If you IPO, you have no choice but to achieve and increase Internet scale. Your share price will suffer if you don't because when you IPO, your investors matter

If you IPO, you have no choice but to achieve and increase Internet scale. Your share price will suffer if you don't because when you IPO, your investors matter more than your other stakeholders. If you don't want to be a slave to an insatiable hunger for growth by investors, don't IPO. For that matter, don't get investors who expect an exit either. Yeah, you miss out on the big get rich exit, but at least you get to stay true to your original values. Be content to stay a larger than usual lifestyle business. Can't have your cake and eat it too.