And how damn hard it is for CEOs to have to do layoffs.
Especially more in rather small companies, where you do know very well the people you are taking the job away from. Zuck for ex certainly didn't hire himself, know the kids of, etc the thousands he laid off.
And still, your duty as CEO, starting with your duty to your teammates, is to maximize the chances that most people keep their job. The best way to do that is to build a healthy and enduring business & economics.
At least as long as people still want to be paid with $$. And this is no bad joke: the pioneers of any industry, like were those joining tech startups in the 70s, were in it for the cause, the dream, the revenge, etc. Today this is not the case anymore: tech is a 'job' for most. Which is absolutely fine. A victory actually: it means tech has become a 'normal' industry.
Unfortunately, the recent cycle was not about 'health'. so as in all excesses, the body needs to rebalance.
And still, your duty as CEO, starting with your duty to your teammates, is to maximize the chances that most people keep their job. The best way to do that is to build a healthy and enduring business & economics. At least as long as people still want to be paid with $$. And this is no bad joke: the pioneers of any industry, like were those joining tech startups in the 70s, were in it for the cause, the dream, the revenge, etc. Today this is not the case anymore: tech is a 'job' for most. Which is absolutely fine. A victory actually: it means tech has become a 'normal' industry.
Unfortunately, the recent cycle was not about 'health'. so as in all excesses, the body needs to rebalance.