Starvation Response
Companies that cut too deep trigger metabolic suppression that persists even after revenue returns.
The starvation response isn't failure - it's an evolved survival mechanism. But it comes with costs. The organisms that survive are those that either avoid starvation entirely or can switch to low-power mode without permanent damage.
What happens when an organism runs out of fuel? The answer isn't simple death - most organisms have evolved sophisticated starvation responses that change metabolism in predictable phases.
Phase 1: Glycogen Depletion (0-24 hours for humans) - The body first burns its most accessible energy: glycogen stored in liver and muscles. There's not much - maybe 500-600 grams total. At normal metabolic rates, this lasts 12-24 hours. The body assumes this is temporary.
Phase 2: Fat Mobilization (24 hours to weeks) - Once glycogen is depleted, the body shifts to burning fat. Cells that normally burn glucose must switch to burning fatty acids and ketones. The brain learns to derive up to 60-70% of its energy from ketones. Metabolism starts to drop - typically 10-15% below baseline (adaptive thermogenesis).
Phase 3: Protein Catabolism (weeks to months) - Fat reserves are gone. The body begins dismantling muscle fiber by fiber, dissolving organ tissue cell by cell to extract amino acids. Heart and brain are protected as long as possible. Digestive organs shrink first. Metabolism drops further - potentially 20-30% below baseline.
If resources return during phase 3, the organism can recover - but not fully. The metabolic suppression persists, sometimes for months. The body learned that starvation is possible and keeps itself in a semi-defensive state.
Business Application of Starvation Response
Organizations undergo the same three-phase starvation response: Phase 1 (burn accessible reserves like credit lines), Phase 2 (aggressive catabolism like layoffs and cost cuts), Phase 3 (consuming vital organs like core product investment). Companies that cut too deep trigger metabolic suppression that persists even after revenue returns.