Today was my last day as an employee at Kicksaw. Moving on from a day to day role in the company I started, and spent the past ten years building was bittersweet.
On one hand, it’s uncomfortable to take your hand off the handlebar; to send the company off on its own without me to guide it(though that’s probably just my ego talking).
On one hand, I know that Kicksaw is poised for immense growth and will mature into a true market leader. The world-class culture we build is incredibly resilient, and will be the driving force that propels the company through its next phase - I’m so proud to have been a part of it. I'll also stay on the board, looking out for the people of Kicksaw and the culture we love so dearly.
I’m so grateful to every employee of Kicksaw(past and present) who took a chance on Kenny Goldman and I and followed us through the tumultuous ups and downs of bootstrapping a business to 75 employees over five years. I’ve been so lucky to make truly great friendships that will last a lifetime, and still can’t believe I had the opportunity to work alongside an amazingly high performing team of smart, dedicated, hard-working and selfless individuals who always root for one another.
The Kicksaw way is something I also cherished. Our willingness to forge our own path, to do what felt aligned with our values and to not take for granted “the way it’s done” was such a breath of fresh air that I still can’t believe we pulled it off.
Thank you all for putting your trust in someone who was figuring it out as I went. I made a ton of mistakes along the way, but I learned from each and every one.
So, what’s next for me? A lot. And also nothing.
I’ve spent the past twenty years of my life working to reach the next milestone, rarely taking a second to look back at how far I’d come and why I was doing any of it. I was often on autopilot, with a clear mission in sight. Now is an opportunity to take a breath and try to appreciate the moment I’m in, rather than anticipating the next.
I know I’ve got a lot more in me. But I’ve also got the rest of my life to figure out what that might be.
One of my favorite quotes(that I learned later than I would have liked) is “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Thank you everyone who’s been helping me, coaching me, and rooting for me along the way. I can't express how grateful I am for you all.
RLTW
