Episode 6 – Remote Boundaries – Saying No Without Burning Bridges with Viktor Petersson

This week on Founder Mode, Jason and I talked with Viktor Petersson—a remote-first founder who’s built multiple startups. He’s worked in open source, run distributed teams, and built strong company cultures without relying on office space. What made this conversation stand out was how honest Viktor was about something we all face as founders: how to say no.

When you're building something, the world keeps throwing new requests your way—sales, partnerships, intros, feature ideas. At first, it’s tempting to say yes to everything. But over time, you realize that every yes comes at a cost—usually your time, energy, and focus.

Viktor broke down how he's learned to say no clearly, respectfully, and without leaving a mess behind.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Not every ask deserves your time.

Viktor deletes most emails on sight. If it’s not a clear fit or aligned with the mission, it’s gone. The bar for a yes should be high.

2. Open source is not always a gift.

Contributors often mean well, but sometimes they hand over work that becomes your responsibility. If it doesn’t align, it’s okay to say no—even to free work.

3. Good documentation builds great remote teams.

If it’s not written down, it doesn’t exist. Viktor’s teams run on clear standard operating procedures (SOPs) so anyone can do their job without waiting for someone in another time zone.

4. Retreats matter more than meetings.

Remote teams need real-life time together. Viktor’s rule? At least 5 days, and don’t stuff it with meetings. Let people build real relationships.

5. No can mean “not right now.”

Sometimes you leave the door open. A simple “we don’t have the bandwidth right now” is honest and respectful—and it keeps relationships intact.

Final Thought

Viktor reminded me how powerful the word “no” can be—if used well.

As founders, we want to move fast, help people, and grow. But saying yes to everything just doesn’t scale. Protecting your time, your team, and your focus isn’t selfish—it’s smart.

If you’re struggling to set boundaries, I hope this episode helps you feel more confident about it. Because sometimes, the most powerful thing you can say in business is no.

🎧 Listen to Episode 6 here:

Remote Boundaries – Saying N... Apr 29 · Founder Mode 28:03   ​

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-kevin

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