October 25th, 2024 I just got fired from my own business By Jeffrey M. Barber

The company that I founded just fired me because I’m too fat. I’m just too fucking fat, and the boss just had enough of my bullshit. Now, this may be confusing since I’m a solopreneur that acts as a consultant trapping companies on this cockamamie platform that I had during a fever dream.

For clarity, I believe in the work that I’m doing. I believe this platform is amazing. I believe that I have created something worthwhile and amazing. I believe this platform has a role in the future of human civilization. However, when I look in the mirror, I see a fat bastard that is probably going to have a heart-attack.

I know how hard it is to do great things at massive scale as I had a great career. The ascent in my career was glorious, but it got comfortable. I hated the mantra of my peers who adopted a “rest and vest” philosophy.

Leaving my cushy job had an opportunity cost measurable in millions. I left to wander. I retired to recoup. I wanted to reflect on all aspects and start from first principles. I had psychological wounds to heal. Moral injuries that weighed down my soul.

I’m done thinking, my mind is healed, my soul is lifted, and now I grind.

Fitness and health as a company mandate

Eventually, when I get around to updating things and getting back to working, I’ll make fitness and living well a company mandate. Obviously, the boss will have to hire me back, so that’s a whole conversation to be had. The key is that hiring fat people in 2025 is not an option.

I’ve reflected much over the years on hiring, company culture, the meaning of life, and my ideals. At core, I can boil down my philosophy to simply this: mediocrity is a disease.

Yes, “mediocrity is a disease” is exceptionally hard core. It’s harsh. But! Nature is Fucking Metal! The point is to recognize that mediocrity is temporary and curable. Not only will you have to work hard, but you will also have to work smart. And in the coming age of AI, you also have to work with deep strategy.

I’ve come to believe that only weak people want things easy. Comfort never brings anything good. Excellence comes from embracing doing hard shit.

With myself, the people I hire, the people I work with, the people I hang out with… “mediocrity” is simply put unacceptable. A prime example is eating socially, I simply will not allow myself to eat unhealthy food while out. While others eat too much on Thanksgiving, I’ll fast.

Ultimately, giving into peer pressure is the ultimate form of embracing mediocrity. It’s “safe” to be within a “herd”.

To live alone one must be either a beast or a god, says Aristotle. Leaving out the third case: one must be both - Nietzsche

Kill the ego

At this moment, this company will fail as it is a platform for my ego. The best way to achieve success is focus on others, but this platform is about me. It’s about me caring about myself and how I believe software should be written.

I wish every engineer could experience this investment in self.

Once I’m hired back, my goal is to remove my ego from the potential of this platform. I’m not sure what this means, but I’ll figure it out.