The most surprising thing about leaving the company you started is how quickly you become irrelevant.
The CEO Life
As CEO, you feel very important: texts, emails, calls, board meetings and more.
It’s a 24/7 job and you think the company can’t survive without you.
Then You Leave
But then one day you leave. And life goes on without you. The company keeps running. The meetings still happen. The decisions still get made.
It’s a humbling realization that comes with stepping aside from something you built from the ground up.
Final Thoughts
The transition from being essential to being irrelevant happens faster than anyone expects. Your identity becomes so tied to the company that leaving feels like losing a part of yourself.
But this is also a chance for a retirement check in and a new chapter. The company moving forward without you is actually a sign you built something that works.
If you’re a founder thinking about your next move, remember: your worth isn’t defined by your inbox.