Since many of you seemed interested in reading more about this, here’s my first-week reflection.
My first week at a startup felt less like starting a job and more like stepping into motion that was already happening.
There wasn’t a clean boundary around my role. Some days I was coding, some days debugging things I didn’t build, some days thinking through product decisions, other times helping wherever friction appeared. Titles mattered less than momentum. If something needed to move, someone had to move it.
I knew this in theory. I wanted this kind of environment. What surprised me was how quickly wearing multiple hats stopped feeling like pressure and started feeling normal.
I adapt fast by default. I don’t carry the constant fear that one mistake will end everything. Even when something goes wrong, it rarely means total collapse. In startups especially, people almost always find a way to adjust and recover. That belief makes the workload feel lighter than it looks on paper.
At the same time, the instinct to look for better opportunities hasn’t disappeared. It didn’t switch off just because I signed an offer. It’s quieter now, but it’s still there. I don’t see that as disloyalty or restlessness, more like staying aware of my trajectory while committing to the present.
What changed most after joining was the internal noise.
For months, my mind was stuck in a constant loop of 24x7 applications, interviews, self-image, and preparation. Everything revolved around becoming employable. Now that loop has slowed down. I’m grounded in one place, working on a real set of problems with real constraints. That grounding created space to notice what I had neglected while job hunting.
Japanese study had taken a back seat. Fitness became inconsistent. Writing slowed down. Even small creative habits (like voice acting ψ(._. )>) faded because everything was filtered through urgency. Being employed again made it possible to rebalance, but not without trade-offs.
Time feels finite in a new way now.
Some days that means less coding on personal projects. Some days it means choosing between hobbies. Sometimes it means accepting that momentum can’t be maximized in every direction at once.
There are moments when I catch myself thinking I should "get a life", step back or relax more. But I also know this phase is temporary, and I’m grateful to have this many choices in front of me. This feels like a building phase, and I want to respect it without letting it turn into strain.
This is just my perspective. People experience startups very differently. Some find them draining. Some thrive. Some leave quickly. I don’t think there’s a single correct way to do this.
For me, the lesson from this first week isn’t about grinding harder or protecting myself aggressively. It’s about learning how to stay flexible without being scattered, committed without being trapped, and ambitious without being frantic.
I’m still figuring it out. But for now, this feels like the right place to learn how.
Top comments (35)
I really enjoyed reading this. It felt familiar. My own startup experience started in a very similar way, and that early freedom to experiment and wear many hats was incredibly exciting!
Looking back, my mistake was not building balance early enough. I went all-in on work, and by around the 5-6 month mark I was pretty burned out. That experience taught me how important it is to protect space for things outside of work from the beginning 😊
Your writing is so authentic. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for reading! I'll take what you learnt as a reminder to make time for things outside of work as well.
This really resonates. What you’re describing feels like that quiet shift from performing employability to actually doing the work, and that change alone is huge.
I like how you frame the lack of rigid boundaries as motion rather than chaos. In early-stage environments, clarity often comes after movement, not before it. You don’t get handed a lane — you discover one by removing friction. That’s a muscle you can’t really train anywhere else.
The part about the internal noise slowing down hit especially hard. Job searching turns your identity into a backlog of “am I enough yet?” questions. Being embedded in real constraints, with real people, doing real things, gives your mind something solid to push against again. That grounding is underrated.
Also appreciate the honesty about trade-offs. Startups don’t just take time, they reallocate it — and learning to accept that not everything compounds at once is a real maturity milestone. Ambition without panic is a tricky balance, but it sounds like you’re finding it.
Light, thoughtful reflection. Feels like the kind of week that doesn’t look dramatic from the outside but quietly rewires how you operate.
Thank you for reading and giving such valuable feedback! Really appreciate it.
Totally agree! One week at a startup often feels like a month elsewhere. Great insights.
Thank you for reading!! Glad you liked it!
Really enjoyed this. Learning fast and adapting seems to be the key in startup environments.
Glad you liked it! Thank you for reading!
Really relatable! Love how you captured the balance between momentum and reflection. First weeks at startups are a wild mix of chaos and growth, and it sounds like you’re navigating it thoughtfully
Woohoo thanks for reading it through and your words of appreciation good sir!
Getting a chance to work on something which you find interesting is a privilege.
Just keep on doing what you are doing and you will thrive in the industry.
It sure is and I'm grateful for whatever comes my way, as it is either an opportunity or a lesson.
Great Read!
Thank you for reading!
Love the point about titles mattering less than momentum. In a startup, the 'code' is only half the battle; the rest is just finding where the friction is and greasing the gears. It’s a specific kind of 'building phase' that changes how you think about problem-solving. Don't worry about 'getting a life' just yet—the 0 to 1 phase is where the best stories (and bugs) are made. Great read.
Thank you for reading and supporting me through this comment! Really helps keep my spirits up!
I’m glad to hear you’re doing well in the first week of your new job. I know you’re super clever and will get used to your new role in no time. Good luck!🫡
Yes thank you! I'll do my best!
Thoughtful article !
Thank you for reading!
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