There is a strange paradox in scaling a company.
As the team grows larger, the founder’s world often gets smaller.
Last Tuesday, I walked past the break room. The team was laughing and debating their weekend plans. I could sense their shared energy, but I felt unable to join them.
This is the reality of the “CEO Chair.”
It is not about being anti-social. It is about the Burden of Filtering.
In any high-performance business, the CEO acts as a heat shield.
We absorb the chaos from the market. We absorb the legal threats. We absorb the cash flow stress.
And we filter it out so the team can focus on their work without panic.
If I shared every worry I have on a Monday morning, the team would struggle to complete their tasks. They would be too anxious to function.
So we stay silent. And silence creates distance.
The lesson I learned is that you cannot rely on your team for your own emotional support. That is not their job. Their job is to execute the mission.
To maintain mental clarity under this pressure, you need a “Cabinet” outside the building. You need mentors who are not on the payroll.
Do not confuse leadership with friendship. You can be friendly. But you must be the leader first.
The isolation is the price of the position.
Ali Aydan: The view from the top is clear. But it is cold.
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