If I were approached with an opportunity to be an early employee again, here's how I would do it.
A thread 👇
A thread 👇
1. Know why you're doing it
You will get:
- Learning
- Time w/ people you know are good
- Deep exposure to problem
- Ownership
Nobody can guarantee:
- Mentorship
- People management
- Title growth
- $$$
This should be no-downside. Adjust expectations or be disappointed.
You will get:
- Learning
- Time w/ people you know are good
- Deep exposure to problem
- Ownership
Nobody can guarantee:
- Mentorship
- People management
- Title growth
- $$$
This should be no-downside. Adjust expectations or be disappointed.
2. Unblock yourself
Learn just enough of everything so you're never blocked by someone else. SQL, scripting over APIs, copywriting, customer calls.
Practice them or be extra willing to learn them independently.
Learn just enough of everything so you're never blocked by someone else. SQL, scripting over APIs, copywriting, customer calls.
Practice them or be extra willing to learn them independently.
3. Prioritize building over operating
The company will hire many people to operate. You are not one of them.
You'll have 100x more context than most people. Your job is to build what the operators will operate.
The company will hire many people to operate. You are not one of them.
You'll have 100x more context than most people. Your job is to build what the operators will operate.
3. Move the business forward
At every juncture, think about new capabilities, programs or understandings that provide meaningful progress to the business.
Find the frontier and help the company get there and beyond.
At every juncture, think about new capabilities, programs or understandings that provide meaningful progress to the business.
Find the frontier and help the company get there and beyond.
4. Always be synthesizing
Startups are a constant deluge of learning. Everyone is independently generating data and pulling their own insight.
Elevate the team's learning by stepping back and tying it all together.
What is the latest macro story?
Startups are a constant deluge of learning. Everyone is independently generating data and pulling their own insight.
Elevate the team's learning by stepping back and tying it all together.
What is the latest macro story?
5. Do whatever the company needs
This is a team effort. You will have to do work that you don't want to do. It will be manual, time-intensive, boring and dirty.
Suck it up. It's part of the journey.
This is a team effort. You will have to do work that you don't want to do. It will be manual, time-intensive, boring and dirty.
Suck it up. It's part of the journey.
6. Answer questions with more questions
A company will face tens of thousands of questions over its life.
At the start, it's more valuable to find more of the right questions than to declare "definitive" answers to the few at your feet (those answers will change)
A company will face tens of thousands of questions over its life.
At the start, it's more valuable to find more of the right questions than to declare "definitive" answers to the few at your feet (those answers will change)
7. Help others see
The enormity of some questions can be overwhelming. Breaking down and structuring complex situations reduces mental burden and makes it easier to tackle them systematically.
You don't need to be an expert to provide leverage, just structure.
The enormity of some questions can be overwhelming. Breaking down and structuring complex situations reduces mental burden and makes it easier to tackle them systematically.
You don't need to be an expert to provide leverage, just structure.
8. Give away your Legos
@molly_g at First Round: firstround.com/review/give-aw…
It's tempting to hold onto the things that you built. But you can't handle it all.
Let other people take over so you can deliver great work elsewhere.
@molly_g at First Round: firstround.com/review/give-aw…
It's tempting to hold onto the things that you built. But you can't handle it all.
Let other people take over so you can deliver great work elsewhere.
9. Get off the ladder
The story of the early employee who grows into a senior leader is deeply seductive.
Get off the ladder instead of trying to climb it.
Wanting the story + not getting it + emotional toll from early days = pure anguish
Focus on impact instead.
The story of the early employee who grows into a senior leader is deeply seductive.
Get off the ladder instead of trying to climb it.
Wanting the story + not getting it + emotional toll from early days = pure anguish
Focus on impact instead.
10. Work hard
Sometimes, there's no way out but through. Buckle up.
Sometimes, there's no way out but through. Buckle up.
11. Dedicate time to think
Every week, take one hour to check in on the big questions:
- What is the state of the problem you're working on?
- What is the state of the company?
- How are the people doing?
- How are *you* doing?
Every week, take one hour to check in on the big questions:
- What is the state of the problem you're working on?
- What is the state of the company?
- How are the people doing?
- How are *you* doing?
12. Do not complain
Startups are hard and everyone knows it. Complaining will just make the experience worse.
Instead of looking at your feet, look to the horizon.
Find the opportunities within the gaps. Find the solutions for the problems.
Startups are hard and everyone knows it. Complaining will just make the experience worse.
Instead of looking at your feet, look to the horizon.
Find the opportunities within the gaps. Find the solutions for the problems.
If you want to be an early employee, I recommend reading this guide from @Unusual_VC for perspective on how founders will be evaluating you
https://twitter.com/Unusual_VC/status/1321475579820998657
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