The fastest way to get kicked out of a venture capitalist’s office is to say that you want to build a business that grows steadily, focuses on employees, and creates wealth over the long term. Entrepreneurs with such ambitions are considered pariahs. The businesses they build are disparagingly called “lifestyle businesses.”
Indeed, in Silicon Valley, the glory has always gone to entrepreneurs who take their companies public.
They call the IPO an “exit” and shower the company founders with accolades. Young entrepreneurs are brought up to believe that when the IPO happens, they become rich and famous; that they achieve a Nirvana of sorts.