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:
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.
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