My Approach to Layoffs: There’s a Car Catching Up With Each of Us

This is one of the core principles I follow when managing my team.

There is a global race that takes place simultaneously all over the planet. Its unique feature is that there is no conventional finish line for the runners. Instead, a vehicle called the “Catcher Car” is used. It starts some time after the runners and gradually speeds up, and your race ends the moment the car catches up with you. The goal is to run as far as possible before that happens.

I often share this analogy with my team:
There’s a “car” trailing behind each of us. We all need to keep growing, facing new challenges, improving, and evolving with the company’s transformation. Just because I did a great job launching a business from scratch last year doesn’t matter as much anymore — this year’s goals and objectives are entirely different. If you’re not adapting, not ready to change, or not meeting new challenges, that car will catch up with you sooner than you think.

It may sound a bit tough, but it’s nothing unusual. Flexibility and adaptability are the most essential skills for any top manager.