Again, I feel this is just you. You're ascribing a deeper meaning to the term than it actually has. Even in this thread there's someone saying "Well it's OK to call yourself CEO as long you actually tried to start the business".
Think about it a bit more. How many employees before you can call yourself a CEO in your opinion? 1, 2, 10? Do they have to be employees or do freelancers count? Do free interns? Does your company have to have made a profit, or does it count if you just blew a bunch of seed cash and never made a dime?
And what term do you want to use if they fall out of your personal guidelines? As you haven't actually suggested one, nor has the GP. FlibbleFlobble? Pertankywank? PersonWhoDidSomething?
You are making this significantly more complicated than it has to be. Like I said, you and 1 or more people. If you work with other people you can call yourself a CEO. Doesn't matter if they're part time or what not. You still worked with another person.
By your logic my example of the top 3 finisher in a race of 3 clearly illustrates why your view is very misleading.
Think about it a bit more. How many employees before you can call yourself a CEO in your opinion? 1, 2, 10? Do they have to be employees or do freelancers count? Do free interns? Does your company have to have made a profit, or does it count if you just blew a bunch of seed cash and never made a dime?
And what term do you want to use if they fall out of your personal guidelines? As you haven't actually suggested one, nor has the GP. FlibbleFlobble? Pertankywank? PersonWhoDidSomething?
You setup your own company, you're a CEO.