Pricing the seat, not the wearing
Price a structure to the seat someone actually holds, never to the one they wear. Arguing with the wearing only trips the machinery that was built to protect it, and a structure sized to the held seat never trips it
execution seat
Meaning
The direct operational role in a project involves the daily physical and mental labor of building the work rather than overseeing it. This hands-on position is the execution seat, where the operator holds the immediate responsibility for output. It represents the place where work is worn against the body, demanding hours and direct energy.
The role stops applying once the individual transitions to a pure oversight or investment position with no direct input in the room.
Operational Demand
Holding this position requires a constant focus on immediate tasks and technical details. An operator in this role has little time for high-level contemplation because the daily work demands full attention. The load is measured in the immediate output produced by the individual.
Role Transition
Founders who have spent years building the project from the ground up often struggle to leave this position. They often struggle to hand over the technical work to a new operator, leading to a duplication of effort. This failure to exit the seat increases the cost for the entire project.
Physical Load
Prolonged physical and mental exertion of this work eventually depletes the operator’s capacity. When a person remains in this role too long, they suffer from exhaustion and a decline in decision-making quality. Finding a successor to take over the seat is necessary for long-term survival.