The Entrepreneur Health check
Notes from vYve sessions in Amsterdam and New York with nearly two dozen founders, and four lessons from inside the exam room.
James Orsini
Oct 20, 2026 · 2 min read
By James Orsini
I’ve just come off two fabulous multi-day meetings with nearly 2 dozen different entrepreneurs and founders from around the world. Our vYve offering took us to Amersterdam and New York City for a few in person meet ups.
While we spent time exploring the land, meeting the locals and taking in the sights, the real work was done in smaller group classroom sessions. Together we developed anchor statements to tell our respective stories and reviewed our core business, what makes them unique, and we set some aspirational goals.
Our health check included:
Ø Our sign in History — business overview
Ø Anything hurt? — Issues upon us now
Ø Eating right- client status and financial forecast
Ø Enough exercise- new business pipe
Ø Blood pressure- nervous about economy or competition
Ø Heartbeat- business vision and contingency plans
My observations from inside the exam room:
1) Stick to what you are good at: Entrepreneurs feel compelled to do everything themselves. I heard multiple times “I’m not good at finance, I’m not good at marketing, I’m not good at operations”. Guess what, I’m not good at gardening and it’s why I hired a landscaper! Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
2) Just birth it: Many entrepreneurs are striving for perfection in the product or service before putting it into the market. It’s a small idea not an elephant, just birth it. Don’t squeeze the baby so tight that you choke it to death. Perfection is the death of innovation. You can make enhancements after launch.
3) Accept what you don’t know: It’s good to keep different company. Yes, become friends with someone who’s already launched a similar product or service; But also widen your circle to include people outside your space. These different perspectives can make your product or service better or richer. Iron sharpens Iron when it rubs up against one another.
4) Kindness, Gratitude, Empathy always wins: There will be no shortage of opinions from the peanut gallery I assure you. Some will genuinely have your best interest in mind and others not so much. Don’t get defensive. Smile and move on. Be a sponge and not a rock. Absorb what should be absorbed.
I’ve been advising entrepreneurs for the past decade. The vYve program helps them reach their greatest personal and business potential.