Tools

Explore

Videos Channels Figures

Atmrix

Tools

Explore

Videos Channels Figures

Atmrix

GT

Garry Tan

06/13/25

@ Garry Tan

I learned about the golden shadow the hard way during the rise and fall of my first startup, Posterous, where my hidden traits both dark and golden influenced the company's fate.

Video

Save Your Startup, Unleash Your Golden Shadow

@ Garry Tan

Save Your Startup, Unleash Your Golden Shadow

06/13/25

Related Takeaways

Garry Tan

06/13/25

@ Garry Tan

In the early days of Posterous, I focused on external factors like features and funding, unaware that my inner struggles were silently sabotaging the company.

Garry Tan

06/13/25

@ Garry Tan

The golden shadow represents untapped potential within you; doing the inner work will help you meet that potential and become a better founder.

Garry Tan

06/13/25

@ Garry Tan

After Posterous was acquired by Twitter but ultimately shut down, I realized that my own actions and inactions contributed significantly to the startup's failure.

Garry Tan

06/13/25

@ Garry Tan

There's a positive side to the shadow, referred to as the 'golden shadow,' which includes the hidden positive qualities and talents that we haven't owned or expressed yet.

Garry Tan

06/13/25

@ Garry Tan

I gave my co-founder the chance to be CEO at Posterous, but I realized I had the potential to be a visionary CEO myself.

Garry Tan

06/13/25

@ Garry Tan

To identify your golden shadow, look at who you idolize or envy. The qualities you admire in others may reflect your own unrealized strengths waiting to be developed.

Justin Kan Cast

05/27/21

@ Justin Kan

I don't regret the painful experiences in my startup journey, as they taught me valuable lessons about myself and my capabilities.

Garry Tan

06/13/25

@ Garry Tan

Ignoring your golden shadow can lead to frustration or impostor syndrome, causing you to doubt your abilities and defer visionary thinking to others.

Jessica Livingston

06/27/24

@ Lenny's Podcast

I learned that sometimes ignorance can lead to unique strengths, as our inexperience in angel investing led to the successful batch funding model at Y Combinator.