Why Playing It Safe in a Recession Could Kill Your Business

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In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan lays out a wartime CEO playbook for thriving in downturns, drawing on the same strategies his team used to scale HIRECLOUT and help clients grow through multiple recessions. He argues that recessions do not kill companies, timid leadership does, and makes the case for buying market share when others freeze. Avetis explains why momentum dies faster than cash burns, how to reinforce your core and double down on your edge, and where “talent arbitrage” appears when markets are scared. He also breaks down weaponized efficiency, using AI and automation to cut friction instead of people, and how leaders can keep teams aligned by leading with certainty, transparency, and small weekly wins. Along the way, Avetis shares candid stories from COVID, investing in AI startups and real estate, and the tough calls required of a wartime CEO. The result is a concise, practical blueprint for founders and operators who want to play to win rather than “not lose.”

Takeaways

• Recessions concentrate opportunity in the hands of bold leaders

• Momentum dies faster than cash burns, so “wait and see” erodes advantage

• Cut distractions, not drivers; double down on your core edge

• Downturns are prime time for talent arbitrage and loyalty building

• You cannot cut your way to greatness; savings alone will not scale a company

• Use AI and automation to remove friction so people can drive revenue

• Turn downtime into build time by rebuilding systems to be 10x-ready

• Keep outbound and thought leadership consistent while others go quiet

• Lead with certainty; your team mirrors your energy and confidence

• Create small weekly wins to sustain morale and momentum

• Pair clarity with optimism; either one alone leads to noise or paralysis

• The leaders who act decisively now will own the rebound later

  
  

Chapters

00:00 Why timid leaders lose in recessions

02:22 The big lie of “conserve and wait”

04:30 You cannot cut your way to greatness

06:45 Recessions as the cheapest time to buy market share

08:23 Talent arbitrage and loyalty during downturns

10:32 Reinforce your core and double down on your edge

12:50 Weaponized efficiency: cut friction, not talent

15:16 Turn downtime into build time and rebuild systems

17:22 Keep marketing; brand compounding when others go silent

19:25 Lead with certainty and reassure through transparency

21:40 Clarity plus optimism and the cost of overanalysis

23:40 No fluff, make it happen: own the rebound

Resources and Links:

https://www.hireclout.com

https://www.podcast.hireclout.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hirefasthireright