Silent Cries: When "Tulong-Tulong" Becomes "Ako Lang Mag-isa"

"Di puwedeng magpahinga... Kung hindi, sino gagawa? Wala naman akong back-up. Wala akong back-up kasi ako ang back-up mo, Baby! Ginawa mo akong back-up! Ta’s ang masakit iniwan mo ako mag-isa! P********! Sino ba nagsabi na pag breadwinner dapat isa lang?! Bakit di pwede tulong-tulong?! Bakit ako lang mag-isa?” This excerpt from the movie 'And the Breadwinner Is' surely resonated with a lot of the viewers.

This raw, emotional outburst, often whispered in the quiet moments of despair, perfectly captures a feeling many startup founders and leaders secretly battle. It's easy to talk about shared goals and vision when things are smooth. But when the road gets murky, and you face one closed door after another, that's when the true test begins. Not everyone is built for this grind.

We've all seen it: team members tap out, leaving the most invested founder feeling isolated, with too much on the line to quit. You've hired people, you have subscribers counting on you, and the weight of keeping the company afloat rests squarely on your shoulders.

Shared Responsibility: The Founder's Mandate

One crucial lesson I've learned from working with numerous startup companies is this: keeping the company alive isn't solely the CEO’s responsibility. It's every founder's mandate.

So, how should it be done?

Every co-founder must deeply understand and embody the product or service you sell. This means becoming your first ambassadors before you hire a dedicated sales or marketing team. This hands-on approach offers invaluable opportunities to:

• Truly know your customers: Understand their pain points, desires, and how your offering genuinely solves their problems.

• Refine your product/service: Direct customer interaction provides unfiltered feedback, helping you position your offering more effectively.

• Close more deals: The more direct engagement you have, the better you become at tailoring your message and securing those critical early wins.

The more deals you close, the better your runway and operations. A common misstep I've observed is the premature pursuit of funding. The primary goal should always be to grow the company organically as much as possible. This approach gives you greater control and often leads to more favorable terms when you do decide to bring in investors. (Partnering with investors is a complex beast, and we can dive into that another time!)

Your Thoughts?

What's your take on shared founder responsibility in the early stages of a startup? Have you experienced the "ako lang mag-isa" moment?