[thereare5lights]

This kind of debate is like who's the GOAT of the NBA, Lebron or MJ. It's gonna be a lot of cherry-picking of data, subjective thoughts, etc. Not that the debate wouldn't be fun or illuminating, just that an objective answer is probably out of reach.

[leesalminen]

For sure. It’s not a black and white topic.

This is an interesting topic for me as I find myself asking similar questions about my role at a company I founded.

I founded a company currently valued in the low-mid 8 digits. I successfully brought the company through an acquisition and have doubled revenues since.

I keep coming back to an article I read on HN years ago talking about the 4 types of CEOs: founder, growth, maintenance, death (bankruptcy). While I’ve found success in 1 and 2, I don’t enjoy 2 as much as 1 and I don’t think I’d be any good at 3 or 4.

I’m probably experiencing a form of imposter syndrome as the board & leadership are all satisfied with my performance, but the thoughts still linger.

[raleigh_user]

Read Rocket Fuel. Its a book I am sure the HN crowd will critique but it has made a large difference in how my biz operates and how multiple founders fill roles. I am very much an "integrator" from the book. I am less of the massive, big picture and more of the day to day execution. Good at growth/maintenance. Not great as a true "founder". And I have managed through near death and it seemingly took years off my life so I'd prefer not to go back to that one!