[nine_k]

"Didn't have the cashflow" sounds more like lack of investment / loans, but I agree, explosive growth that catches you unready can happen. It seems to be an exception rather than the rule though. But everyone strives to be an exception, I know :)

[hinkley]

You hire your sales team for their infectious enthusiasm. Then they get some momentum going and you don't want to try to stop that momentum, but now they're bringing you so much fame that it's now tipping into infamy.

And every time you ask them to slow down, they tell you a very convincing story about why if anything we should be going faster.

I worked for a small consulting shop where the founder was one of these people. I had to try three times over about 2 years to quit. The last time I just kept talking over him like a priest doing an exorcism and shoving my 2 weeks' at him.