The First Operating Rhythm Every Startup Needs (Even at 5 People)
And how to get started
The biggest misconception I see in early-stage companies is this:
“We’re too small for process.”
Founders often assume operating cadence is something they introduce later — once they have fundraising, traction, or a bigger team.
But the opposite is true.
At Credit Karma and Earnest, I saw that the companies that scale fastest are the ones that install operating hygiene early, when the team is tiny, scrappy, and wildly resource-constrained.
Here’s the simplest weekly rhythm every startup should implement before hitting 10 people — something I use with clients all the time.
1. A Weekly All-Hands / Business Review
One meeting. One hour. Same time every week.
Purpose:
To ensure your team is aligned on what actually matters.
The agenda:
10 minutes: What happened last week and what did you learn from it
20 minutes: Metrics review (5–7 core KPIs max)
20 minutes: Discussion of blockers, experiments, or course corrections
10 minutes: Priorities for next week
Why it works:
It forces the team to:
📌 Focus on the right numbers
📌 Document learning
📌 Build momentum
📌 Catch issues early
The companies I’ve helped implement this rhythm see fewer “surprise fires” and more predictable progress — because everyone is pulling in the same direction.
2. A Simple KPI Dashboard
You do not need a full BI stack.
A Google Sheet is enough.
Track:
Weekly active users
Conversion rate
CAC (if applicable)
Activation metric (your “aha” moment)
Retention / repeat usage
Revenue or GMV
Cash runway
The rule:
If you have more than 7 KPIs, you don’t have KPIs — you have noise.
3. A One-Page Strategy Refresher (Monthly)
Once a month, revisit:
What are we trying to achieve?
What’s the actual constraint?
What are the three bets we’re making?
What will we stop doing?
This prevents “idea drift” — something I’ve seen even at companies with thousands of people.
Why This Rhythm Matters
Because the earlier you adopt it, the easier it becomes to scale.
This is the rhythm I’ve used across:
Strategic planning at Credit Karma
Turnarounds at AECOM
Origination growth at Earnest
Revenue modeling at BlackRock
And now, it’s one of the foundational tools I give clients at PurInsights.
If you want me to share a template for the weekly dashboard and cadence, reply here — I’m thinking of releasing one next week.