If you read the article, or know the story of Justin.tv (one of the very earliest YC startups, from before YC was a big thing), you’ll know that he’s a cofounde

If you read the article, or know the story of Justin.tv (one of the very earliest YC startups, from before YC was a big thing), you’ll know that he’s a cofounder, not someone who climbed up the ranks via ruthless political maneuvering to get there. It’s not the “position” he worked so hard for, it was to build a company. Being CEO is a means to doing that, not the end goal. He did that, it is extremely successful, it will probably continue to be successful without him. He even says it in the article - that for a long time, he wasn’t sure if he could leave and have it continue to function well. As someone who started, ran, and sold a (much, much smaller) company, I understand that viscerally. If you’re somewhat tired of it, it can feel like you’re trapped. But then you work on that, making sure that the things you do get well covered by someone else. And then, one day, there’s nothing it needs you for anymore, and you’re finally free.