Why the Best Founders Don’t Try to Sound Smart with Mike Jones

What if the most important skill for founders isn’t intelligence, hustle, or speed but empathy?

In this episode of Don’t Be a Jerk, I sit down with Mike Jones, co-founder and CEO of Science Inc., former CEO of MySpace, and early backer of companies like Dollar Shave Club and Liquid Death. Mike has spent decades working with founders at every stage. What he’s learned runs counter to most startup advice.

The best founders aren’t the loudest in the room. They don’t try to prove how smart they are. And they definitely don’t lead with ego.

Instead, they lead with curiosity, humility, and a deep connection to the people they’re building for.

We talk about why there’s a growing global empathy problem in tech, how that shows up in products and leadership, and what founders can actually do to fix it. This episode is a breakdown of why empathy, mission, and humility quietly outperform raw IQ and brute force.

In this episode, we cover:

Why a University of Washington study found humility beats IQ as a predictor of performance

The difference between mercenary founders and missionary founders

Why trying to sound smart in a pitch is usually a losing strategy

How to evaluate decisions using the “deathbed test”

Why founders who ask better questions win more often

How mission clarity makes hiring, marketing, and decision-making easier

Why asking for help early can save companies from dying quietly

How Mike designs his life around focus, family, and long-term thinking

This conversation is especially relevant if you’re a founder, operator, or leader who’s tired of the “brilliant jerk” myth and wants to build something meaningful without burning bridges or yourself.

If you care about building great companies and being a decent human along the way, this one’s for you.