I had a strongly religious upbringing, but later in life I transitioned and acclimated to the secular world. When I began working at a startup, the fervency and

I had a strongly religious upbringing, but later in life I transitioned and acclimated to the secular world. When I began working at a startup, the fervency and intensity of the meetings—especially when the CEO or board addressed the group—gave me vivid flashbacks to my religious days. I definitely wanted us to succeed, but I think my background gave me some immunity to the pseudo-religious groupthink that so often characterizes startups.