This will be the most vulnerable thing I'll ever share.

CEO of HyperSocial | Owner of OttoMatey | Scaling B2B Serviced Based Companies | 5x College Dropout

2y Edited

This will be the most vulnerable thing I'll ever share. I've gone back and forth whether to post this or not. We just had to layoff a few of our employees. I've seen a lot of layoffs over the last few weeks on LinkedIn. Most of those are due to the economy, or whatever other reason. Ours? My fault. I made a decision in February and stuck with that decision for far too long. Now, I know my team will say that "we made that decision together", but I lead us into it. And because of those failings, I had to do today, the toughest thing I've ever had to do. We've always been a people first business. And we always will be. Days like today, I wish I was a business owner that was only money driven and didn't care about who he hurt along the way. But I'm not. So, I just want people to see, that not every CEO out there is cold-hearted and doesn't care when he/she have to lay people off. I'm sure there are hundreds and thousands of others like me. The ones you don't see talked about. Because they didn't lay off 50 or 500 or 5000 employees. They laid off 1 or 2 or 3. 1 or 2 or 3 that would still be here if better decisions had been made. I know it isn't professional to tell my employees that I love them. But from the bottom of my heart, I hope they know how much I do. Every single one. Every single story. Every single thing that makes them smile and every single thing that makes them cry. Their families. Their friends. Their hobbies. I've always hire people based on who they are as people. People with great hearts, and great souls. And I can't think of a lower moment than this.

10,292 Comments

Heather Cross

Future Business Owner Aspiring Virtual B2B

You made a decision as the owner of the company and sometimes they means letting people go and doing 5he work yourself I understand what u mean you feel bad that you as the owner had to choose yourself over your employees and their families and you feel bad about it bc of one decision you made ... Don't feel bad they will find jobs I came across this months later I know but as a business manager I know what you did was right you want to keep your company afloat I would to if meant my kids eating or having what they need id lay people off, it's to be expected. People....think!!! don't let a million successes get to your head think ahead projection and if you fail just know you had a lot of success and this stuff happens I hope things are better now, these things happen in business and more than you think! And half of the owners and business GMs don't care in bigger companies they don't give a hoot! So it shows u care and that's good but 1 failure doesn't define you your company or the people the culture of the business or company none changes. Chin up keep moving and doing your best!!

1 Reaction

Lenka Hajnovicova

Lawyer in Disruptive & Newly Regulated Industries

I only get to see this now - thanks Vox. Nothing wrong with showing one's emotions, but as with any social media post I think it's good to ask ourselves, before hitting the Post button, what our true motivation behind is. As much as this seems to be about showing one's vulnerability and humanity, I think many people disliked it because underneath the surface there seems to be attention and approval seeking, undermining the post's authenticity. I know personally a few people (incidentally both men in tech) who have done something similar on different occasions: as much as I try I cannot get rid of the feeling them publicly sharing their tears was done for ego-fuelled reasons and a need to somehow capitalise on the moment. That said, I think we all do so quite often (telling ourselves stories for why we do what we do, while burying deep down the true reasons) so no matter what your intention was, I find the backlash you have gotten quite exaggerated. we are all imperfect humans.