Why I Fired My Best Employee (And It Made My Business Stronger)

Let me tell you, when I first started my animation company, I made a big mistake.

I thought if I just hired the most talented designers and animators, we’d be set. Boy, was I wrong! Turns out, sometimes what looks great on paper doesn’t always work out in real life.

The Two Types of Employees

See, there are two kinds of people in the workplace.

You’ve got your creatives — those amazing designers and artists who are overflowing with talent.

Then you’ve got your “doers.” These guys might not be the most artistic, but they get stuff done!

The Challenges of Managing Highly Skilled Employees

My problem was I put all my focus on the creatives.

And these guys needed a LOT of babysitting to even get started. I’d give them work, they’d sit on it, and then they wouldn’t bring any fresh ideas to the table.

They’d just do the bare minimum of exactly what I asked, and honestly, I didn’t have time for that.

As the CEO, I had a million other things on my plate!

The Decision to Fire and Its Aftermath

Eventually, my business took a hit (for a bunch of reasons, not all their fault).

But that’s when it hit me: I was doing everything wrong. So, I made the incredibly tough call to let those talented animators go.

It felt terrible, but I gave them a whole month to find new work, and even offered to pay their salary while they looked.

And you know what?

That month off was the best thing for me. I finally had time to think clearly about what I needed.

It wasn’t just talent — I needed people who actually DID the work!

Hiring for Performance, Not Pure Skill

So, I hired two new people.

Were they the world’s best animators? Nope. But they listened carefully to instructions, they took notes, and they finished their work with way fewer corrections.

I went from managing five people to two, and the results were just as good.

Lessons Learned

Looking back, I wish I’d figured this out sooner.

Sometimes, having a team that just gets things done is even more important than a bunch of superstars who need constant guidance.

Firing your best people might seem counterintuitive, but sometimes it’s the change you need to unlock your business’s true potential.

So, if you’re reading this, take a good look at your team.

Do you have the right mix of talent and work ethic?

If not, maybe it’s time to rethink things, even if that means making some tough calls.