EP211: Why Entrepreneurs Feel Fear and Self-Doubt (And What to Do About It)

The real reason founders donโ€™t start, and how to move through fear

In this episode of Start, Scale, Exit, Repeat, Colin C. Campbell and Michele Van Tilborg sit down with bio-psychologist Dr. Rowshanak Hashemiyoon to unpack the real reason founders get stuck before they even begin: fear rooted in biology, not mindset. They explore the nervous systemโ€™s role in self-doubt, fear of success, and visibility, along with practical tools to regulate, take action, and build momentum. If youโ€™ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or hesitant to take the next step, this conversation reframes fearโ€”and shows you how to move forward anyway.

Hosts: Colin C. Campbell, Michele Van Tilborg

Guest: Dr. Rowshanak Hashemiyoon

Can You Build a Moat Around Your Idea in an AI World?

Adapted from Chapter 6 of Colin C. Campbellโ€™s Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat. for the AI era. AI has made it incredibly easy to start a...

Pick a Business Idea That Can Scale: A Guide for Entrepreneurs

A great business idea isnโ€™t just about what you can start. Itโ€™s about what you can grow. Entrepreneurs naturally spend a lot of time thinking...

The Exit Window Is Open. Most Founders Aren’t Ready.

Buyers are back. In July 2026 alone, venture-backed M&A cleared $9 billion and twelve companies went public above a billion-dollar valuation. Most founders will miss...

Second-Time Founders: Repeat Is the Hardest Word

Six weeks after the wire hits, most founders feel nothing at all. Not relief. Not triumph. Nothing. That's the part of the exit nobody warns...

How to Scale a Startup: What Actually Breaks

Most companies don't die from lack of demand. They die from getting it. How to scale a startup is really one question: what happens when...

Focus on Something You and Others Love: A Founderโ€™s Framework for the AI Era

Adapted for an AI world from Chapter 4 of Colin C. Campbellโ€™s Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat. In 1993, I made a decision that looked questionable...