Early work is not an orchestra. It is jazz.
An orchestra waits for sheet music. Jazz begins with a key, a tempo, and trust. The song emerges from listening. That is what early teams need. Not people who ask for their part, but people who lean in and play the song as it unfolds.
The question is how to find them.
Look for people who show agency. They don’t wait for permission. They spot what’s missing and step in. In conversation, they say “I tried this” more often than “someone should.”
Look for people who are multi-instrumentalists. They might have a specialty, but they’re willing to pick up whatever the music calls for. They can lead a solo or sit quietly in rhythm, and know which moment requires which.
Look for people who are comfortable with ambiguity. They don’t need a perfect plan. They thrive in motion, discovering the song as it goes.
Avoid the overly polished. The ones who want sheet music before they’ll play. They can be brilliant in a symphony, but they’ll suffocate in a jam session.
The best products don’t come from plans. They come from a small group playing in the same key, finding the tune together.
Because the early players don’t just join the band. They define the sound.