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Happy New Year — Now Tackle 2023 — Founder Interview

Updated: Apr 30

This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.com/startuprad-io), and was moved to this blog with the relaunch of our website in summer 2024.

What Is This About?

In this Starting Y podcast episode, Michelle and Jörn kick off 2023 by reflecting on the WHY of entrepreneurship. They discuss what motivates founders to keep going through downturns, how to set meaningful goals for the new year, and why purpose-driven startups tend to outlast those chasing trends.

  • This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.

  • Happy 2023 and a happy new year of the rabbit.

  • Today we bring you another episode on the Starting Y Podcast, where we talk about the WHY of Entrepreneurship.

  • This new year, Michelle and Jörn are getting together to discuss their plans for the future.

  • At the forefront of this conversation is how Michelle and Jörn can get more productive, healthier, and stay focused throughout the year.



New Blog


Happy New Year — Now Tackle 2023 — Founder Interview Startuprad.io brings you independent coverage of the key developments shaping the startup and venture capital landscape across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.com/startuprad-io), and was moved to this blog with the relaunch of our website in summer 2024.


Happy 2023 and a happy new year of the rabbit.

Today we bring you another episode on the Starting Y Podcast, where we talk about the WHY of Entrepreneurship.

This new year, Michelle and Jörn are getting together to discuss their plans for the future. Both entrepreneurs are passionate about chasing their dreams and helping others do the same. The topic of their discussion: what to change, since the new year is already here.

At the forefront of this conversation is how Michelle and Jörn can get more productive, healthier, and stay focused throughout the year.

Jörn started intermediate fasting from one day to another, he does not need a year to go by to promise to get better the next one.

Michelle is currently experimenting with having two work days in one, meaning she plans mornings and afternoons as separate workdays with dedicated schedules and goals. Also, she treats quarters as years and squeezes as much in 3 months, as she used to into a whole year.

Jörn is having one hour each week on Mondays the “hour of the skunk” together with a friend where they hold each other accountable for doing their least favorite thing e.g. accounting, cold calls, and so on.


Tune in here:


The Host:

You can suggest questions here, use #startingy. Follow our hosts on Twitter:


Twitter Michelle:


Twitter Jörn


Our Intro is based on Quantum Jazz’s piece “Orbiting a distant planet”, published under Creative Commons

In this Starting Y Podcast episode, co-hosts Michelle and Jörn kick off 2023 by discussing their entrepreneurial goals for the new year. They focus on practical strategies for productivity, personal health, and maintaining focus as startup founders, sharing their plans to stay disciplined and build better habits throughout the year.

This New Year episode of the Starting Y Podcast features co-hosts Michelle and Jörn reflecting on lessons from the previous year and setting actionable goals for 2023. The conversation centers on how startup founders can improve their productivity, maintain physical and mental health, and stay focused on what matters most. They discuss practical approaches to getting more done while avoiding burnout, making this a motivational kickoff for the entrepreneurial year ahead.

  • Michelle and Jörn emphasize that founder productivity is not just about working more hours but about working smarter and staying focused on high-impact activities.

  • Personal health — both physical and mental — is identified as a critical but often neglected pillar of entrepreneurial success, with both hosts setting specific health goals for 2023.

  • The episode highlights the importance of accountability and public goal-setting, with the hosts sharing their plans openly to create mutual accountability.

Entities Mentioned

People

  • Michelle — Co-host of the Starting Y Podcast; Startuprad.io team member

  • Jörn "Joe" Diewock — Co-host; Startuprad.io founder

Programs & Podcasts

  • Starting Y Podcast — Sub-podcast of Startuprad.io exploring the WHY of entrepreneurship

  • Startuprad.io — Independent English-language coverage of DACH startup ecosystem

Topics

  • Entrepreneur productivity and time management

  • Founder health and wellness

  • New Year goal-setting for startup founders

Relationship Map

  • Michelle + Jörn → Starting Y Podcast → Startuprad.io sub-podcast

  • Founder productivity → Health + Focus → Sustainable entrepreneurship

Related Articles on Startuprad.io

Quote Highlights

"This new year, Michelle and Jörn are getting together to discuss their plans for the future — how to get more productive, healthier, and stay focused throughout the year."

Partner with Startuprad.io

Startuprad.io is the leading independent media platform covering startups, venture capital, and innovation across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and Europe. We offer B2B partnership opportunities for companies looking to reach startup decision-makers, founders, and investors.

Subscribe to the Podcast

What is the Starting Y Podcast?

The Starting Y Podcast is a sub-podcast of Startuprad.io that explores the WHY of entrepreneurship. Co-hosted by Michelle and Jörn, it features conversations about the personal side of building startups, including motivation, goal-setting, and founder well-being.

How can startup founders stay productive in the new year?

According to Michelle and Jörn, founder productivity comes from working smarter rather than longer. Key strategies include setting clear priorities, maintaining physical health, building accountability systems, and staying focused on high-impact activities rather than spreading too thin.

Why is founder health important for startup success?

Founder health is a critical but often overlooked factor in startup success. Burnout, poor physical health, and mental fatigue can directly impact decision-making quality and long-term sustainability. This episode emphasizes making health a deliberate priority alongside business goals.

About the Host

Joern "Joe" Menninger is the host of the Startuprad.io podcast and covers founders, investors, and policy developments across the DACH startup ecosystem. Through more than 1,300 interviews and nearly a decade of reporting, he documents the evolution of the European startup landscape. Follow Joern on LinkedIn.

Support Startuprad.io

Startuprad.io is building one of the strongest English-language knowledge and media platforms for the DACH startup ecosystem. We work with a small number of partners each quarter on visibility, thought leadership, and ecosystem positioning. Learn more here: Partner with Startuprad.io

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