<description>&lt;p&gt;Fake it till you make it is a phrase founders hear early and often. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ambition can drift past honesty faster than most founders realize. This episode looks at how pitching and fundraising expectations shape the stories founders tell and the pressure to appear further along than reality.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lloyed Lobo and Melissa Kwan unpack the pressure behind projections, user claims, and the instinct to present a version of the company that is not fully real yet.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;TIMESTAMPS:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;00:00 Fake it till you make it and where it breaks&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;04:46 Values, joy, and building the company you actually want&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;11:06 Realistic projections and the truth about TAM&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;33:44 Investor updates that create real accountability&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;35:53 Leading through communication and alignment&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;38:34 The Wizard of Oz phase and early-stage shortcuts&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;39:10 Confidence vs pretending you are further along&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;42:06 Values, consequences, and building without collateral damage&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lloyed Lobo: &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloyedlobo &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lloyedlobo&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Fake it till you make it is a phrase founders hear early and often. Ambition can drift past honesty faster than most founders realize. This episode looks at how pitching and fundraising expectations shape the stories founders tell and the pressure to appear further along than reality.Lloyed Lobo and Melissa Kwan unpack the pressure behind projections, user claims, and the instinct to present a version of the company that is not fully real yet.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Fake it till you make it and where it breaks04:46 Values, joy, and building the company you actually want11:06 Realistic projections and the truth about TAM33:44 Investor updates that create real accountability35:53 Leading through communication and alignment38:34 The Wizard of Oz phase and early-stage shortcuts39:10 Confidence vs pretending you are further along42:06 Values, consequences, and building without collateral damageLloyed Lobo: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloyedlobo - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lloyedlobo

Traction Podcast

The Fine Line Between Founder and Fraudster | Traction

The Fine Line Between Founder and Fraudster | Traction

Description