Title: Founder’s Syndrome? Who Me?
Headings: 

Content: I am a founder. As many of our readers         know, in addition to keeping Help 4 NonProfits buzzing along, my partner and I         started a NonProfit organization that is quite extraordinary (aren’t they         all?). The organization - a Diaper Bank - provides diapers to those in need,         because virtually none of the safety nets provide for diapers or incontinence         supplies. And being the proud parents we are, if you would like to check out         the Diaper Bank’s website, you will find it at www.DiaperBank.org
Our dual role provides us with a unique perspective, the         ability to understand Founder’s Syndrome from both the inside and the         outside. Wearing our Consulting hat, we have been called in to address the         problems that Founder’s Syndrome has wreaked in other organizations. And         wearing our Founder hat, we have experienced much of emotion that creates this         situation in the first place. And so we thought it might be helpful to share with         other founders the lessons we have learned along the way. These lessons are not         intended for boards who are wondering what to do about a founder who is hanging         on, although we know these insights will be helpful to boards as well. The lessons that follow are instead written to founders         themselves, asking them to dig down deep to look first at what motivates the         behaviors that have become lumped together as “Founders Syndrome,”         and second, to encourage them to take the next steps - to help their         organization move to a place that isn’t founder-driven, but         community-driven. What Is Founder’s         Syndrome - The Nutshell Version
Founder’s Syndrome occurs when a single individual         or a small group of individuals bring an organization through tough times (a         start-up, a growth spurt, a financial collapse, etc.).