CEO's Job (1)

A CEO’s core responsibilities are to find the right people, raise money, and set the company’s direction. Much of this work is external. At its core, the role is about bringing together key resources, such as talent, capital, technology, and attention, and using them to achieve the company’s goals.

To attract these resources, some degree of “fake it till you make it” is important. A CEO needs to build belief in two ways: internally, by creating a clear vision and shared goals that bring the team together; and externally, by showing confidence and momentum to attract investors, talent, partners, and attention. This does not mean making up facts. It means presenting a believable future with confidence before it is fully realized.

A CEO should not get too caught up in the pleasure of building. With vibe coding, building products has become easier and more rewarding, so it is easy to confuse building with real progress. Once the direction is clear and execution is relatively predictable, the CEO should leave work that others can do to the team. Their time is better spent on harder and less certain problems, such as strategy, fundraising, hiring, growth, and partnerships. Otherwise, they may stay busy while neglecting the work that only they can do.