The 4 Modes: Monks, Founders, Managers and Dreamers

When leaders get into an unhealthy rhythm, we like to label ourselves to make ourselves feel good about it. We say things like, “I’m going Monk Mode”or we use other terms like Founder Mode and Manager Mode, but what do they mean?

Let’s break them down:

Monk Mode 🧘‍♂️

You’ve probably heard of it—it’s when someone goes silent, isolates themselves, and becomes laser-focused on creating a new product, service, or idea. When they emerge, it’s like they’ve come back from a productivity boot camp with fresh solutions in hand. 

Monk Mode has its place, sure. Sometimes, you’ve just got to buckle down and shut out distractions.

But what if I told you there’s a better mode?

Founder Mode 🏗️

Founder Mode sacrifices everything for the business, venture, ministry or company—sleep, meals, and your social life—grinding to push the business forward at all costs. It often brings out control-freak-esque qualities and pushes great people away.

There is certainly a time for personal sacrifice, but at what cost?

Manager Mode 📊

In Manager Mode, you’re delegating tasks and managing your team day-to-day. You’re the one keeping everything on track, making sure operations run smoothly. It’s great for sustaining what you’ve built, but it’s more about maintaining than innovating.

There’s something better than all of these—Dreamer Mode.

Dreamer Mode 🚀

In Dreamer Mode, you’re not just working in the business; you’re working on the vision. Dreamers aren’t bogged down in the details—they’re looking ahead, imagining what’s possible, and leading their team toward that future.

Leaders living in Dreamer Mode have an Owner’s Mentality and live in a more sustainable way, thinking long-term and making decisions with a big-picture view of the organization.

Dreamer Mode is where leaders truly shine. It’s not about getting stuck in today’s to-do list or scrambling to solve every problem. It’s about vision, innovation, and creativity.

Here’s why Dreamer Mode is where the magic happens:

• Vision-Casting: You’re thinking bigger, focusing on where you want your business or organization to be, not just where it is now.
• Inspiring Others: When you’re dreaming, you inspire those around you. Your team catches the vision, and they’re energized to help you make it happen.
• Innovation: Dreaming allows you to think creatively and strategically about what could be, rather than just dealing with what’s in front of you.

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But, how do you stay in Dreamer Mode?

The key to spending more time in Dreamer Mode is simple: delegate the details.

When you have a trusted team—especially a great Executive Assistant—you can let go of the day-to-day grind and focus on shaping the future.

That’s what we do at Dream Support. We don’t just help with tasks. We give leaders the headspace to dream bigger, innovate more, and lead better.

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