I don't have a very high opinion of myself as a CEO, and I always imagine where Mastodon might've been today if I wasn't a massive introvert, but I'd like to think there were redeeming qualities about my run, as well.
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I don't have a very high opinion of myself as a CEO, and I always imagine where Mastodon might've been today if I wasn't a massive introvert, but I'd like to think there were redeeming qualities about my run, as well.
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Eugen Rochko
In response to this postOverall, it's an opportunity for me to regain some work-life balance, and for Mastodon as an organization to unlock its full potential and avoid some ego- and trademark-related pitfalls that other large open-source projects have recently experienced.
@Gargron Nice job on the transitioning to a nonprofit.
by Carl Malamud ;
@Gargron Thanks a lot, Eugen, for taking this decision (because I think the whole project will grow thanks to that) and for everything you did during past years. Your work and dedication really helped to build what have been somehow a dream for most: a social network entitled with strong human values.
Good luck with the rest of your journey!
by Booteille ;
@Gargron I hope you are successful. As an introvert (and autistic) I find the business side of business hard, and I can’t imagine running something as valuable as Mastodon has become. Well played to get it to this point and to know when to pass it on.
by Vickie Gray ;
@Gargron I won't be here today without your work. I , and hope others, will always think of you as the guy who created one of the many fediverse app and was able to stay humble and human. So thank you and I hope you will still hang around .
by :projetstodon: Shalien ;
@Gargron 👍🏻
by DrPs𝕐 :verified: :mastodon: ;
@Gargron You've done us a great service in what you've built and that won't be forgotten. We've seen what happens when engineers burn out, and we've seen what happens when they try to stay in charge too long, and I think you're making a good choice for yourself, and in allowing Mastodon to fly free and develop further.
by Parsingphase ;
@Gargron thank you for everything you have done so far and happy that you still will play an important role. And good that you also prioritize balance and health, which is of vital importance for everyone.
by Tertia Wiedenhof ;
@Gargron Thank you very much for creating something that will last for a very long time. A way for people to interact without any party owning anything. Very much appreciated. Please enjoy your new role and have faith in your team, a great team is more than the sum of its parts.
by Frank Heijkamp ;
@Gargron This is so incredibly and admirably self-aware and wise. Thank you again.
by Tristan Harward ;
@Gargron Congrats and thank you for your work on this! 🙌
by Sean Boots ;
@Gargron
Thanks for what you've done. . . when I landed here two years ago I really had no idea what it was all about. . . . . ! !! :mastodance:
by FallsMom 🟦 🌻 ;
@Gargron It takes fortitude & self-awareness to step aside as founder & bring in someone else to take on the business leadership role.
Its a hard step. Congratulations on taking it.
Piece of advice. Write down the values you want the new company to align to. Gain feedback from those you trust on them.
Use them in the hiring interview process to probe deeply for alignment.
Then think about what happens when you have a conflict & discover you are not values aligned after all.
by Eric Carroll ;
@Gargron This was the right decision. You cannot please everyone (I did not agree with all your decisions) and everything that evolves around ethics must have took a toll on you. Better to let the new governance reflect on the hard ethical questions and handle the critics and focus on the topics that you find more interesting (more code oriented I believe).
Anyway, all that to say, thank you for your work and good luck.
by social elephant in the room ;
@Gargron kudos to you for making this decision, I’m sure it wasn’t an easy one but it’s certainly the right path going forward!
by The Nexus of Privacy ;
@Gargron thank you for doing this and for your vision. I originally joined mastodon back in 2017 and to see it now is like a miracle. 🙏🙏🙏🙏
by kcarruthers ;
@Gargron thank you for creating this place and its awesome communities. As a fellow introvert I totally understand wanting to do more technical work you enjoy. The nonprofit sounds like a great plan, hope the transition is smooth!
by Jennifer ;
@Gargron thank you for bringing us Mastodon and I wish you all the best.
by spla :senyera: :fed: :vim: ;
@Gargron ❤️
by alxhu (Leafy) 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ ;
@Gargron Thanks for being a good steward. I bought a Mastodon plushie in, uh, celebration.
by Jordan Roher ;
@Gargron So wise. Thanks for the incredible job you did. You made Mastodon take root. I hope that with this decision you will find some zenitude.
by Chtixof 🦊🚲 ;
@Gargron Congrats, Eugen. You did the right thing, and I'm hoping you inspire WordPress.org and other similar critical #OSS projects to move in this same direction next, too.
by Corey Taylor ;
@Gargron
It's a truly noble thing you do, here. We don't often get to use that word but it's the only one which works.
by tuban_muzuru ;
@Gargron Thanks for your hard work, and for what you have done for all of us. You have built something amazing here.
by Muddy :linux: :fediverse: ;
@Gargron Thank you for creating a sustainable and thoughtful product and letting it grow in a sustainable and thoughtful manner. Mastodon is a rare work of digital artistry.
by Andrew Boardman ;
@Gargron All I can say is thank you! The fact that a vibrant, federated, viable, micro-blogging platform exists brings so much joy to so many people around the world. You deserve balance in your life, and to focus on the the work that you find most rewarding.
by TheStrangelet :bc: ;
@Gargron It is impossible for me to express how much I respect your work on this, your commitment, what you have sacrificed for it, and I can only wish you all of the best. I hope you find a place where you can recover and restore yourself!!
by chiasm ;
@Gargron
I appreciate all you’ve done and look forward to your next projects.
Thank you , I know that @JohnMastodon is proud of the work you’ve done, as we all should be.
by Crowjane ;
@Gargron you've created one of the most important social networks so far, and brought it into public focus. You've introduced millions of people to ActivityPub, whether they chose to use Mastodon or not. You've done this at just the right time for people to have somewhere to jump ship to from other networks, while those networks shift their attention towards politics & corporate greed. And now you're deciding to hand over because you've reached your limit.
That's being a great CEO. Be proud. 👍
by Ric ;
@Gargron
I’ve been very happy with what you’ve created, and you have certainly kept a more even keel on the thing than many might have. Thanks for all that work!
You deserve a good work/life balance at this point. I hope it keeps improving for you, even if it’s somewhat painful at this moment.
by David Hopeward ;
@Gargron thanks for personally protecting it as long as you have.
And I just wanted to add, thanks for how easily the "block" feature works. I don't have to tolerate anyone being unpleasant nor do I have to get an admin involved. They don't see me anymore, and I don't see them, and I can let that shit go without even trying to get the last word or waste time defending myself. If it wasn't for this feature I'm not sure I could stay on social media.
by Urban Hermit ;
@Gargron I hope you take immense pride in this wonderful thing you've created and nurtured — and which I'm so thankful for, every day. I can only imagine the personal toll that being the CEO has taken, and I'm glad you've found a thoughtful way to move forward.
by Jeri Dansky ;
@Gargron thank you for everything !!
by flaeky pancako ;
@Gargron thanks a lot for building what you have built and taking such a courageous step to set the project up for a healthy future. Good luck with the transition into the new role.
by Pedro Piñera ;
@gargron Eugen, I have deep respect for your decision and your open and transparent communication about it.
I sometimes don't have a high opinion of me in my roles as well, so I can feel you there. But going forward and deciding what's good for you and "your baby", even if it hurts, is respectable.
And always remember how far you have brought your baby. You can't be that bad of a CEO, huh? :-)
Good luck and a lot of fun with your new role! For the best of you and your baby.
by Ascendor ;
@Gargron
It takes a lot of courage to let your baby go.
I admire you for that, as well as for all the work you have done that made this platform the joyous place it is for all of us.
I hope, you stay connected with the project, but above all a healthy and happy life. You truly deserve that, Eugen!
by Mina ;
@Gargron Thank you so much for Mastodon, you gave us a marvellous place and I hope you will get your good work-life balance back soon. Take care and keep in touch!
by Marguerite Efdé ;
@Gargron
Thanks so much for your dedication and hoping you enjoy your next stage 🔥
by sara gil casanova ;
@Gargron you da man!! Thank you.
by don ;
@Gargron Thank you!
by Florian Imdahl ;
@Gargron
What you're doing, no joke, you're saving the world. Or helping us to save it. In any case, you're a hero in my book.
by David :verified:+ ;
@Gargron Good luck! That's better! Gradually you became the object of hate of the priests of the pure Fediverse doctrine ...
by Hektor :mastodon: :nonazis: ;
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Snorri
In response to this post@gargron actually, many of this CEOs could use some more thinking about oneself, and maybe some more self-criticism ... I think you're doing the right thing. And I think that you're not one of those people feeling like the masters of the universe helped a lot. The most catastrophal thing with #musk #zuckerberg and co is their really INSANE hubris ....
Tags: #musk #zuckerberg
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Konstantin :loading:
In response to this post@Gargron Only the best introverts can do the best software for introverts...
Mentions: @Gargron@mastodon.social
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John Francis
In response to this post@Gargron I've been here full time since 2022, and I'm pretty happy with it and where it's going. Thanks for your huge contribution, I'm optimistic it will turn out well.
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Security Writer :verified: :donor:
In response to this post@Gargron I think you do yourself a massive disservice.
Look what storms Mastodon weathered, look who the ‘opposition’ is, and look where the money sits.
Almost every C-suite job is entirely thankless, and I say this from the CISO benches, you’ve been great in the role. A steady hand in uncertain times.
People who want to be execs make the worst execs. The unlikely ones make it through the other side still human.
So thank you for all you’ve done, and we’re just getting started.
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Vysogota
In response to this post@Gargron thank you. You did more than anyone could have asked of you
Mentions: @Gargron@mastodon.social
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Erik Uden 🍑
In response to this post@Gargron You know, in an age where every CEO is so full of themselves, especially when they own a social network, you were the exception to the rule. If you think of what made Mastodon special, many things may derive from the way you are. You can always do things better with the knowledge of hindsight, but how many people would've been able to do as well as you?
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Happy Blue Year
In response to this post@Gargron Thank you for not being a control freak. I hope the transition goes smoothly and you get some space to breathe and focus on the things you want to focus on.
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Miia Mustang
In response to this post@Gargron I'm not a big fan of CEOs in general, but listen.
This thing what y'all are doing with Mastodon, is what the internet really needs right now.
Thanks for that!
Mentions: @Gargron@mastodon.social
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Samir Al-Battran
In response to this post@Gargron
Congrats, Eugen, this is a great step
I think you should think highly of yourself considering how far you have brought the platform already given the limited resources
Different stages require different skills and you might just have been the best choice (Yes, it is possible that someone else could have made it grow faster but also possible they crash it to nothing)
Plus good leaders know when it's time to pass the baton, maybe now is the time for an extrovert :)
Best of luck!
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Metafrastis
In response to this post@Gargron The best leaders are those who don‘t want to be. Thanks for building an alternative to US behemoths!
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Stephanie Moore
In response to this post@Gargron Eugen, I feel all of this in my own professional sphere. Maybe us introverts always feel like we aren’t the extroverted dynamos. And it’s very draining work. I’m likely stepping down soon to soon-ish from some things too. Thank you for all your work! You’re handing over a very special creation.
Mentions: @Gargron@mastodon.social @Gargron@mastodon.social @Gargron@mastodon.social
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Anne Williams 🏳️🌈✊☮️
In response to this post@Gargron Being an introvert is probably why your efforts were succesful - a platform like Mastodon does wonder for introverts, so thank you :) You wanted to do something for the greater good and you did, and will continue to do so - don't be a stranger! ~A fellow introvert 😻
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felis_catus_domesticus
In response to this post@Gargron Welcome to the FOSS pantheon!
Mentions: @Gargron@mastodon.social
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Thoralf Will 🇺🇦🇮🇱
In response to this post@Gargron Don't undersell yourself!
While I might disagree with you on certain topics or decisions, I value your integrity.
You defend what you stand for - and that's a good thing.
Regardless, I can fully understand your motivation behind this decision and respect and support it.
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ϙ
In response to this post@Gargron the fact that you consider yourself an "introvert" is very likely what made you sensible enough to direct the ethics of this platform towards F/LOSS. that is an asset of yours, not a flaw. I respect you and thank you for that. :love:
Fare thee well ☀️
Mentions: @Gargron@mastodon.social @Gargron@mastodon.social @Gargron@mastodon.social @Gargron@mastodon.social @Gargron@mastodon.social
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Mr Lawrence
In response to this post@Gargron I know how you feel. You’re doing the right thing, and you have created something immensely valuable!
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arialdo
In response to this post@Gargron My hero. One of us, one of us!
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Sascha Foerster :bonndigital:
In response to this post@Gargron You are the best CEO, I can imagine. The dedication to this idea, that came to my ears in 2017, the sparkle you created, that we all can create a new social web together, the trust you built over all this years by not being an asshole (at least I never heard that) and now the person that can let go. It’s like a Disney movie without the drama. And then you created a Plushtodon, that’s just there for hugging. It’s so good. Thank you. And let’s go the next steps! 💜
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