Entrepreneurs: Do You Really Want to be a CEO?
by Miki Saxon
Founders love styling themselves as CEOs.
(I did it too, back when I started RampUp Solutions.)
It says you are in charge; the boss.
Plus, it sounds cool.
As CEO, you are responsible for formulating and articulating the company’s vision to employees, investors and the media.
Heady stuff.
You are also directly responsible for creating a winning culture, developing viable financial plans, instituting a solid hiring process and a wide range of other administrative actions.
No matter what happens—good, bad, or indifferent—you are the person held responsible for everything by the board, investors, employees and media.
As the company grows there are more business and human headaches meaning less time for hands-on creativity.
CEO isn’t a 70, 80 or even 100 hour a week job; it’s a 168 hour, 24/7 job.
It’s not the right job or even a good job for many founders.
Founders need to understand that giving up the CEO role can be the smartest, wisest, and most perceptive decision they will ever make (just ask Brad Feld).
Flickr image credit: TechCocktail
