1. Where you add value isn't always the flashy stuff (comparative advantage)
Comparative advantage is something I got introduced to in week one of Microeconomics and didn't think much of after.
The concept is where one economy or firm has a lower opportunity cost when producing a good compared to another, giving them a comparative advantage as what they're sacrificing to produce is less.
Coming into a role where you're working with someone that possesses a higher level of skill in what you're doing can be daunting, but the way to contribute the most value is by finding your comparative advantage and doubling down on that. In turn, freeing up your superior to focus on the tasks that require a higher level of experience or skill.
At an early stage startup where every day is precious, often it's not the killer idea that leads to the big breakthrough, rather you nailing the boring operations every single time and allowing others more experienced to do their work uninterrupted.
2. Storytelling is an extremely underrated skill
Being a good storyteller shows up in everything you do, pitching your company to investors, convincing your boss or client which strategic direction is the best or even simply building relationships that mean something. Stories have a way of conveying more than just words, they can convey the culture you've experienced and the values that you carry with you.
This builds familiarity and trust with the people around you, colleagues, mentees, business partners.
3. You're only 1–2 steps away from where you want to be
Although maybe cliche, I've found this to be true. You're closer in proximity to your goals than you think, but the determining factor is how prepared are you for opportunity.
In my case I had been interested in startups for a long time, I'd spent a long time reading about startups, understanding how founders think and build. Then with some luck CaseCrest pretty much fell into my lap, but the information and knowledge I had gathered on startups already, signalled to my employer that I was interested, somewhat competent and someone worth taking a risk on.
Opportunities can appear out of nowhere and if you're ready they can accelerate you to places you would've dreamed about a year prior. Think of a musician who's been playing for years, gigging at small venues. Someone with pull catches one of their sets, one conversation leads to another and then a support slot on a tour, and suddenly they're in front of an audience they'd never have reached on their own.
The steps can be larger in some cases than others, but the principle holds, if you're staying ready, you're already in close proximity to what you want. And yes, of course this is dependent on luck, but everyone gets lucky at some point, the question is are you ready once that luck hits.