It seems that many people who are criticizing the decision by Teehan + Lax partners may not know what its like to run a design business that has a substantial number of employees (vs. a sole proprietor).
When you build a company yourself and up from nothing, its hard and you have to make a lot of sacrifices. Running a design firm even if successful is like feeding a monster, its never satisfied and its a fight to get more clients, more money and build business.
Most everyone would do the same thing if it were them. Its not selling out to make sound financial decisions for yourself. Especially, when the company is built on your back. Most people don't stop to think that the partners may not have been doing much production work now but they started it, they took most of the risk and more than likely were on the hook for any debt or liability the company had. Not to mention, they were responsible for getting new work, which arguably harder than producing it. There is a good reason that principals get the lion's share when they win, because they took the risk and took on the pretty all-consuming job of running the company.
Honestly, just be happy for them. They finished as a strong company and set up their previous staff for awesome new steps in their careers.
It seems that many people who are criticizing the decision by Teehan + Lax partners may not know what its like to run a design business that has a substantial number of employees (vs. a sole proprietor).
When you build a company yourself and up from nothing, its hard and you have to make a lot of sacrifices. Running a design firm even if successful is like feeding a monster, its never satisfied and its a fight to get more clients, more money and build business.
Most everyone would do the same thing if it were them. Its not selling out to make sound financial decisions for yourself. Especially, when the company is built on your back. Most people don't stop to think that the partners may not have been doing much production work now but they started it, they took most of the risk and more than likely were on the hook for any debt or liability the company had. Not to mention, they were responsible for getting new work, which arguably harder than producing it. There is a good reason that principals get the lion's share when they win, because they took the risk and took on the pretty all-consuming job of running the company.
Honestly, just be happy for them. They finished as a strong company and set up their previous staff for awesome new steps in their careers.