Helping Founders Get Out of Their Own Way with Michael Ceely

In this episode, I sit down with Michael Ceely, a high-performance coach for executives, entrepreneurs, and athletes, to talk about why founders get stuck in fear, anxiety spirals, and self-sabotage. He brings a rare perspective to the founder mindset because he knows when someone needs coaching and when they actually need therapy.Michael reframes imposter syndrome as a normal response to new situations, explains why anxiety is often an action signal rather than a problem, and shares how getting the focus off yourself and onto your customer can quiet a lot of the noise. We also talk about Madison’s startup ecosystem, what he learned from StartingBlock’s Level Set program, and his ambitious goal to scale into a $10M/year business.Tune in to learn:Why imposter syndrome is a normal insecurity and what to do with itWhy anxiety is often an “action signal,” and the simple habit that breaks the spiralHow the 80% rule + real delegation help founders regain momentum Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Intro(00:37) Meet Michael Ceely(01:41) A Wisconsin story of becoming a coach(05:04) How Michael balances psychotherapy and coaching work(10:39) Why coaching’s lack of regulation matters(18:13) Common patterns founders struggle with(27:24) Where does anxiety come from(29:43) The 80% rule for decision making(31:58) How self-sabotage shows up(33:28) Madison’s impact on founder mindset(36:14) Inside Madison’s StartingBlock experience(38:48) What makes Madison a good place to build(44:10) Why accountability beats another workshop(48:21) Scaling with intention, not shortcuts Connect with Michael Ceely: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-ceely/Follow Michael Ceely on Instagram: http://instagram.com/michael_ceely/Check out Michael Ceely’s official website: https://www.michaelceely.com/ Podcast SponsorValency FundFlexible funding solutions designed for sustainable growth of Wisconsin companies.Learn more at https://www.valencyfund.com/🔻 Connect With Us 🔻Subscribe to the Startup Wisconsin Newsletterhttps://www.startupwi.org/Upcoming Tech and Startup Events in Wisconsin (400+ every year)https://www.startupwi.org/eventsFollow us on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-wisconsin/Connect with Jacob Miller:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kineticbearInterested in being a guest? Reach [email protected] Wisconsin's mission is to connect, educate, inspire, and grow tech startup communities across the state, not just during events, but year-round. This podcast is part of that vision, creating deeper connections and sharing the knowledge that helps Wisconsin's startup ecosystem thrive.This podcast is made by your friends at Headway.https://www.headway.io