Worked at a small software startup a few years back. The owner called an all-hands (only like 4 of us. lol) meeting to discuss the future of the company and the changing focus towards cashflow due to cashflow issues in the company.
During the meeting, the engineering team asked for clarification on how to prioritise their efforts. The boss was confused what he meant by prioritising and the lead engineer explained that they didn’t have enough time and resources to accomplish everything the boss was laying out. The boss’s response was “I don’t look at our resources and decide what can be accomplished. I look at all I want to accomplish and then make it all happen”.
After a moment of silence by all, I spoke up. I explained that it’s fine for him to work as hard as he likes and as much as he likes, because he has equity in the company (literally 100%) and that hard work generates a return for him. But it’s not fair to expect his employees just work as much and as hard as required to accomplish all his goals.
I was fired shortly afterward for “performance issue”. But I know he wanted me gone as soon as I opened my mouth. He would glare at me in the office and was looking everywhere for excuses to get rid of me.
I’m much better off now; while his company still continues to have MASSIVE turnover.