Declining a CMO Position Offered to Us: Why We Chose to Walk Away

Introduction

Walking away from a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) position offered to us was not an easy decision. After all, such a role comes with prestige, responsibility, and the opportunity to steer a company’s marketing strategies. However, we have come to realize that our strengths and preferences lie elsewhere.

Recognizing Our Strengths

• We have often been offered the role of a CMO for publicly traded companies.
• Our strength lies in being an exceptional individual contributor.
• We excel in growing organizations, even large ones, with a small team.

Understanding Our Limitations

• We acknowledge that being a CMO of an organization with thousands of employees is not the right fit for us.
• Managing large teams is not our forte; we prefer working with small teams.
• We are self-aware of our limitations in managing teams of 300-400 members.

Embracing Individual Contribution

• We recognize that we thrive in roles where we can contribute individually rather than as a manager.
• Delegating tasks may not be our strong suit as we excel in hands-on contributions.
• Our preference is to work closely with small teams of 3-4 individuals.

Focusing on Growth

• We understand that our strengths lie in our ability to grow organizations, especially with limited resources.

In conclusion, while the allure of a CMO position is undeniable, we have made a conscious choice to decline such offers. By recognizing our strengths, limitations, and preferences, we are confident in our decision to walk away from roles that do not align with who we are and where we excel.