Still alive

and how it don't feel so good sometimes

I’m still alive.

Somehow after everything, I still haven’t died.

Today, I want to talk about churn and how it affects me.

To get there, we first have to agree on one thing. Hiring is hard.

Zuckerburg recently had an interview about how they burned through their executive team.

The reality is that humans are complicated and aligning interests is incredibly difficult. If you have found someone with whom you align interests, be it romantically, platonically, or professionally, hold on. Hold onto them so tight because these people are precious and hard to come by.

Over the past three years, I have seen almost an equal amount of folks being let go as I have brought on.

And it sucks.

I’m not even the one who tells these folks that they are being let go.

From some of my closest friends to colleagues I didn’t know so well, seeing my co-workers being dropped like flies hurts.

Now, I have been told by my parents many a time that I’m a little sensitive.

But for those who went through the same thing, I think you’ll relate to the guilt being carried around inside.

Why me? Why am I still around?

Now, I don’t want to blame the upper management for everything. After all, no one wants to bring on people who are a bad fit.

I do, however, think that these mistakes hurt everyone.

No one wins.

As an individual contributor at early-stage start-ups, I think it’s naive to believe that joining a company means we are along for the ride.

Instead, perhaps it’s time to reframe joining a company as a partnership between two entities.

Sometimes, you join, help launch a project, and find other roles/projects worthy of taking on.

Other times, you realize that there isn’t much for you to contribute once the initial project is done. In which case, the courageous thing would simply be to leave.

So yes, seeing my friends getting let go still hurts. And I don’t think it gets much better. But I’m still a professional and I’ll finish the task I’ve put myself here to accomplish and follow my heart.