The Journey of a Founder: challenges and overcoming them — Part 1

Only 10% of start-ups survive for the first five years. For every entrepreneur who makes it, some scores could not. Being a founder means navigating the minefield of challenges, from the idea’s inception to funding and managing the work-life balance. We will look at the most common hurdles entrepreneurs face in this article and the strategies that could mean the difference between success and failure.

Common Struggles Encountered by Founders

Some issues are familiar with most of the founders irrespective of the country, financial condition, or background. This is not a restrictive list but a collection of points I have experienced over my 17-year journey, hitting and missing on various fronts.

Work-Life Balance

For founders, the primary challenge would be work-life balance; the relentless pressure to make the business work generally leads to the sacrifice of personal time, which spawns burnout and family tensions. For sure, it’s not all that ideal. It is hard to reach/manage, especially as we get older, start families, and establish a lifestyle.

Key points that worked for me:

• Identify your personal values: Know what is not up for discussion.
• Plan Cycles: Understand the trade-offs for each cycle.
• Health first: This is the basis of managing anything else.
• Monthly checkpoint: In reviewing the last 30 days in personal, family, and professional spheres, there is a need to correct directions.

For instance, during the hard times of 2018 and 2019, while deeply engaged in creating an innovative product for Eskolare, I decided to train for my first 200 km bike ride. So, the decision to train for the marathon was at a time when the pressure and complexity were high, and every day seemed to have new challenges at hand. I felt permanently in over my head, and right to the point of burnout, I needed to find a way to take all that energy and do something positive and healthful.

Training for the marathon became — not just a physical goal but a metaphor for the journey of entrepreneurship itself. Every run and every training session was a suggestion of how much commitment, discipline, and endurance could help in overcoming daily challenges related to both personal and professional lives. Waking up at 5 a.m. to run not only brings clarity but also gives motivation and energy to face the problem with a new vision.

Every kilometer was a victory against fatigue and doubt, strengthening my resolve to keep going forward, no matter how tough the going. Therefore, the marathon training process has also allowed me to learn some fundamental lessons about clearly setting out tangible goals. Dividing a massive goal into smaller steps helps focus and be driven. This approach helped me complete the marathon and directly apply it at Eskolare for product development. While it was essential to establish clear goals, an emphasis on resilience helped to reach the targets set. The feeling of accomplishment on the finish lines of the marathon attested to having seen the product take shape and, in concert, to its gaining ground in the market. This has proven that with determination and good planning, one may turn their challenges into extraordinary achievements.

Time Management

Time is one of those things that is finite and quite often valued more than money. Founders have too much to do and many matters to handle; hence time management is a vital skill for them. Hard choices need to be made, prioritizing what is urgent and essential in the short term and delegating tasks that just don’t add much value.

What helped me with key points:

• Plan out each week: Define the main goal and the sequence of necessary tasks.
• Know what to delegate: Prioritize your time toward activities that can make a big difference.
• Strategic Procrastination: Reserve moments for watching a movie, series, or time for sports practice, but at all times have precise knowledge of the most critical activities in the moments upon waking and sleeping.

In my position at Gringo, I work in a fast structure; I handle a lot of contradictory contexts and projects that challenge even seasoned project managers. Every new series of tasks and crucial decisions at hand throw in requirements for impeccable organization and a clear view on how to proceed. To set the pace, I work on meticulous organization around every milestone. By this, I mean not only planning every step with precision but also continuously reviewing progress and re-evaluating strategies as needs arise. Such zealous attention to detail is born from a passion for success and an unwavering commitment to excellence. It is all about doing things — not just getting them done but building something meaningful and sustainable. Each set mark is like a small victory, a step toward a larger goal, and I always ensure to celebrate these victories with my team, realizing that it is a combination of effort that enables us to go on. Nonetheless, the process is hardly linear: there are moments of frustration and unforeseen obstacles that challenge the strength and adaptability of the character.

Not leaving challenges unsolved is a top priority. If a task is identified as important and urgent, it is put into motion with due seriousness and speed. This needs to be characterized by transparent, constant communication with all the stakeholders involved. Accountability for progress is a personal affair that dictates my being and not just a professional. What is motivating is the trust laid on me by my colleagues and other founders, making me overcome any challenge with practical solutions.

This commitment to accountability also sets up a level of shared responsibility in the team. That everyone in the team is equally involved in the project’s success reinforces our bonds and empowers excellent commitment to facing challenges together. Progress is transparent — open communication and stringent follow-up help exceptionally align every individual and their contributions to the common goal. This way of thinking drives our projects at Gringo, forming a united, strong team that can achieve anything we wish.

Lack of Capital

The limitation of financial and human resources is a constant challenge for any founder. There is no magic formula to solve this problem. Whether raising a round of $1 million or $100 million, there will always be difficulties in execution and predicting capital deployment. Most forecasts end up being wrong.

Key points that worked for me:

• Focus on 2–3 main priorities: These are the big drivers in the early stages, such as product, technology, and sales.
• Add margin in estimates: Always estimate and add 20–40% margin. People tend to underestimate revenue and overestimate expenses.
• Value time: Time (yours and others’) is more valuable than money. Consider this in every agenda or decision.

In recent years, I have been deeply involved in a variety of projects, each with distinct financial capacities, from modest startups to more robust companies with substantial budgets. Regardless of the size or amount of capital available, one crucial factor stood out as a common denominator: strict respect for money and conscious allocation of resources. In the last 2 years, we have witnessed a brutal market correction where poorly calculated financial decisions turned promising projects into failure stories.

The reality that money does not tolerate disrespect has never been clearer than in this period. I saw firsthand how a lack of prudence and financial planning can devastate projects that would otherwise have a bright future. Experience has taught me that every investment decision must be carefully considered, every expense must be justified, and every resource allocation must be optimized to ensure maximum possible return. This disciplined approach not only protects capital but also strengthens the company’s resilience in times of economic uncertainty.

The thrill of navigating these turbulent times is intense. The pressure to make the right choices, to protect the dreams and efforts of so many involved individuals, is palpable. But it is precisely this pressure that tempers determination and refines strategy. Each meeting with investors, each budget discussion, and each action plan becomes a testament to our commitment to do more with less, to turn challenges into opportunities, and to maintain financial integrity as a central pillar of our venture.

Navigating the startup winter was a trial by fire that solidified the importance of responsible financial management. We learned that survival and success do not just depend on how much money you can raise but on how you manage and maximize every penny. The maxim that money does not tolerate disrespect has become a mantra that guides every decision, large or small, shaping a culture of respect and financial intelligence. This approach not only protects the interests of investors and stakeholders but also ensures that the legacy of each project is built on a solid and sustainable foundation. Ultimately, this challenging journey armed us with the wisdom and experience needed to face any future financial storm with confidence and resilience.

Conclusion

In this article, I have tried to bring out the most common challenges faced by all founders, highlighting those I consider most relevant based on my 17 years of entrepreneurial experience. We discussed the lack of capital, time management, and work-life balance. Through real-life examples and personal reflections, we saw how these obstacles can seem insurmountable, but also how perseverance, clear goals, and a strategic approach can make all the difference. I always tried to illustrate each point with my own experiences, to make the discussion more concrete and applicable.

There is no magic formula for overcoming these challenges, as each entrepreneurial journey is unique, and each path will be different. The important thing is to be prepared to learn, adapt, and keep moving forward, regardless of the obstacles. In the next part of this article, we will delve into strategies that can help entrepreneurs overcome these challenges. From effective financial management techniques to wellness and productivity practices, we will explore the tools and approaches that can turn difficulties into opportunities. Get ready to discover how to apply these strategies in your own entrepreneurial journey, ensuring not only survival but success and the achievement of your goals.

Read the second part of this article today.