Startup Chaos - First Taste

After a couple of missteps and leaps of faith, I’ve finally landed in a good startup. The catch? I’m a contract employee. But honestly, that doesn’t bother me much because the place is great, the people are inspiring, and the boss? Surprisingly good. It feels like a solid start.

That said, life here isn’t exactly a cakewalk. Budgets are tight, the headcount is minimal, and my boss is ridiculously ambitious. Combine that with targets that feel nearly impossible, and you’ve got the recipe for an intense work environment. Oh, and did I mention? I’m officially working 6 days a week, with Fridays off, clocking in an insane 16-hour workday.

Here’s the kicker, though: the team leader reporting to me? They’re working just 5 days a week, pulling off 8-hour shifts. Meanwhile, I’m drowning in work, wondering how I’m supposed to make the impact I came here to make. Adding to the madness, the team mostly operates out of fear of my boss, which makes building genuine momentum even tougher.

Somewhere in the whirlwind of year one, I had an epiphany: my motivation factor isn’t just the paycheck or the title. It’s the impact. I thrive on solving problems, building things, and knowing that my work genuinely makes a difference. And despite the crazy hours and tough challenges, this realization has been the most valuable takeaway.

So, here I am at the end of an intense, educational, and admittedly fun year. It’s been a wild ride, and I’m not sure what’s next—but if it’s anything like this, I think I’m ready for it. Stay tuned