Real Founder Questions,
Real Psychologist Answers
This section features practical Q&As from live Sublime Studio workshops, where founders ask the big questions about mindset, emotions, performance, and mental wellbeing.
From anxiety and burnout to imposter syndrome and decision-making — these are the challenges that come up again and again behind closed doors. Here, Byron shares the same thoughtful, psychology-backed answers he offers in the room, helping you build psychological capital and lead with more clarity, calm, and courage.
What is anxiety, really?
Anxiety is fear about a future outcome — unlike stress, which is about the here and now. It’s the mind’s protective system doing exactly what it’s designed to do. The problem isn’t the anxiety itself, it’s the protective behaviours it can drive, like overworking at the cost of health and family. Awareness creates space — and that space tends to loosen its grip.
From: Building Psychological Capital to Elevate Performance workshop — LaunchVic CivVic Labs
What are the early warning signs of burnout?
Signs vary widely — brain fog, forgetfulness, rigid diary control, irritability. As with physical health, spotting the early signs lets you act before burnout takes hold. It comes back to psychological awareness: noticing internal signals — thoughts, emotions, physical cues — before you’re forced to.
From: “Being Well” panel — Meet and Gather, Melbourne
How do I deal with two values competing for my time and energy?
You can’t fill both cups to the brim — there’s only so much time and energy. The key is deciding whether you’re willing to bear the cost of leaving one cup lower for a period: guilt if it’s family, anxiety if it’s business. If you’re willing, accept it fully and enjoy the other. If not, adjust your behaviour. Just don’t focus so much on the cost that you rob yourself of the benefit.
From: Values-Aligned Action workshop — Translating Research at Melbourne (TRAM) Air, 2025
Is it okay to feel uncomfortable "inflating" your business in investor meetings?
That discomfort is a signal — a values misalignment, in this case with authenticity. The temptation to “juice up” the story to impress or land a sale is common, but if it feels wrong, it’s worth asking whether the short-term gain is worth the cost. This is exactly the kind of dilemma values-aligned action frameworks help entrepreneurs navigate.
From: Building Psychological Capital for Sustainable Performance workshop — TRAM 2025 academic founder cohort
Why did my anxiety drop when I stopped chasing revenue targets?
Shifting focus from a goal outcome — like a revenue target — to a value, like mastery, gives an immediate psychological benefit rather than deferring all fulfilment to a number you may or may not hit.
From: “The Art of Values Aligned Action” workshop — Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP) cohort
Why do "small wins" matter more than we think?
It’s tempting to only celebrate the big wins — but waiting until the newsletter is sent or the book is finished misses the chance to reinforce effort along the way. Each small win releases dopamine, creating a feedback loop that keeps you engaged and resilient. Building a culture that values progress, not just outcomes, compounds over time into sustained performance.
From: Building Psychological Capital to Elevate Performance workshop — RMIT Activator