By: John S. Morlu II, CPA
Cold Fact #1: Nice Guys Finish Last (In Business)
Let’s say you’re too nice to fire your lazy cousin who shows up to work once a week but still wants a raise.
Guess what happens?
You lose your best employee who’s tired of carrying deadweight. Then your customers start complaining. Then your investors get nervous. Then *poof*—your dreams die in the HR department.
Moral of the story? Be nice at your kid’s soccer game, not in your boardroom.
Example: Kodak once dominated photography. But when digital cameras came along, executives didn’t want to upset the team by changing course. They played it safe… and now, the company is basically a sad trivia question.
Fun Fact: Zuckerberg Once Put a Business Card That Said “I’m CEO, B***h”
Yep, true story. When Facebook was young and fragile, Mark Zuckerberg didn’t ask permission to lead. He didn’t wait for everyone’s approval. He just did it. And now? He’s richer than your entire extended family tree.
Fun tidbit: Steve Jobs once fired someone in the elevator. He didn’t even wait for HR. Harsh? Yes. But his company became the most valuable in the world. Apple pie doesn’t come from baking with weak ingredients.
Ruthless ≠ Evil (It Means Focused)
Being ruthless in business doesn’t mean you burn bridges, lie, or steal. It means:
- Saying no—even if it hurts.
- Cutting costs—even if your aunt works in that department.
- Prioritizing results over relationships.
- Firing the loyal-but-incompetent employee.
- Choosing performance over popularity.
Example: Elon Musk bought Twitter (now X) and fired half the staff in one week. Ruthless? Yes. But he’s trying to make it profitable—fast.
Another one: Martha Stewart built a homemaking empire. You think she got there by handing out cookies and compliments? Nah. She was tough, demanding, and obsessed with quality.
Reality Check: Empires Aren’t Built on Emotions
Ask Elon Musk. He works 120 hours a week and expects the same from his team. If you don’t deliver? You’re out.
Ask Oprah. She cut people loose when they couldn’t keep up.
Ask Amazon. Jeff Bezos turned warehouses into data-driven military zones.
Did you know? Amazon had a slogan: “Work hard, have fun, make history.” But behind the scenes? Brutal performance metrics, 2 a.m. emails, and teams that had to sink or swim.
True Story: Airbnb’s Ruthless Rebrand
In the early days of Airbnb, the founders were broke. Selling cereal boxes just to survive. When they finally got traction, they made a ruthless call:
Fire friends. Rebrand everything. Upset early users. Why? To scale.
Bonus fun fact: The first Airbnb logo looked like it was made in Microsoft Paint. When they rebranded, people hated the new logo and called it “the butt.” Airbnb didn’t flinch.
Warning: “Too Nice” Is a Death Sentence
Ever seen a founder who wants to:
- Keep everyone happy
- Never say no
- Avoid tough conversations
- Always “circle back”
Yeah. That startup usually becomes a blog post titled: “What We Learned From Failing.”
Example: Blockbuster once had the chance to buy Netflix for $50 million. They laughed and passed. Now, Netflix is worth billions and Blockbuster has one lonely store in Oregon.
Common Sense Corner:
- You’re not building a daycare. You’re building a business.
- Empathy is great. But clarity and performance are greater.
- Sometimes, the kindest thing you can do… is fire someone fast.
Think about it: The Titanic didn’t sink because of the iceberg. It sank because of arrogance, overstaffing the wrong people, and ignoring warnings.
Final Punchline:
You don’t need to be a jerk. But you can’t be a doormat either.
Want to build something great? Get ready to choose: Be respected—or be broke.
Because in business… someone’s feelings will get hurt. Just make sure it’s not your company.
About the Author
John is an entrepreneur, strategist, and founder of JS Morlu, LLC, a Virginia based CPA firm with multiple software ventures including www.FinovatePro.com, www.Recksoft.com and www.Fixaars.com . With operations spanning multiple countries, John is on a mission to build global infrastructure that empowers small businesses, entrepreneurs, and professionals to thrive in an increasingly competitive world. He believes in hard truths, smart execution, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. When he’s not writing or building, he’s challenging someone to a productivity contest—or inventing software that automates it.
