5 Mindset Shifts from a $5M Founder at 23

Today I chatted with a 23-year-old cofounder of a $5 million technology startup. We connected on LinkedIn, set up a call, and what was initially planned as a 25-minute slot turned into an engaging hour-and-a-half discussion about careers, entrepreneurship, and mindsets for success.

What struck me most wasn’t just his impressive achievements, but his sincerity. He wasn’t trying to impress; he was trying to share. And that generosity in spirit stayed with me.

Here are five takeaways I want to remember, and maybe they’ll resonate with you too.

1. Surround Yourself With Aspirational People

Being around people who are doing what you want to do changes the game. Why?

a) It shows you what’s possible and how they did it.

b) It reminds you that it’s possible for you too.

This doesn’t just mean networking with “successful” people in the traditional sense. It means:

• Reaching out to role models you admire (LinkedIn, Instagram, even YouTube)

• Joining communities or clubs filled with curious, driven people

• Having friends who make you think, “Damn, I want to be like that.”

Energy is contagious. And if you're constantly around people chasing meaningful things, you'll start chasing your own.

2. Integrity Over Ego

We all wrestle with the pull of external validation—wanting the job title, the prestige, the recognition. But success without integrity is hollow.

What stood out to me was how grounded this founder was. He knew what he stood for. He wasn’t performing success; he was living it, aligned with his values, mission, and long-term vision. It showed in the way he ran his business and how he hired his team. For example, he said, “Before I bring someone on board, I want to understand who they really are. What drives them, what they’ve been through. That tells me if they’ll grow with the company or just be there for the paycheck.”

He also showed integrity in his goal-planning and ambitions. At every major decision, he’d ask himself: “Is this what I truly want? Or is this just what I think I should want?”

That level of honesty—separating ego from self—is rare. And it’s what allowed him to commit fully to goals that actually mattered to him.

3. Zooming Out = The Abundance Mindset

You know those videos that pan out from a city to the planet to the galaxy? That’s what this conversation felt like: zooming out on life.

When we’re caught up in a bad day, a disagreement, or insecurity, it’s easy to forget how much else is out there. Opportunities. People. Possibilities. Entire lifetimes waiting to be built. 

The most successful people don’t just chase what’s urgent. They operate from a place of calm perspective. They zoom out, and then act with intention.

This founder did that. And it made me want to do it too.

4. The Power of Self-Belief

Seeing someone from my hometown, Auckland, achieve so much was a powerful reminder that success isn’t about where you’re from, it’s about who you are.

He isn’t some Silicon Valley wunderkind. Not from a famous family. Just a normal guy, with an unshakable belief that he can figure it out. He has an impressive work ethic, ambition and developed business mindset to follow.

His achievements aren’t some unattainable mystery; they are proof that success can be learned, cultivated, and recreated.

5. Careers Are a Two-Way Street

Before his startup, he did internships, and he didn’t just apply randomly, he got clear on what he was looking for — what experience he wanted, what sort of team he wanted to be in, and why that would support his long term goals. He told me, “interviews aren't just about companies evaluating you. You're also evaluating them.”

Does their mission excite you?

Will you learn and grow?

Do their values align with yours?

Too often, we contort ourselves to fit into boxes we don't belong in. He flipped the script; he knew what he wanted, and made sure the opportunities he pursued matched that.

Final Thoughts

Talking to him reminded me of something simple but powerful: You don’t need to have it all figured out. But you do need to put yourself in rooms where growth is possible.

Find role models. Online, at work, at uni, wherever. Reach out. Ask for a coffee or a 15-minute call. You’ll learn something from them, and they might learn something from you too.

So go first. Press send on that message. The people you want to meet are more open than you might think.