The Exhilaration of Building a Startup
Continuous Improvement Fueled by Rapid Iteration
Pinned to the wall in my office is a holiday card from 2018, a simple snapshot of a team suspended in a moment between daunting challenges and a spark of possibility. That early-stage startup experience was one of the most formative times of my life—a period of unfiltered ambition, self-imposed pressure, and imposter syndrome. But it was also a time of deep purpose, a time when we built something new and untested, with people who believed in a shared vision and in each other. It’s a photograph I look at often, not just for nostalgia but because it represents the essence of creation—the beauty and grit required to turn an idea into something real.
The exhilaration of starting from scratch, the thrill of working with people aligned on a single vision—there’s truly nothing like it. And now, as I throw myself into launching PerformanceLabs, I find myself reconnecting with that same electric energy. For some, this would be a high-stress period. But for me, it feels almost calm, as though the turbulence of those early lessons has, over time, built a resilience that steadies me now. That experience planted a seed of confidence, one that’s grown into a kind of quiet fortitude.
The Power of Rapid Iteration
Back then, speed wasn’t just a tactic; it was our lifeline. We had to move fast, every day pushing forward with decisions that could change the course of the business. Building new systems, refining customer profiles, sharpening our value propositions, and constantly adapting our go-to-market strategies—these weren’t linear processes. They were a swirling, chaotic cycle of testing, learning, and pivoting. And that was the beauty of it.
There was no time to be bogged down by endless meetings or corporate gatekeeping. The freedom to iterate rapidly was what kept us competitive, what allowed us to move closer, inch by inch, to that elusive product-market fit. That experience didn’t just teach me to move quickly; it taught me to be decisive in the face of uncertainty.
Speed Meets Strategy: Lessons from The Big Know
At The Big Know, I learned that speed alone isn’t enough. You have to move with precision. Without product-market fit and with limited resources, we didn’t have the luxury of aimless experimentation. Every decision was strategic, backed by data, grounded in customer feedback, and meticulously analyzed. It was a delicate balance—a high-wire act of speed and strategy, where every move counted.
That experience didn’t just change my approach to building a business; it reshaped my view of what it takes to create something meaningful. It’s easy to look back and think of those days as exhilarating, even nostalgic. But the truth is, they were filled with tension, calculated risk, and a relentless focus on progress. The focus wasn’t just on moving fast but on moving fast in the right direction.
The Corporate World: A Misalignment of Values
After we were acquired in 2020, I eventually re-entered the corporate world, I thought I could bring these lessons with me. I wanted to instill the same urgency, the same clarity of purpose I’d honed in those early days. But I quickly learned how difficult that would be in an environment where decisions seemed to move at a glacial pace. The sense of urgency I’d come to depend on felt almost misplaced in a world built on bureaucracy, hierarchy, and caution.
There was always another meeting, another review process, another layer of red tape. The energy that should have gone into building something new was too often siphoned into navigating obstacles that had nothing to do with the work itself. It was a frustrating realization—that the entrepreneurial mindset I’d cultivated no longer fit the traditional corporate mold. My drive to create and innovate had no place in a system designed to manage and maintain.
Embracing the Freedom to Build Again
Stepping away from those corporate constraints and back into the world of building has been a revelation. In PerformanceLabs, I’m creating a culture that values swift action, embraces change, and deeply cares about the people behind the work. Right now, that culture might be a culture of one, but it’s only temporary. This company will be different; it will be agile, adaptive, and unafraid of failure.
The exhilaration I feel now comes from knowing that each idea can be tested immediately, that failure isn’t something to fear but a step toward learning. I’ve come to realize that corporations don’t have to operate with the inertia that often holds them back. Agility is a choice, a choice that’s too often sacrificed at the altar of tradition. If we build structures that support rapid iteration, that encourage people to take risks and adapt quickly, even large companies can be just as nimble as startups. Complacency, I’ve come to see, is the enemy of progress.
Rediscovering the Joy in the Journey
So why do I embrace the need to build something new? Because there’s a profound satisfaction in creating without unnecessary obstacles. It’s immensely fulfilling to see progress, to know that every effort directly contributes to growth, rather than being lost in a maze of bureaucracy.
Yes, the pace is intense, but any exhaustion I feel is quickly overshadowed by excitement for what’s to come. There’s nothing quite like the experience of building something from the ground up, watching it evolve, and knowing it has the potential to make a real impact.
Embracing the Future at PerformanceLabs
Reflecting on these past few months, I feel an unmistakable energy for the journey ahead. Building PerformanceLabs is not just about creating a business; it’s about shaping a mission. The agility, speed, and freedom to innovate make the work meaningful and our time genuinely rewarding.
So, here’s my message to you: resist the pull of complacency. Choose the more challenging path when it appears, even if it feels daunting. This path may bring unexpected trials, but the rewards—in growth, purpose, and impact—are far greater.