In this episode of Resilience Unraveled, host Russell Thackeray interviews Mohamed Ahmed, an American Egyptian engineer, entrepreneur, and author of “The Inside-Out Entrepreneur”. The discussion covers various aspects of entrepreneurship, resilience, and mindset.

Summary of Points Discussed:

Location and Background: Mohamed Ahmed is based in Seattle, which he describes as sunny on the day of the recording, though usually gloomy and rainy. He is an American Egyptian engineer who came to the US 17 years ago for his PhD. He worked at Microsoft and Amazon before co-founding his own company, a transformational experience that led him to write his book and focus on building entrepreneurs and leaders.

Cultural Perspectives: Ahmed discusses how coming from Egypt to the US highlighted the universality of human concerns and ambitions, despite initial misconceptions. He notes that while American culture glorifies individualism, the country was built by large companies and teams working together. He also highlights the strong entrepreneurial spirit in the US, attributing it to a capitalist system built on equal opportunities and second chances.

Entrepreneurial Mindset and Failure: The conversation delves into the definition of entrepreneurialism, with Ahmed emphasizing the desire to “leave an impact” and a legacy. A key differentiator in Silicon Valley, he explains, is that “failure is a badge of honor”. Statistically, a founder whose first startup failed is 66% more likely to succeed with a second company in the Bay Area. This contrasts with other places like New York, where failure might not be as readily accepted. He stresses that media often highlights extremes, and the reality on the ground for entrepreneurs involves significant work.

Robustness and Resilience: Drawing from his engineering background, Ahmed defines robustness as the ability to withstand pressure and maintain a state, while resilience is the ability to deform under pressure and return to the original form once the pressure is released. He applies these concepts to mindset, explaining that entrepreneurs need a solid mindset to avoid being negatively impacted by undesired events and to be able to recover quickly.

Internal vs. External Pressure: Both Ahmed and Thackeray agree on the importance of managing internal cognitive and mental states. Ahmed shares personal anecdotes about facing significant financial and acquisition setbacks in his startup journey, highlighting how his increased resilience over time allowed him to recover from challenges much faster.

Investing in Self and Learning: Ahmed emphasizes the need for entrepreneurs to invest in themselves and learn from experiences. He identifies three key roles for entrepreneurs: an advisor (who offers business guidance), a mentor (who challenges one’s mindset), and a friend (who understands the entrepreneurial journey). He also advocates for a “marathon mindset” rather than a “sprint mindset” for long-term success.

“The Inside-Out Entrepreneur”: The book’s title signifies that entrepreneurship starts from within, requiring the entrepreneur’s mindset to grow with the company. The book provides a framework for conditioning oneself physically, emotionally, and even spiritually before embarking on the entrepreneurial journey. It also addresses the importance of separating personal identity from the company’s identity to avoid feeling like a failure if the company does not succeed.

Availability of the Book and Community: “The Inside-Out Entrepreneur” is available on Amazon and through Mohamed Ahmed’s community website, boundlessfounder.co. The website also offers a free bonus chapter, worksheets, and guides. He can be found on social media via his personal website mohamedfmed.com or by searching his name.