The book
Inside the minds that start things
You do not need to be starting a company to need founding courage. Every meaningful act of creation begins before the world believes in it: a service, a movement, a product, a school, a creative project, or a different version of your life.
Advance praise for the book
Having worked closely with Vijay during the formative years of lastminute.com, I recognise the depth of experience behind this book. Through honest storytelling and sharp psychology, he reveals the blind spots founders rarely see and the inner shifts that leaders must make. Deeply useful for first-time founders, executives making the leap, and C-suites who want to lead with genuine entrepreneurial intent.
Vijay has a rare ability to blend marketing craft with entrepreneurial instinct — I saw it firsthand at Shazam. This book captures that brilliantly: sharp insights and practical actions that leaders can apply immediately to build more entrepreneurial organisations.
Entrepreneurs and founders come in all shapes and sizes. Some may be tech bros trying to emulate Silicon Valley and obsessed with world dominating scale. Yet far more startups have founders with a much wider focus, and this book also champions courageous entrepreneurs driven by service, purpose and impact.
What the book is about
What you will learn
Founding Courage explores what sits behind entrepreneurship: the psychology, contradictions and choices that help people move from idea to action, survive uncertainty and keep building through the difficult middle.
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1
How to recognise and manage the Delusion Gap
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2
Why a powerful “no” can create insight, clarity and momentum
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3
How curiosity and empathy reveal better opportunities
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4
The difference between productive obsession and burnout
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5
How culture and personal brand shape what others believe
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6
What it takes to cross from one identity, stage or ambition into the next
Formats
Paperback, Kindle and audiobook
Bulk orders
Signed and bulk copies
For leadership teams, conferences, founder communities and book clubs, contact us about signed and bulk copies.
The book starts the conversation. The work continues it.
Keynotes and workshops take the ten principles into a room with your leadership team.
Stories
Twenty-one stories of entrepreneurial leadership
Tech founders, politicians, educators and community builders, each recounting the decision they made before the evidence arrived, and what it cost them to make it.
Founders who moved first
Leaders inside large organisations
Educators and community builders
People who chose to stop