I've always sort of had this question that continues to feel naive - but I'm not sure I know the answer: why do so many companies feel like they have to grow perpetually? Why can't Twitter just be happy being Twitter, knowing its limits and making a stable profit? Instead it's more users, more VC money, more staff... constantly burning as quickly as possible. There's a ceiling on every business; it's all bound to come crashing down eventually if you don't stop somewhere. Either you do it gracefully or hundreds of folks have to eventually lose their job unexpectedly (very sad).
Is the answer simply that earlier VCs put pressure on the executives to keep growing so they can multiply their investment?
Personally I dream of making a living establishing a patio11-type software business. Something where I can do a high quality job and own all of the decision-making. The ceiling doesn't have to be very high for one guy to sustain himself, and software is appealing because you can automate away nearly all of the "work".
Is the answer simply that earlier VCs put pressure on the executives to keep growing so they can multiply their investment?
Personally I dream of making a living establishing a patio11-type software business. Something where I can do a high quality job and own all of the decision-making. The ceiling doesn't have to be very high for one guy to sustain himself, and software is appealing because you can automate away nearly all of the "work".