“Up or Out” exists in entrepreneurship too.

When I first worked in consulting, the ladder was quite clear.

2 years as an analyst, then back to business school.

3 years as an Associate, doing the hands-on work in projects.

2 years as a Project Manager, with the last 6 months shifting to “selling”.

3-4 years as an Associate Partner, transitioning from projects to “client relationships” aka selling.

10 years as a Partner where all you do is sell and advise project teams.

And then cruise as a Director.

Sounds easy? But here’s the kicker - if you don’t “make it” to the next level, or you want to keep doing project work instead of selling… you have to leave. You’re taking a spot that they need to promote someone else into.

It’s called Up or Out.

It exists in corporate too. Even if you LOVE doing deep dive work, you love being in the weeds and tackling projects… you are not considered ambitious because you don’t want to grow - when growth is only seen as legit when you’re moving up the hierarchy.

You get passed over for development opportunities, because heaven forbid you want to deepen your technical skillset and decline to be a people manager or department leader. Or you want to invest in your family or hobbies.

You’re “taking a spot and clogging up the talent pipeline.”

It’s up or out in corporate.

And I honestly thought entrepreneurship would be different.. until I got here.

“You’re a ‘lifestyle’ or ‘main-street’ business if you don’t scale up.”

“Six-figures is the first mark of success… but seven figures is even better.”

“If you’re not growing… you’re falling behind.”

It’s up or out here too.

We’ve adopted the traditional business messaging for growth at all costs and minimized the desire that many of us have to build lives that don’t require scale and constant growth.

Sure, maybe that means that in my business, since I currently do all client delivery, that I’m not a “CEO”. I might never want to build a team to support the strategy work. And that’s ok with me.

But am I creating the life I want? Am I having fun and learning on the journey?

You’re damn right I am.

At each stage of business - when the “next level” requires investing in systems, investing in support, or investing in a team to actually do client delivery - it may actually not be the right move to grow.

Both from a work enjoyment perspective but also from a financial perspective.

So take a critical eye about the Up or Out narrative in entrepreneurship.

Let’s celebrate those businesses who choose to sustain at whatever level or revenue number works for them.

P.S. - In $100K Your Way, we outline your life north star and your business goals and ensure they’re in sync. Want to design a business where you have the flexibility to travel, be home with your kids in the afternoon, or work with a chronic illness? Design a million-dollar business delivered with your dream team? We start with the north star so your business fits your life.