High Agency: The Superpower of the Most Successful Founders

By Gregory Shepard

In a World of Constraints, Agency Is Power

The startup world is full of advice about product, market, and timing.

However, none of that matters if the founder lacks one essential trait: agency.

Most people live in low agency. They wait to be picked. They follow the rules. They believe life is what happens to them.

But successful founders? They don’t wait. They move. They make things happen.

That’s high agency. And it’s not just a mindset, it’s a survival strategy.

What Is High Agency?

High agency is the belief that your actions can change outcomes. That you're not a passenger, you’re the driver.

It’s the refusal to accept limitations at face value. It’s questioning constraints. It’s figuring out a way forward, even when it’s hard.

“You wake up in a third-world jail cell. Who do you call to get you out?” That’s the high agency test.

High agency is the difference between “That’s impossible” and “Let me try another way.”

“The most powerful people in the world are the ones who believe they can affect it.” - Naval Ravikant

The Anatomy of High Agency

• Ownership – You take responsibility, even when it’s not your fault
  

• Initiative – You act before being told
  

• Resourcefulness – You don’t need perfect conditions to make progress
  

• Resilience – You keep going when others stop
  

• Creative Problem Solving – You find paths where none exist

  
  

“High agency isn’t about knowing everything. It’s about trying something, even when the answer isn’t obvious.”

The Psychology Behind High Agency

High agency reflects an internal locus of control, the belief that outcomes are shaped by your actions, not external forces.

People with this mindset tend to:

• Succeed more in school and business

• Handle uncertainty better

• Experience lower anxiety and depression

In startups, where chaos is normal, this mindset is a superpower.

Why High Agency Founders Win

Across 1,200+ founders I’ve coached and 12 startups I’ve exited, one pattern repeats:

High agency founders:

• Build traction before they raise money
  

• Ship products before they’re perfect
  

• Reframe setbacks into momentum
  

• Attract talent through momentum and clarity

They don’t need ideal conditions. They create them.

How to Build High Agency

It’s trainable. You can develop it with three key shifts:

1. From Complaints to Questions

“Why is this so hard?” → “What’s one thing I can do right now?”

2. From Permission to Action

Don’t wait to be chosen. Choose yourself.

3. From Blame to Ownership

Focus less on who caused the problem. Focus more on how to respond.

“Low agency sees obstacles. High agency sees leverage.”

Final Thought: You Can Learn This

High agency isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you practice.

Take action.

Small steps create momentum.

Momentum creates confidence.

Confidence reinforces more action.

“If you're looking for a hero, become one.”