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You probably know someone who’s unusually tough in the face of hardship—someone who bounces back from every setback with a positive attitude and the will to overcome. Psychologists call that kind of mental fortitude “resilience,” and it’s linked to both professional success and personal fulfillment. The great news? Turns out, you don’t have to be born that way—resilience is all about perception, and it’s something you can learn. And if you want to build something, we can’t think of a better skill set to master.

READ IT HERE:

“How People Learn to Become Resilient” by Maria Konnikova

Delivering feedback can be awkward—and it can feel even more challenging on a small, tight-knit startup team. But according to Kim Scott, failing to give feedback isn’t a kindness; it’s a mistake that can stunt professional development and bring the whole team down. Kim makes the case that real kindness—and real growth—requires fostering an environment of radical candor, where giving guidance that’s direct, challenging, and caring is the norm. It’s a critical tool for a healthy startup—and not a bad concept to keep in mind whether you’re giving feedback, or receiving it.

READ IT HERE:

“Radical Candor — The Surprising Secret to Being a Good Boss” by First Round Review

When Brad Hargreaves and his three co-founders launched General Assembly, they weren’t trying to start a business. Initially dreamed up as a coworking space—what Brad thought would be a fun, six-month project—GA is now the largest technology and design school in the country. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Through the tumultuous ups and downs of building GA, Brad developed some crucial strategies for keeping his feet on solid ground. His personal motto? Things are never as bad, or as good, as you think—and you can’t measure your worth as a person by the success of your company. (Sounds like a pretty resilient mindset to us.)

LISTEN HERE:

Interview with Brad Hargreaves, Founder & CEO of Common;
Co-founder of General Assembly