MASTER Risk Model - Learning Resources - Mindset

Intrinsic Motivation

Write down one task today and add “because this matters to my vision” to reconnect with purpose.

Choose one project and link it to your values—why does it matter to you beyond scaling fast?

Block ten minutes to work on something energizing—no outcome needed, just reconnect with flow.

Start your day by asking: “What would make today meaningful for me and my venture?”

Keep a “why I do this” sticky visible—anchor your actions to your vision as founder.

Say no to one draining task today—free space for what aligns with your founder purpose.

Journal about the last time you lost track of time building—what made it so engaging and fulfilling internally?

Reflect on which part of building a start-up brings you joy or fulfillment—how could you increase that more often?

Explore how your childhood interests still influence your entrepreneurial drive—what themes persist today?

Write about a time when you were proud of effort, not results—what did that reveal about your motivation?

Identify a moment when external pressure distracted you from your inner drive—how can you guard against it?

List three values that guide your start-up—how are they showing up in this week’s choices and decisions?

Spend one hour this week on a passion side-project—track how it energizes your founder effort.

Share what drives you internally with your team—invite them to share theirs too.

Choose one task today and focus on learning and enjoyment instead of outcome or recognition.

Rework a routine task to reflect your strengths or passion—make it founder-energizing.

Speak up for a change you believe in—even if unpopular—let values guide your founder voice.

Declutter your founder to-do list—keep only what connects to vision and meaningful impact.

Ask a peer what they see as your “why” as a founder—does it align with your own vision?

Share your core motivation with an advisor—ask if your current path reflects that drive.

Ask a co-founder to notice when you’re most energized—what moments do they see you “light up”?

Discuss with a peer what motivates you both—what’s different, what overlaps, what unlocks growth?

Ask a mentor when they’ve seen you most alive in your work—what were you doing, and why?

Reflect with a mentor on when you work hardest without validation—what drives that effort?

Shift “I have to raise capital” to “I choose to raise because…” and finish the sentence with your why.

Recast founder frustration as: “What value of mine feels misaligned, and how can I realign now?”

Replace “I need to finish this” with “I want to grow through this”—link founder tasks to deeper purpose.

When motivation dips, ask: “What deeper reason brought me to build this venture?”

Change “This is boring” to “What part of this could I make meaningful or creative?”

Reframe ambition as alignment: “What am I building that reflects who I want to become?”

Track which start-up tasks energize or drain you—does it align with what you truly care about?

Observe your energy across founder tasks—where does attention naturally sharpen and flow?

Notice when financial incentives sway you—are you still close to your inner compass?

Notice how you feel after helping a teammate—what intrinsic driver fueled it?

Watch yourself under pressure—do you cling to purpose or drift into autopilot?

Track the “why” behind your yeses this week—are they aligned with mission or fear?

Extrinsic Motivation

List one reward or recognition that drives you—remind yourself of it before tackling a hard founder task.

Share a recent achievement with your co-founder—notice how acknowledgment boosts your drive.

Create a simple reward system for a task you’re avoiding—tie it to a founder-friendly treat.

Add a progress tracker for a big goal—watching progress builds founder commitment and drive.

Identify one area where accountability could help—share your current goal with your team.

Pick one task to finish before lunch—reward yourself with a treat or energizing break.

Reflect on how recognition from investors or users affects your performance—what kind motivates you most?

Write about a time external incentives like funding pushed you through difficulty—what sustained you in that moment?

Explore moments where you relied too much on external praise—what impact did it have on your decisions?

Journal about how financial incentives influence your choices—do they align with your start-up’s mission?

Think back to when you last received recognition—what impact did it have on your founder energy and focus?

Reflect on your current metrics—are they motivating, distracting, or in need of redesign?

Share your progress on a tough founder goal with an investor or advisor—let visibility fuel your follow-through.

Compete with yourself using a measurable start-up metric—hit one number or milestone today.

Set a reward for hitting your weekly founder target—make it tangible and motivating.

Publicly commit to a deliverable on Slack or LinkedIn—use accountability to stay consistent.

Try a tool that gamifies sales or growth—notice how competition shapes your effort.

Ask an investor for feedback on one strength this week—notice how validation affects you.

Ask a teammate what kind of recognition motivates them—compare it to what drives you externally.

Invite your team to share how they like acknowledgment—adjust your praise style accordingly.

Ask a mentor when they’ve seen you most motivated—was it tied to reward, praise, or traction?

Reflect with a teammate on what incentives keep you engaged—what helps sustain focus?

Share how external rewards helped you push forward—ask what success looks like for them.

Ask for feedback on your reward-seeking behavior—do others see healthy drive or dependency?

Reframe investor praise as validation of value, not ego—“This shows what others see as impactful.”

Shift “I just want recognition” to “I want to feel seen for contributions”—clarify what motivates you.

Change “This isn’t worth it” to “What external driver would make this feel meaningful for me?”

Recast revenue goals as freedom fuel—link numbers to outcomes that matter to you.

Reframe visibility as influence, not vanity—ask: “What message do I want to be known for?”

See investor deadlines as urgency tools—clarity for action, not just pressure.

Track when external validation (investors, press) helps or hurts—what’s the point where it flips?

Notice what kinds of recognition land best—public praise, milestones, or customer validation?

Notice how competition affects your founder behavior—does it fuel or distract?

Watch your response to being overlooked by investors—what beliefs surface immediately?

Observe when you push hardest—what external factor usually drives it?

Track motivation on days with vs. without validation—how strong is recognition’s effect?

No Fear

Name one risk you’ve avoided in your start-up—take the first small step toward acting on it today.

Name one uncertain decision you’ve delayed—note what you can control and take one founder step toward it.

Message someone with a compliment or idea—expect no reply and treat the act as a win itself.

Say aloud: “Failure is data, not identity”—repeat it before every pitch or bold founder step.

Say aloud: “Uncertainty means possibility”—repeat it whenever you’re tempted to freeze on strategy.

Say aloud: “A no doesn’t define me”—repeat it before asking for help, feedback, or an opportunity.

Share one failure from your founder journey—remind yourself how it led to growth.

Schedule ten minutes to explore a market topic you don’t understand—lean into curiosity.

Share your opinion in a group setting—even if unpopular, speak once with calmness and clarity.

Reframe a current founder task as an experiment—success means learning, not perfection.

Ask one curious question in your next investor or mentor meeting—embrace not knowing.

Make a simple request you’ve been holding back—time, help, permission, or needed visibility.

Post a sticky note: “What if I try—and learn?” Place it where you often hesitate.

Identify one unclear decision—make it quickly and treat it as a safe founder test.

Write down the worst rejection you received—note what happened next and how you eventually grew.

Lower the stakes: do one avoided task badly on purpose—just to get it done.

Change your desktop background to a quote about venturing into the unknown.

Add a sticky note that says: “Rejection is redirection”—place it where hesitation often shows up.

Journal about a time you failed in your venture—what story did you tell yourself, and how would you rewrite it now?

Journal about a time you acted despite uncertainty in your start-up—what happened, and how did it shape your path?

Reflect on your earliest memory of rejection—how has that moment shaped your current approach to risks or requests?

Reflect on where your fear of failure comes from—whose voice or past experience shaped that belief?

Reflect on what the unknown triggers in your founder journey—loss of control, collapse, or something else?

Journal about a time you were rejected—how did you internalize it, and what story did you tell yourself?

Identify how fear of failure shows up in your body—what physical cues appear before you freeze or stall?

Write about a moment when not knowing led to start-up growth—how did the experience unfold?

Explore what you fear most about rejection—loss of respect, disconnection, embarrassment, or something else?

Think of a founder who embraces failure—how do they reframe it differently than you usually do?

Explore your decision-making style—do you delay until certainty, or experiment with partial clarity?

Think of someone who handles rejection well—what do they believe that helps them stay grounded?

Write about a success that came only after a start-up mistake—how did that failure unlock something vital?

Reflect on the cost of waiting for certainty—what opportunities has hesitation blocked you from pursuing?

Reflect on when you rejected yourself by not showing up—what would’ve changed if you had tried instead?

List three start-up opportunities you missed because you feared failing—what would you do differently today?

List three areas in your venture where ambiguity is present—how are you managing each mentally and emotionally?

List three things you didn’t do recently because you feared rejection—what if you did just one of them now?

Volunteer for something uncertain this week—pitch, demo, or lead without knowing the outcome.

Make one founder decision this week without full data—trust instincts and document the outcome.

Pitch a new idea today even if it might not land—track how it’s received and how you respond.

Share a past founder failure publicly—in Slack, a meeting, or a post—frame it as growth.

Join a discussion outside your expertise—embrace learning in real time as a founder.

Ask for something you want but usually fear to request—support, resources, or exposure.

Submit something before it’s perfect—focus on contribution instead of flawlessness.

Start something without knowing the full path—begin now and adjust as you go.

Apply for a stretch opportunity or role even if you doubt success—focus on courage to try.

Ask a challenging investor question—even if it feels risky to speak.

Try solving a founder problem without full research—use iteration to build understanding.

Send a message to someone you admire—acknowledge their impact, even if they never reply.

Choose to act even when only 80% ready—note what happens when you move before full clarity.

Share publicly that you’re exploring a new product pivot—own uncertainty and model courage.

Volunteer to go first in a meeting or workshop—step into visibility before you feel ready.

Approach a mentor for feedback on something unfinished—show progress, not perfection.

Ask someone to assign you a stretch task—accept it without overpreparing.

Share a personal insight or story in a work context—model vulnerability and observe the response.

Ask another founder to describe a failure and lesson—what shifted in their mindset afterward?

Ask a founder peer how they navigate uncertainty—what do they tell themselves when clarity is missing?

Ask a trusted colleague: “How do you experience me when I’m hesitant to speak up or engage?”

Invite feedback on a risky idea you hesitate to pitch—track how their response compares to your fear.

Share an uncertain decision with your mentor—ask how they’d approach it.

Discuss with a peer how rejection shaped your growth—compare stories and strategies.

Share a failed launch with your team—ask how they might have handled it differently.

Reflect with a fellow founder on what uncertainty feels like—compare your coping styles.

Ask someone you admire how they handle rejection—what mindset helps them keep going?

Talk to another founder about how fear of failure shaped their journey—what advice would they give?

Invite feedback on how you show up in ambiguity—do others see confidence, avoidance, or hesitation?

Invite feedback after making a bold ask—did the other person notice any hesitation in you?

Ask a founder peer how they know fear is holding them back—compare it to your own cues.

Ask someone to share when uncertainty created growth—what did they learn from discomfort?

Share a rejection story in a team setting—normalize setbacks and invite others to contribute.

Ask for feedback on how you handle financial risk—do others see fear you don’t notice?

Share how you usually react when plans pivot—ask if your team notices that pattern too.

Ask a teammate: “What’s something you wish I said or did more often?”—listen without defending.

Reframe “I’ll mess this up” as “I’m practicing being brave”—focus on effort instead of outcome.

Reframe “I don’t know the answer” as “I’m learning”—lean into the founder process instead of fearing the gap.

Reframe “They’ll say no” as “This is a chance to practice courage”—treat the ask as the win.

Replace “What if I fail?” with “What might I learn if I try?”—shift focus from fear to discovery.

Change “This market is unclear” to “This is an open space for discovery”—explore with curiosity.

Replace “I might look stupid” with “Trying is how I learn”—shift attention from judgment to growth.

View failure as iteration, not an endpoint—what would a scientist or entrepreneur test differently?

Turn “There’s no roadmap” into “This is a chance to create something new in my market.”

View rejection not as failure but as filtering—every no brings you closer to a better fit.

Instead of “This must go right,” say: “I’ll adjust based on what happens”—focus on flexibility.

Recast confusion as curiosity—what’s one question you could ask instead of staying stuck?

Instead of “What if they don’t like it?” ask: “What if this helps just one person feel seen?”

Recast fear as readiness training—each pitch makes you more resilient, not just successful.

View unpredictability as agility training—each unknown strengthens your start-up muscle.

Recast rejection as feedback, not identity—what signal can you use to improve next time?

Reframe high standards as improvement pressure, not proof of worth—focus on learning.

Instead of “What if I’m wrong?” ask: “What might I learn by being wrong this time?”

Shift “They’ll think less of me” to “I’ll think more of myself for trying at all.”

Track when hesitation appears before action—what fear-thoughts show up and shape your founder choices?

Notice when you delay action—are you unsure of strategy, or simply afraid of being wrong?

Watch how you behave when uncertain about acceptance—do you withdraw, over-explain, or go silent?

Observe a founder taking bold risks—what mindset shows when outcomes don’t go as planned?

Track emotions when strategy feels unclear—do you freeze, rush decisions, or ask questions?

Notice how others handle rejection—what can you learn from their tone, posture, or persistence?

Watch how you recover from mistakes—do you shut down or reflect and adapt quickly?

Observe a founder leading in uncertainty—what language do they use to instill calm?

Track your inner dialogue after hearing “no”—does it spiral or stay constructive and forward-looking?

Notice your reaction when peers fail—are you judgmental, empathetic, or curious?

Track your self-talk with new tech—does it invite learning or avoidance?

Observe when you pre-reject yourself—what do you avoid just to avoid possibly hearing “no”?

Notice your body cues before risks—tight, light, or heavy—stay present with awareness.

Catch yourself craving guarantees—what would acting on partial clarity look like?

Catch micro-signals of approval-seeking—do you adjust too quickly to avoid possible disapproval?

Catch yourself avoiding investor outreach—what imagined outcome holds you back?

Watch how first-time founders handle the unknown—what can you learn from their openness?

Notice how people react to your vulnerability—do they reject you, or lean in with empathy?

MASTER Risk Hub