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Founder Overwhelm Diagnostic Assessment.

Turn the symptom picture into a maturity level for each of the five sub-domains, using a five-level rubric. This is what makes the founder work measurable.

For each sub-domain, read the five levels and record the one that most closely matches your current state. The line most founders are crossing sits between Level 2 (Aware) and Level 3 (Capable).

Founder role clarity

Level 1: no defined role, you do everything. Level 2: aware of the problem, still doing a bit of everything. Level 3: highest-value role defined, work sorted. Level 4: operating mostly in the highest-value role. Level 5: a sharply defined, protected founder role.

Delegation and capacity

Level 1: nothing delegated, no capacity. Level 2: some delegation, work returns. Level 3: real work delegated to capable people. Level 4: broad, effective delegation. Level 5: a team that carries the work fully.

Systematizing founder-dependent work

Level 1: everything in your head. Level 2: a few things written down. Level 3: key founder-dependent work systematized and owned. Level 4: broadly systematized, running without you. Level 5: a self-running, scalable operation.

Personal effectiveness

Level 1: pure reaction, no priorities. Level 2: aware, still reactive. Level 3: priorities set, focus protected, running on a rhythm. Level 4: highly effective personal system. Level 5: exemplary personal effectiveness.

Personal sustainability

Level 1: unsustainable, burning out. Level 2: strained, no boundaries. Level 3: sustainable pace with boundaries and support. Level 4: consistently sustainable and supported. Level 5: a genuinely sustainable, resilient founder life.

Your answers stay in your browser on this page and are never sent anywhere. Carry all five scores into the Founder Constraint Map to find the one holding back the others.

Step 2 of the diagnostic. Back to the diagnostic, or start over.