I Turned Down a Job That Would Have Made Me $50 Million

I Turned Down a Job That Would Have Made Me $50 Million. In this interview, serial entrepreneur Rom Lakritz shares the story of turning down a co-CEO role at an early-stage startup that is now pre-IPO—a decision that cost him a potential $50 million payday. He discusses the psychology behind making such a high-stakes choice and why he doesn't regret it. Rom, who has sold a company, taken another public , and raised $15 million for his current venture, also details the emotional toll of selling his first "baby", and how the buyer had to triple their offer to get him to say yes. Finally, he explains his powerful distinction between honesty and integrity, and why integrity is the more important virtue for any leader. Check out the company: https://sayanchor.com

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🕒 CHAPTERS

00:00 - The Psychology of a Serial Entrepreneur

02:35 - My First Business Was Selling Flowers at Age 12

05:49 - Why Integrity Is More Important Than Honesty

08:30 - Bootstrapping vs. Raising $15 Million

11:45 - When to Hide Problems From Your Investors

14:50 - The Right Way to Manage Investor Expectations

17:44 - Knowing When to Shut Your Company Down

20:47 - The Agony of Selling Your "Baby"

24:11 - The $50 Million "Mistake" I Don't Regret

27:36 - How We React to Market Chaos

30:41 - My Team Stops Me From Moving Too Fast

33:42 - The Evolution of a CEO: Learning Self-Control

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