Edward Sullivan

What Bad Bunny really did last night, aside from the richness and thoughtfulness of the music and the imagery, was he gave a masterclass in what joyful, inclusive, heart-led LEADERSHIP looks like, something we are sorely lacking these days. #badbunnysuperbowl #leadingwithheart

Is it just me or are too many people giving too many fucks about things for which no fucks should be given, and not enough people are giving any fucks about things for which all fucks should be given?

Tension on your team? Maybe it’s time to get lunch. Not to deliver feedback. Not to solve problems. Just to reconnect as humans working toward the same goals. Simply breaking break togethers signals that the relationship matters and creates space for reconnection.

If people multitask during your Zoom calls, you’re having meetings for the wrong reasons. Meetings should be for doing work together, not just reporting on the work you’re doing. Share updates asynchronously. Solve problems and plan synchronously.

Most co-founder tension comes from one thing: never defining who owns what decisions. We developed a simple framework for this: Size, Scope, and Duration. Small or easily reversible? Make the call. Big and hard to reverse? Discuss first. Clarity beats conflict.

Layoffs are inevitable. Multiple rounds of layoffs in the same year are not. If you are going through a period of turmoil, don’t add to the chaos by having multiple rounds of layoffs. Slow down, put together a plan, and make one deep cut, not multiple small ones.

Most first-time founders have a hard time trusting anyone with important decisions. They hold the company so close that they run the risk of suffocating it. Instead, build a strong team, and let them show you what they're capable of.

Maybe instead of resolving to change everything about your life in 2026, just resolve to be a little kinder to yourself. For some, that may look like more sleep and movement. For others, it may be less screen time and comparison to others. What will it look like for you?

Most companies try to go faster by adding more: meetings, tools, process. Sailboats don’t work that way. Speed isn’t about more wind. It’s about less drag. Hydrofoils cut friction and 3× performance. So what’s your company’s hydrofoil?

Most first-time founders have a hard time trusting anyone with important decisions. They hold the company so close that they run the risk of suffocating it. Instead, build a strong team, and let them show you what they're capable of.

Avoiding a tough conversation to "protect" your team? They already know something's off. You're just making it worse. Real psychological safety comes from honesty, not avoidance.

Scaling a startup isn’t just about adding fuel. It’s about reducing friction. @edwardlsullivan recently told our founders: Organizational velocity = fuel – friction. Hiring fast & raising capital won’t help if decision bottlenecks, messy delegation, and weak accountability drag you down. The best founders provide clarity on what success looks like, and then get out the way. Learn more: bit.ly/3MxsfqL

Your team doesn't need perfection on most decisions; they just need direction. Most decisions are low-risk, two-way doors. Make the best call you can with 70% clarity and move forward. That's how you build momentum and learn how to make even better decisions the next time.

In a crisis, authenticity beats polish. When leading in difficult times, it’s best to be open about what you know and what you don’t. You’ll build much more trust, engagement, and energy with honesty and authenticity than with spin and polish.

You can’t plan major breakthroughs, but you can protect curiosity, clarify purpose, and give your team space to explore. Pressure can kill creative performance. But the right conditions can turn creativity into major discoveries.

If your team never fails, they’re not taking enough risks. Safe bets = slow growth. Failure isn’t wasted effort. It’s data. Reward curiosity, risk-taking, and the courage to experiment. Those are the basic ingredients of innovation.

You can’t have innovation without focus. Leaders say they want more creativity, but then fill every hour of the day with meetings and constant Slack interruptions. Breakthroughs come from boredom, space, and silence. Create focused work time for your team. Protect deep work.

@adam__xyz @Mark_Goldberg_ Hey, thanks Adam. Hi @Mark_Goldberg_ lmk if I or my firm Velocity can be helpful.

@Mark_Goldberg_ @edwardlsullivan

Working on connecting a great executive coach to a portfolio company. Any recs??

Wall Street analyzes companies based on public information, market dynamics, financials, the pedigree of the board, etc. They never account for the hidden forces inside companies that create flow or friction, and often have even more influence on performance. It’s time they do.

The primary goal of public service should be to serve the public, not stay in office. As soon as you are no longer fit to serve the public, you should leave the office.