I had to fire someone last week
Letting go of someone, anyone, is difficult.
I am an entrepreneur. I build businesses. Every Sunday I share what I learn on topics that interest me. Here are some key take aways and reflections from last week:
I had to fire someone last week
Loyalty is something we give, not something we expect.
Health Research: Does Collagen + Vitamin C improve skin health? Yes.
You can access previous editions of my weekly emails here. Let’s begin!
(1) I had to fire someone last week
I had to fire someone last week.
I saw potential in this individual when I hired them. But I did not see that potential translate into results. I told them that I will offer whatever support I can to help them get a new job.
Letting go of someone, anyone, is difficult. There are emotions involved. But it is also a part of the job when you lead. I cannot allow someone to learn at our cost. Bad behavior spreads. And a team is only as strong as its weakest link. I want to work with people who increase the average. They should be performing while bringing a contagious amount of positive energy that inspires others to perform as well. There is no shortcut to turning up everyday and doing the work. The more you do, the better you get. Quantity leads to quality. Doing the reps builds muscle.
I have been right about people 80% of the time. This comes from experience and intuition. I am also wired to be extremely perceptive to human emotions. This skill is just nature that has got decades of nurture. My job as a leader is to build systems and runways that allow my teammates to take off. I want them to get the limelight and all the recognition. I want them to make money. And when they outgrow us, I want to be the first one who cheers them on to whatever next challenge will take them higher.
Skills can be taught but attitude cannot. When I work with people I am looking to nurture but I cannot change their nature. This is why I place a higher value on their energy levels and character traits over which university they graduated from. Sometimes it just takes longer to judge how they really are. 20% of the time I am wrong. And that is ok! I just have to keep making judgment calls. There is a lot of work to be done. There are a lot of people who are depending on me. And I will stay in the background which is where I like to be - building, hiring and firing so that everyone wins, including the ones who I let go so that they can find their way to where they belong.
(2) Loyalty is something we give not something we expect
"We have an obligation...
...to the people who helped us
...to the places that made us
...to those who have been loyal to us
...to the truth and to our cause
...to the downtrodden and besieged and the friendless.
We can love them as a person, even if we hate what they did. When everyone else is turning away, we lean in. When everyone starts thinking of themselves, we refuse to betray our commitment.
Loyalty is something we give not something we expect.
We do it because it's right."
- Book: Right Thing Right Now by Ryan Holiday
(3) Does Collagen + Vitamin C improve skin health? Yes.
In a study focused on improving skin health in white women showing signs of aging, researchers explored whether supplementing with collagen and vitamin C, with or without hyaluronic acid, would make a difference. The study involved 87 women with an average age of 52. Participants were divided into three groups: one took collagen + vitamin C + hyaluronic acid, another took just collagen + vitamin C, and the third group took a placebo with no active ingredients.
Over 16 weeks, the researchers found that both groups taking collagen and vitamin C showed improvements in skin density, roughness, and wrinkle reduction (including depth, severity, and volume) compared to the placebo group. Interestingly, adding hyaluronic acid didn't provide any extra benefit beyond what collagen and vitamin C alone offered.
Practical Takeaway: If you're considering supplements for improving skin health, collagen and vitamin C may help with skin density and reducing wrinkles. However, adding hyaluronic acid might not be necessary for additional benefits.
Harsh Batra (LinkedIn)
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