A perspective on “being early”

A thoughtful reflection from a long-time team member’s offboarding

We’re taking a short break from regular programming for “from Our Perspectives” – essays from internal team members that share a personal perspective on internal project management. This week, we’re featuring Britt with a perspective on “being early” with your product.

Produced by DALLE-E — “Watercolor depiction of ‘early in a good way’ for a startup founder”

Recently, I offboarded a very special team member from oAT. Like most exceptional team members often are, he was one of the first to take a leap of faith on what we’re building—a concept not yet fully formed. He gave his full self to navigating ambiguity, showing resilience, patience, kindness, and a larger-than-life work ethic. After several years as my right hand, he transitioned into a new, more specialized role—a natural evolution of his experiences with us and the next chapter of his career.

To close out his time with us, we spent four solid hours together unpacking all the open threads of his work. We celebrated his countless wins and the ways he impacted clients, colleagues, and even people he never directly worked with, through his expert ability to improve systems and foster operational excellence.

One significant part of this session was a full teardown of oAT—an open and honest evaluation of our work, where we’re headed, and even my leadership. I framed it as a disarming exercise, saying, “Be brutally honest—even if it makes me uncomfortable. Know that would be the greatest gift you could give me as a friend.” And I meant it.

His reflections were invaluable. Beyond the years of exceptional work he gave us, his parting insights offered clarity and reflection—for him to step confidently into his next chapter, and for me to continue building with a better understanding of where we stand.

Among my many questions, I asked one that lingers in every founder’s mind: Do you think we’re going to make it?

As someone moving into a new role at another startup, he understood the weight of this question. Startups often feel like paddling upstream. We’re challenging norms, reshaping mindsets, and striving to build something better—not just products, but systems and ways of working that are more human.

His answer was both affirming and unexpected:

"I absolutely do. I think you’re early—but early in a good way."

What it means to be “early in a good way”

Of all the sentiments shared during those four hours, this phrase resonated most deeply: early in a good way.

Early means it’s okay to still be figuring things out.

Early means it’s okay to be misunderstood.

Early means it’s okay to bring people along for the ride, to make mistakes, to communicate through uncertainty, and to second-guess whether your solution has longevity.

For founders, being early can feel like standing on a subway platform without a clock, wondering if the train will ever come. It requires patience and faith that if you keep waiting—and keep building—the moment will arrive when everything clicks into place.

But early in a good way adds a critical nuance. It’s not just about being early; it’s about being aligned with a wave of change. It means that the cultural, systemic, and economic shifts necessary for your idea to thrive are already underway.

There are people hungry for new ways of thinking and working, even if they haven’t yet found the right solution. And it’s up to you—and your team—to be the ones who provide it.

A Reflection for the New Year

As we step into this new year, I’m holding tightly to that phrase: early in a good way.

For founders charting new paths, this is the ultimate barometer. It’s a reminder that while the journey is filled with uncertainty, there’s also tremendous potential in being at the forefront of change. You’re at a magical moment, poised to make a difference simply because you had the courage to try—and, more importantly, the grit to keep going.

So here’s to being early, in the best possible way.

___

Writer: Britt

Collaborators: Caleigh

Like what you see? Subscribe! Every Thursday night, you’ll find us in your inbox to provide energy and clarity as you plan your tasks for the upcoming Monday. We’ve timed this strategically so you can end the week on a strong note and, with expert startup-scaling strategies, build operations that scale.