Most founders won't talk about this…But the line between grandiose confidence and dangerous delusion is thinner than you think. James Roycroft-Davis stood on Putney Bridge, hearing voices telling him to jump, before discovering his bipolar diagnosis would become his greatest teacher.This is the unfiltered story of how ego, untreated mental health, and founder identity nearly destroyed everything - and how radical self-awareness rebuilt it all.💡 What you'll learn in this episode:▪️ How to spot the early warning signs of ego-driven decision making that destroy startups▪️ Why bipolar disorder can be both a founder's greatest asset and deadliest trap▪️ Why most founder therapy misses the mark - and what actually works▪️ How becoming a father rewired his entire relationship with success and identity▪️ A framework for making decisions based on who you want to be, not who you think others expect▪️ The difference between £100M ego goals and £500K happiness goals (and why one nearly killed him)📖 Chapters00:00 - Intro01:19 - The Bridge Call That Changed Everything07:28 - 20 Years of Trauma Exploding at Once09:07 - The Guilt of Surviving11:12 - Nature vs Nurture in Mental Health12:19 - When Granddad's Death Flipped the Switch15:31 - The Israeli Psychologist Who Gets Startups18:10 - "Most Founders Do Have Grandiose Sense"25:49 - Type 1 vs Type 2: Why It Matters28:58 - The £500/Hour Diagnosis Story34:13 - Ego Work: From Validation to Creation38:20 - Why "Founder" Identity Makes You Unemployable42:21 - Two Job Offers, One Ego Check44:51 - Old James vs New James46:58 - The Exit Community Vulnerability49:02 - Alex McDonald's Life-Changing Advice50:48 - Happy and Comfortable vs £100M Dreams58:32 - The CBT Technique That Rewires Your Brain01:02:15 - Dual Purposes: Father and Founder01:06:26 - Final Asks: Jobs, Dad Groups, and Baseline🍿 WATCH NEXTIf you liked this conversation, you'll love this one too:Shazam Founder Interview; Secrets of Luck, Persistence & Success (Ep. 1)👉 Subscribe for weekly interviews and deeply practical videos on how to scale with soul📧 Get exclusive insights, timeless frameworks & founder tools in my newsletter🔗 Guest Links & ResourcesJames Roycroft-Davis : LinkedIn🔗 Affiliate LinkVisit Monk Ice Baths - for £100 discount

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