Thread by @Tawheed

I was running ToutApp

There was this one board meeting

My board members gave me a hug and told me to cut to 15

We were $6m ARR 70 people

I did two layoffs

Took it to CFBE and Growth

And then sold the company

But it was the worst year of my life

AMA >> [phone]

Ps. We didn’t cut to 15.

I know a lot of you are making tough decisions right now.

Know that there is always a way forward.

But you have to make sure you’re cutting the fat and not muscle.

And I know the decisions come down to you being in a room alone w a spreadsheet.

I’ve been there. So many of us have. But just know. It may be tough now. But remember the dream.

Remember why you started this in the first place.

Find a way to keep on and survive. And then you will thrive.

You may not be able to save them all. But save the ones that matter

The ones you let go will find jobs.

The ones you keep have the tougher positions. Because they now have to find a way to make THIS work.

And as hard as it may be to cut.

The harder job is to come back in then next day and say “I have a plan”

And you will find a plan.

I know you will because you had a plan in the first place.

Maybe it’s circumstances. Maybe you also lost your way a little bit.

But right now? It doesn’t matter.

It’s zero sum. And....

And that comes with freedom. You can do what’s needed to go win.

So make the cuts.

And then go make the plan to go with.

There is always a way.

#unstoppable

P.p.s. You want to know what happened once we turned around the company as we looked at two term sheets to sell?

The investors who said NO before came back and asked. Are you raising?

I said no thank you.

I was done.

I kept a list tho ;)