Why May Day Still Matters for Tech Leaders: CarTalk with Kartik #168

May 1st. For many, it’s just another date on the calendar. But for those who know its roots, May Day is a symbol of something bigger: balance, boundaries, and the belief that rest fuels results.

In this episode of CarTalk with Kartik, I take a moment to reflect on what May Day originally stood for — the radical demand in 1886 for eight hours of work, eight hours of rest, and eight hours of life. A formula that feels like fantasy in today’s tech scaleup world.

Let’s face it:
The “8–8–8” split is long gone.

At most fast-growing companies, founders are sprinting marathons. Teams are always on. Slack never sleeps. And “work-life balance” feels like a luxury reserved for someone else.

But here’s the twist that too many leaders miss:
Burnout isn’t just a personal issue — it’s a business liability.

Exhausted teams don’t innovate.
They don’t challenge assumptions.
They don’t chase market-defining bets.

Instead, they play it safe — and safe doesn’t scale.

So on this May Day, I’m not asking you to organize a parade. I’m asking you, as CEO:

• Where in your org are you mistaking effort for impact?
• Who’s carrying quiet weight — and who’s too burned out to even raise it?
• If your team could speak freely, what would they say about the culture you’re building?

The best CEOs I work with don’t just manage performance — they protect energy. They know a well-rested team isn’t a soft team. It’s a lethal one.

CarTalk with Kartik is brought to you by Caribou Strategic, helping tech scaleups stand out and succeed through positioning, messaging, GTM strategy, and sales alignment.

📈 If you’re a CEO who refuses to plateau, join a Caribou Strategic Mastermind.