Let me tell you something straight off the bat: running a startup is no joke. There are highs, there are lows, and sometimes you’re wondering why you even started in the first place. That’s the reality I got from my conversation with Hunter Hodnett, CTO of Chipp.ai, on the Never Been Promoted podcast. Hunter’s story isn’t just about being a brilliant coder who became a technical founder—it’s about the grind, the mistakes, and the growth that came along the way. The lessons he shared hit home in a way that only comes from someone who’s been through the fire.
Hunter didn’t sugarcoat his journey. From learning to code at 14 to navigating the complexities of being a leader, there was one thing that really stood out to me: his ability to stay humble while still pushing forward, no matter the setbacks. So, here are two key takeaways from our conversation that can give anyone—technical or not—insight into what it takes to build something from the ground up.
1. Humility: A Skill You Don’t Learn in a Textbook
One of the first things Hunter talked about was humility. Now, let me be honest, that’s not something you hear every day from founders. In the early part of his career, he admitted he was trying to “overcompensate for what I didn’t know.” That aggressive mindset, the need to prove himself, actually held him back more than anything.
“I wanted to be the best at everything and ended up closing a lot of doors for myself,” he said. It wasn’t until he embraced humility that things started to click. But don’t get it twisted—humility didn’t mean lowering his standards or his ambitions. Instead, it meant admitting when he didn’t have the answers, being open to learning, and allowing others to fill in the gaps where he fell short.
Humility, as Hunter learned, is a superpower when used right. It opens doors, invites collaboration, and allows for growth. When you’re too busy trying to be the smartest person in the room, you miss out on opportunities to learn from others.
Key Takeaways from Our Discussion:
- Know when to admit you don’t know everything: Hunter’s ability to say, “I don’t know this, but I’m going to figure it out,” set him apart.
- Let others in: Hunter shared how his early mistakes came from wanting to control everything. But once he brought in people who were better in areas he wasn’t, his business started to take off.
- Humility doesn’t equal weakness: It’s actually a form of strength. Being humble enough to recognize when you need help is how you grow.
2. Grit: It’s Not Glamorous, But It’s Necessary
You always hear people say, “Stick with it!” But let’s be real—most people don’t talk about the ugly side of persistence. Hunter didn’t shy away from telling me about the days he wanted to quit, the mistakes he made, and how tough it was to keep going when things weren’t working out.
“Grit is just showing up, even when you don’t feel like it,” he said. And man, did that resonate. Hunter’s journey wasn’t one smooth line to success—it was full of setbacks. But what made the difference was his decision to keep going, even when things got ugly.
He talked about the importance of resilience in entrepreneurship, a word that gets thrown around a lot but is rarely understood. For Hunter, grit wasn’t just about bouncing back from failure; it was about choosing to continue when there was no clear path forward. That’s what got him through the hard times when he was building Chipp.ai.
What I Learned from His Experience:
- Grit is showing up even when you don’t want to: This isn’t some motivational mantra—it’s reality. If you’re not willing to push through, you’re not going to make it.
- Failure is part of the process: Hunter failed plenty of times. But he kept getting back up, learning from each failure, and moving forward.
- Persistence is a muscle: The more you exercise it, the stronger it gets. You just have to keep at it, no matter how tough things get.
3. Reflections from the Interview
Talking with Hunter was a reminder that entrepreneurship is messy. It’s not about finding the perfect strategy or being flawless from the get-go. It’s about embracing the chaos, learning as you go, and not being afraid to fail. Hunter didn’t have all the answers at the start, but what he did have was the drive to figure things out, even if it meant stumbling along the way.
Here’s What I’m Taking Away:
- Being humble is key: When Hunter stopped pretending to know everything, he opened himself up to learning and growth.
- You’re not meant to do it all: Surround yourself with people who are better than you in areas where you lack expertise. That’s how you scale.
- Mistakes aren’t the end: Every mistake Hunter made was a stepping stone to where he is now. He didn’t shy away from them; he learned from them.
- Resilience is non-negotiable: You’ve got to show up every day, even when you don’t feel like it.
- Startups are not families: Hunter made it clear that startups should be treated like sports teams—focused on performance and results. You’ve got to hire the best, hold everyone to a high standard, and make the tough calls.
Final Thoughts
If there’s one thing that stood out to me from this conversation, it’s that success isn’t about being the best or having all the answers. It’s about staying humble, pushing through when it gets tough, and surrounding yourself with the right people. Whether you’re a technical founder or someone just trying to make your idea a reality, these lessons are gold.
Hunter’s journey reminded me that there’s no magic formula to success. It’s messy, unpredictable, and often frustrating. But if you’ve got the grit to keep going and the humility to learn along the way, you’ve got a fighting chance.
CONNECT WITH HUNTER:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunterhodnett/
Website: https://www.hunterhodnett.dev/ (Personal)
Website: https://www.chipp.ai/ (Company)