I’ve decided I’m not firing anyone anymore.

Since I don’t hire people, I can’t fire them. What I do is invite people to join me on a journey. This journey is exciting and rewarding. I welcome them into what feels like a family, not just a work family, but a real one. I spend more time with my coworkers than I do with my own family during the week.

That’s why I’m changing how I do things. Instead of firing someone, I’m just uninviting them from being part of our journey. It’s like a party: if someone causes trouble, they might not be invited back.

Just like when I host a party, I only want people around who bring good energy. Life’s too short for anything else.

In any family-like setting, you naturally get close to people. This happens in business too. It’s why it’s so hard to let go of poor performers—we get attached.

We think, “Oh, Johnny is such a nice person!” But if Johnny struggles with his work, we might give him too many chances. Eventually, he feels like part of the family, making it tough to let him go.

Instead of a harsh firing, think of it as an uninvitation: “Hey Johnny, we love you, but we’ve decided not to invite you to work with us anymore. Let’s still hang out after work.” Doesn’t that sound easier? We’ve all experienced not being invited to something. It might sting at first, but we usually stay friends. Unlike firing, which feels so final, being uninvited leaves room for future connections.

An uninvitation sends the same message as a firing, but it also says maybe we just weren’t the right fit. It’s a mutual understanding that it’s not working out.

It’s a new way to say goodbye!