the time of well-scoped tasks and clearly defined jobs are coming to an end. at least for humans. and in early-stage startups.
as we're building out my new startup opencompany, i don't look for someone who can only do well if the task or project is perfectly scoped. if this is the case, i can just hand it to an agent.
what i do need are people with taste, agency, and self-guidance. i need to be able to dump ambiguity to someone and trust that they can figure something specific out that fits our product vision, brand, and taste.
the best people are the ones who thrive on ambiguity. they demand freedom to figure things out themselves. and these are the only people startups need going forward.
that's what young people need to get good at.
not passively expecting clear directions and scope, because if they do, they won't make any meaningful contribution and thus don't have a job.
but actively becoming good at navigating ambiguity and finding answers that fit the context of the company.
economically, there is a premium emerging on the ability to navigate ambiguity and get outcomes done despite it.
this is what the shift in work at the frontier of small teams and startups is about. and the sooner you realize this, the faster you can adapt.