The Water We Swim In: What Founders Miss About Their Environment
Not long ago, I caught myself staring at an aquarium. The fish swam endlessly, weaving through bubbles and rocks, completely unaware of the one thing that defined their existence: the water itself.
It made me wonder — do they even realize they are in water?
And then I thought about us. We don’t usually notice the air we breathe either. It’s only when something changes — a stuffy room, thin mountain air, smoke in the sky — that we suddenly become aware of our environment. Until then, it’s invisible.
The same is true for founders.
The Hidden Environment of Founders
Every founder operates inside an environment — the assumptions they carry, the team culture they build, the investor dynamics they navigate, the stories they tell themselves about success and failure. Most of the time, they don’t see it.
It feels normal, natural, just like water to a fish. But when that environment changes — a funding crunch, a pivot, a sudden scaling challenge — awareness arrives, often painfully.
And in that moment, only two options remain:
Die — not necessarily the company, but momentum, clarity, even confidence.
Adapt — reshaping strategy, mindset, or culture to meet the new reality.
Where Mentorship Fits In
This is where mentorship becomes essential. Good mentors don’t just hand out advice. They help founders notice the water they’re swimming in.
For example:
A founder might believe they need to do everything themselves to maintain control. A mentor helps them see that this environment of “solo responsibility” is suffocating growth.
Another founder may operate under investor pressure to “go big fast.” A mentor helps them recognize that they are chasing someone else’s timeline, not their own.
Or, a founder might be stuck in a market assumption that no longer holds true. A mentor helps them question the foundation of their strategy.
In each case, the mentor doesn’t change the environment for them. They simply shine a light on it. Once it’s visible, the founder can choose how to adapt.
The Real Value of Founder-Centric Programs
Founder-centric programs that truly work are not about frameworks or checklists. They are about surfacing what’s hidden.
When founders finally notice their “water” — the habits, blind spots, and unspoken pressures shaping their decisions — they become capable of real change. They adapt faster, make better decisions, and most importantly, build resilience for the next inevitable shift.
Because the environment will always change. Markets move. Teams evolve. Capital flows differently. The question is never if the water will shift — it’s whether the founder has the awareness and adaptability to thrive when it does.
The Invitation
If you’re a founder, take a step back today and ask yourself: What water am I swimming in?
And if you’re part of a mentorship program, remember that the greatest gift isn’t just knowledge. It’s perspective — the kind that reveals the invisible, so you can adapt before it’s too late.
