MASTER Risk Model - Learning Resources - Mindset

Intrinsic Motivation

Ask a peer what they see as your “why”—compare it with your inner motivation.

Share your core motivation with a mentor—ask if your venture path reflects that drive.

Ask a peer when they’ve seen you most alive in building—what moments lit you up?

Discuss with a peer founder what motivates you both—compare overlaps and differences.

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

Reflect with a peer or mentor on when you work hardest without external validation.

Extrinsic Motivation

Ask a teammate what recognition drives them most—compare it to what fuels you externally.

Ask your team how they like acknowledgment—adjust praise and rewards accordingly.

Ask an advisor when they’ve seen you most motivated—was it tied to praise or visibility?

Reflect with a founder peer on what incentives keep you engaged—what patterns work for them?

Share how external rewards pushed you forward—ask a peer what success looks like for them.

Ask an advisor for feedback on your reward-seeking—do they see healthy drive or over-reliance?

No Fear

Ask a peer founder to describe a failure they reframed—what shifted their outlook?

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

Ask a trusted advisor: “How do you experience me when I hesitate to pitch or engage?”

Invite feedback on a risky idea you hesitate to share—compare responses to your fear.

Share an uncertain decision about your startup—ask a founder peer how they’d approach it.

Discuss with another founder how rejection shaped growth—compare stories and tactics.

Share a failure moment with a founder peer—ask how they might have handled it.

Reflect with another founder on what uncertainty feels like—compare responses and behaviors.

Ask someone you admire how they handle rejection—what mindset keeps them moving?

Ask another founder how fear of failure shaped their career—what advice would they give their younger self?

Ask a mentor for feedback on how you face ambiguity—do they see confidence or avoidance?

After making a bold ask to an investor, request feedback—did they notice hesitation in you?

Ask a founder peer how they know when fear holds them back—compare with your own cues.

Ask a peer founder to share a story where uncertainty created growth—what did they learn?

Share a rejection story with your team—normalize setbacks and invite others to share theirs.

Ask for feedback on how you handle risk—do peers see fear you don’t recognize?

Share how you usually react when plans shift—ask a peer if they’ve noticed the same pattern.

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

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