Chad Silverstein spent over 20 years as CEO before realizing the growing complexity of the job exposed skill gaps he couldn't fix. Instead of staying put, he handed off responsibilities and started a new company with a partner whose strengths matched his weaknesses.
Chapters
Has it ever crossed your mind that you might be in the wrong seat? I've watched a lot of leaders over the course of my career, stuck in a role that was not a good fit, or in a role that eventually required more than they could deliver. And a couple years ago, this is exactly where I found myself. And not being a stranger to what it looked like, I knew I only had one choice. To either step out or get stepped on. Here's what happened. My business hit a growth spurt. We built some good momentum with eos, and before I knew it, I hit a professional ceiling. And it was one that I never saw coming. You see, I sat in the same seat for more than 20 years, and I really liked my seat. It was in the corner, cozy office with my finger on the pulse of every piece of my business. And even though I never changed seats, frequently I played musical chairs. There wasn't a role or a responsibility in the company that I didn't do or handle at some point. But I never got too comfortable, and I eventually found someone who could do the job better. And I would delegate so I could elevate. And this worked really well for a really long time. So much so that I built a team that filled our accountability chart. And it left me nowhere else to rise. I was at the top of our chart as the CEO, visionary, and operator of the business. And it didn't take long for me to realize that I was in the wrong seat. Here were a few warning signs that I couldn't ignore. See if you can relate. I became frustrated. And not just the normal frustration. I was really frustrated. I left every meeting feeling like things weren't in sync like they used to be. And as we grew, things became more complex. And this complexity required a different skill set. And it was a skill set that I knew I didn't have. I uncovered new problems and knowing what would be required to fix them, I no longer found myself having the energy to swoop back in and get the job done. And instead, I found myself having energy towards other passions, ones that I couldn't pursue because of my position. My gut was screaming at me. I knew I wasn't the guy who could take us to the next level. So instead of waiting for others to tell me this, I got busy being transparent about it. I got busy with my transition. Over the years, I've been inspired by a few brave souls who recognized they weren't in the right seat and they did something about it. And I've seen way too many times people overstay their welcome and I knew I wasn't going to be that guy. Choosing acute pain to avoid it becoming more chronic. It really sucks, but it's always the right choice, and I never regret it. When I look back today, I have a newfound freedom to pursue a new startup company that just recently launched, and I have a new partner that has all the skills that I don't have, and she has the energy to build on everything that I started. What's your gut telling you? Are you in the right seat? If so, you're blessed. But don't get too comfortable, because things can change fast. And if you're not in the right seat and you know it, what are you going to do about it? Step up or get stepped on. As my business coach always says, it's your choice. Your choices have consequences.
