Takeaways: How a great founder becomes a great CEO

To be a founder is a state of being. To be a CEO is a craft.

Key takeaways from Lenny's podcast: "How a great founder becomes a great CEO | Jonathan Lowenhar"

Most founders struggle to make this distinction. The instincts and drive that help you launch a business aren’t enough to scale it. That’s why the best leaders lean into building the craft of being a CEO.

Here’s what I learned about how founders can do just that:

Trust your intuition—but only when it’s quiet.

• That “quiet voice” inside you often knows what’s right before your brain catches up. But fear, noise, and overthinking drown it out.
• Jonathan Lowenhar recommends finding stillness to tune in to that voice before big decisions. (Are you about to fire someone? Break up with a co-founder? Pivot? Listen to it.)
• Fear-driven decisions are the opposite of intuition—and they often lead to regret.

Great founders learn the craft of being a CEO.

• Running board meetings, managing people, hiring A+ talent, and creating a go-to-market strategy are skills, not instincts.
• Founders who master these skills avoid “failure modes” like micromanagement, perfectionism, or being too hands-off.
• Jonathan’s advice: audit yourself. Where are you great? Where are you weak? Commit to closing those gaps.

Selling your startup? Build the buyer’s fantasy.

• Forget spreadsheets and “for sale” signs. Buyers make acquisitions because of the fantasy—what acquiring your company will let them achieve.
• Your job as a founder? Identify and sell that vision. Prove it’s real. Help them imagine their future with you.
• Jonathan’s "Magic Box Paradigm" shows how the best startup exits focus on creating desire, not just valuation metrics.

Founders who succeed long-term invest in becoming great CEOs. Mastering hiring. Learning how to trust your intuition. Building your team and your business with intention. These aren’t optional—they’re the foundation of long-term success.