com/industries) ## [INDUSTRIES +  Tailored Solutions for Every Industry and Business Segment.  ](https://tentho.com/industries) ### [E-commerce](https://tentho.com/industries) ### [Legal Services](https://tentho.com/industries) ### [Hospitality and Tourism](https://tentho.com/industries) ### [Food and Beverage](https://tentho.com/industries) ### [Recruiting and Staffing](https://tentho.com/industries) ### [Property Management](https://tentho.com/industries) ### [Healthcare Service](https://tentho.com/industries) ### [Non-Profit Organizations](https://tentho.com/non-profits) ### [LGBTQ-Owned Businesses](https://tentho.com/industries) ### [Women-Owned Businesses](https://tentho.com/women-owned-business) ### [Startup Business](https://tentho.com/funded-startups) - [PRICING](https://tentho.com/pricing) - RESOURCES ## RESOURCES Empower Your Business with Tentho's Valuable Resources. ### [Blog Stay informed and inspired with our insightful blog articles covering a wide range of topics relevant to small business owners.](https://tentho.com/blog) ### Events Discover upcoming events, webinars, and workshops designed to enhance your knowledge and connect you with industry experts. [![free STARTUP e-book ](https://tentho.com/hs-fs/hubfs/free%20STARTUP%20e-book%20.png?width=247&height=247&name=free%20STARTUP%20e-book%20.png)  ](https://tentho.com/ebook-mastering-financial-marathon) - COMMUNITY ## COMMUNITY Join Our Vibrant Community: Collaborate, Inspire, and Thrive with Tentho. ### [Our Story Learn about Tentho's commitment to building a thriving Small Business Community.](https://tentho.com/about-us) ### [Partnerships Explore our valued partnerships and collaborations aimed at delivering enhanced services and resources to our community of small business owners.](https://tentho.com/partnerships) ### [In the News  Stay updated with the latest news within the Tentho community and the broader small business landscape.](https://tentho.com/news) ### [Corporate Social Responsibility Discover how Tentho is committed to making a positive impact through our corporate responsibility initiatives, contributing to social, environmental, and ethical causes.](https://tentho.com/community) ### [Innovation Hub Unleashing potential through education in our new dedicated section for entrepreneurial growth and learning.](https://tentho.com/innovation-hub) [LOGIN](https://clients.castfinance.com/client-login) [GET EXPERT ADVICE](https://tentho.com/contact-us) Accounting & Bookkeeping # 7 Behavioral Traits That Make Great Startup Founders What separates the winners from the losers when it comes to scaling a business? Discover 7 behavior traits of a great startup founder. [Giuseppe Garcia-Salamone](https://tentho.com/blog/author/giuseppe-garcia-salamone) Aug 23, 2023 --- While there are many behaviors that separate great leaders from posers, there are 7 behaviors that every successful startup founder has in common. Building a startup is like continuing to put your hand in a light socket and getting shocked over and over. It is painful and sometimes seems like the end of the world. The ups and downs are tremendous. A true leader can get through these, never unscathed but being able to shield their team as best as possible. Each day, issues will arise. Many are foreseen and taken care of while most are a surprise and can put you in a tough spot. What we do with these is what separates us from the rest. It is how you handle problems that make the difference. There are few differences when starting a company regardless of where it ends up. While you need to have a solid foundation of technology or a great idea. What makes it successful is how the leaders take on and manage every day. It is impossible to be perfect, and not one of us is. We all go through the same problems, and they don’t change from one company to another. We must power through them and get to the next one to see success. Understanding there is always another problem ahead is critical. If you think you’re done and will have smooth sailing quit now as that never happens. ### **These are the 7 behaviors that separate the winners from the losers when it comes to successfully scaling a startup.**   ## **Get it Done Now Attitude** Call it what you want but if you ignore a situation or procrastinate you are simply letting more problems build up. Tackle each issue as they present themselves and do not shy away thinking it will go away because it never does. It only gets bigger. Unfortunately, many startup founders just can’t deal with the stress of modern life, so they ignore problems. Being successful means powering through the garbage thrown at you daily. ## **Being Satisfied** A successful startup founder always takes responsibility for their lack of effort and achievement. What they don’t do is try to make others look bad by talking down the achievements of others. A founder who has high self-esteem and confidence can acknowledge others and learn from their successes to learn from. Having envy or jealousy of others is a clear sign of weakness and never amounts to anything. Being satisfied is a trait many see as giving up, but it is realizing success is many things and if you are never satisfied you will drive your team into the ground. ## **Being Content** If you cannot take responsibility for your lack of effort and look at others with disdain, you will never be content. While we are all striving for success and to be the best, we must find levels of contentment. For instance, many people will be more successful and achieve great heights. That does not mean they are smarter. And success is a measurement each one of us does see differently. I don’t necessarily see having a billion-dollar company as a success if someone is not satisfied. If you’re not content with your accomplishments, you can never be happy. Many “so-called” successful people are miserable because they cannot find a place of peace with their accomplishments. ## **Leading by Example** Founders who ultimately find success can lead by example. Unsuccessful people often delegate everything to others and never get their hands dirty. Being a leader is about showing others how to be successful. Each successful person in this world has put in hard work and became who they are by leading people firsthand. When teams come up with ideas a great founder is the first to offer to try it, they are the ones who should be willing to get bloodied if it fails. ## **Available for Your Team** Just because you say you’re the Founder and CEO does not mean you can simply do your own thing. I have seen founders completely disengage themselves from their team and claim they have so much work to do they have no time to be a part of the little things. It is those little things that can make or break a young company and crush its spirit. The minute you don’t have time for your team you have told them they are not important. It is critical in a young startup for a founder to be completely available to their team. ## **Flexibility** I worked with a startup founder who was so over the top with nit-picking that it drove everyone crazy. This person could never just say “great job” … they always had to make changes no matter how small, or for that matter, irrelevant. Most of the time it was simply to make sure everyone knew they were the founder and the smartest person in the room. In most cases, this destroys a team. Having flexibility with the petty procedures and processes makes for a happy team. Nothing and I mean nothing, is ever perfect but not having flexibility destroys morale faster than anything else. ## **Open-minded** Many startup founders can be closed off in the idea process and come across as condescending. This is a clear sign of being insecure. Needing to always make it your own shows weakness above all. Great founders have lots of confidence in their own knowledge and worth and use that to build others up by keeping the communication flowing. Having an open mind and letting others create helps everyone to be successful not just the founder. Hugely successful and well-adjusted people are happy to share what they know and learn from others. There are hundreds of attributes that make up successful individuals. These are the most obvious and can make or break a company very quickly. No matter who we are we all get sucked into some of these behaviors from time to time. I write about things like this as it keeps me in a better space. Success is what we make it. To learn more about how Tentho can help your business succeed, explore our [accounting, bookkeeping](https://tentho.com/accounting-and-bookkeeping), or [CFO advisory services.](https://tentho.com/accounting-and-bookkeeping-0) [Accounting & Bookkeeping](https://tentho.com/blog/tag/accounting-bookkeeping) {% module "blog\_post\_audio" path="@hubspot/blog\_audio", overrideable=False %} Unlock your potential and navigate the complexities of your industry with Tentho as your guide! We're passionate about providing insights and inspiration to fuel your journey. While this post is crafted to enlighten and empower, it's important to complement this knowledge with tailored advice. We encourage you to consult with your own legal, business, or tax professional to address your unique needs and circumstances.   At Tentho, we're committed to your success and stand ready to assist you in understanding the broader landscape. However, please note that Tentho does not accept liability for any actions taken based on this post. Your informed decisions, guided by personal consultation with experts, are crucial to your achievements. [Let's collaborate](https://tentho.com/contact-us) to make informed decisions that propel you forward, ensuring that your triumphs are as personal and impactful as your aspirations     ## **Similar posts** Accounting & Bookkeeping ### [The High Price of Low-Cost Accounting for Small Businesses](https://tentho.com/blog/the-high-price-of-low-cost-accounting-for-small-businesses-tentho) Learn why budget accountants cost more for small businesses and the value of investing in quality accounting services for long-term success. Asia Gelker Nov 9, 2023 Accounting & Bookkeeping ### [The Pros and Cons of the 3-Way Match](https://tentho.com/blog/3-way-matching-in-accounting) Is your business inventory heavy? Discover what the 3-Way Match in Accounting is, how it can help, and the pros and cons of this approach. Giuseppe Garcia-Salamone Aug 23, 2023 Accounting & Bookkeeping ### [Bookkeeping vs. Accounting](https://tentho.com/blog/bookkeeping-vs-accounting) Bookkeeping vs. accounting - how are they similar and different? We've answered some of the most pressing questions we get at Tentho. Giuseppe Garcia-Salamone Aug 24, 2023 ##### **GET OUR NEWSLETTER** ## Stay in the Know: Subscribe to Our Monthly Newsletter Join our exclusive monthly newsletter to receive expert insights, industry trends, valuable tips, and special offers straight to your inbox. Don't miss out on the latest resources and strategies designed to help your small business thrive. [![Tentho | Leading the Future of Accounting](https://tentho.com/hubfs/Artboard%202@3x.png)](https://tentho.com) FL | 2916 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33127, 6th Floor ### SERVICES - [Accounting and Bookkeeping](https://tentho.com/accounting-services) - [CFO and Advisory](https://tentho.com/fractional-cfo) - [Tax Services](https://tentho.com/business-tax-services) - [Payroll Administration](https://tentho.com/payroll-processing-services) ### COMPANY - [Pricing](https://tentho.com/pricing) - [Industries+](https://tentho.com/industries) - [Contact Us](https://tentho.com/contact-us) - [Career](https://tentho.com/career) ### COMMUNITY - [Our Story](https://tentho.com/about-us) - [In the News](https://tentho.com/news) - [Innovation Hub](https://tentho.com/innovation-hub) - [Partnerships](https://tentho.com/partnerships) - [CSR](https://tentho.com/community) ### LOCATIONS - [New York](https://tentho.com/new-york) - [Miami](https://tentho.com/miami) © 2025 Tentho All Rights Reserved [Privacy Policy](https://tentho.com/privacy-policy)   [Powered by Atlas - a B2B SaaS HubSpot theme](https://www.kalungi.com/atlas-hubspot-theme-for-b2b-saas-software) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Giuseppe Garcia-Salamone", "url" : "https://tentho.com/blog/author/giuseppe-garcia-salamone" }, "dateModified" : "2023-08-25T16:13:29.121Z", "datePublished" : "2023-08-23T16:52:58.000Z", "headline" : "7 Behavioral Traits of a Startup Founder | Tentho", "image" : [ "https://tentho.com/hubfs/7%20Behavioral%20Traits%20That%20Make%20Great%20%20Startup%20Founders%20%281%29.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://tentho.com/blog/7-behavioral-traits-that-make-great-startup-founders", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://tentho.com/hubfs/Two-colored_Circle%20(5).png" }, "name" : "Cast Finance" } } ```