Rand, cutting hard and deep is a necessary evil if Moz is to emerge as a newer, leaner and more focused organization who employs great, talented people. It sucks. I’ve done it and it is painful to go from a “family” ethic to a save-the-greatest-number-of-people for the future of the company. Employees laid off can’t help but feel resentful.

I feel that the focus on SEO, your most core brand and competency, is right. I believe MOZ can make money on what it does best. Most companies need SEO guidance as Google et. al. makes it harder to figure out all the levers without a mediator.

Keep the stupid mustache. It will keep you humble and once it grows gray, it will confirm that you have lived through the ups and the downs.