• It's where communication breaks.
• Where friendships strain.
• Where most founders fail.
Here's what actually happens at each breaking point...
0-10 Employees: The Casual Chaos
This phase feels magical. Everyone does everything. No org structure needed. Just talented people figuring it out together.
I loved this phase at Ampush. We'd sit around a table, make decisions instantly, and execute. But that's exactly what set us up for failure...
10-30 Employees: The First Breaking Point
This is where most founders hit a wall they never see coming. The casual chaos suddenly becomes your enemy.
You need actual reporting structures, clear roles, and basic processes. But here's the brutal part no one warns you about:
You have to stop being everyone's friend.
I learned this the hard way at Ampush. We'd hire someone's friend, grab dinner together, then three months later need to have a tough performance conversation. Want to guess how those went?
Your ability to impact someone's career (and, therefore, their life) makes you different. The sooner you realize this, the better you'll be at your job.