The mindset switch and first 3 moves I used to stop being “the doer” and start being “the problem owner.”

You may have noticed we missed releasing an article last week. So to make it right we are coming to you with 2 fresh editions this week and with that in mind we wanted to try our first 2 part edition. This is where we take one topic we know is causing issues for our readers right now, and go deeper than we ever have before across 2 full length articles in a week. The topic this week....

Stop taking tickets. Start owning outcomes.

Hey Fellow Accelerators,

If you want to hone a skill that will ensure your fast track to promotions in any startup environment, its how to stop passively waiting for tasks to be assigned and start proactively owning outcomes.

Early-stage startups reward the people who reduce uncertainty. If your updates are vague, your asks are unclear, and your work is invisible, you’ll stay “the doer” no matter how many hours you put in.

Today we’re going to rebuild how you work so people trust you with bigger problems. Quicker.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• The mindset switch from “tasks” to “outcomes” orientated
• 3 simple moves to show ownership in your next sprint
• Copy-paste scripts you can use today

In order to become “the problem solver,” you need a handful of repeatable habits that remove uncertainty for everyone around you.

Let’s get into it.

1) Define “Good” & Set Guardrails

At my first startup (and my first job), in hour one I found out I was the entire dev team. No experience. No plan. No guardrails. Just expectations. That’s when I realised the first job of a problem owner is to define what good looks like and how the work will be evaluated.

Why this matters: Without clear criteria, you can end up overworking the wrong thing. With it, you ship the right thing faster, and because of that, people trust you.

What to do:

Ask these three questions in your next 1:1:

• “What does good look like in 6 weeks?”
• “What’s worked before I can mirror?”
• “How will we evaluate my work?”

To take these one step further, bring your own suggestions/frameworks for each. This not only shows you are capable of thinking about the bigger picture, but also instantly gives you more control.

Script to use:

“Before I dive in, can I confirm: success looks like

That’s it.

2) Reframe the Problem into a Plan

At my second startup, I arrived to a brand-new role, was assigned a brand-new project and an 11-day deadline... and then abandoned by my entire team for the first five days. Panic didn't help - and trust me I tired it. But reframing the situation changed the game, and took me from operating from a positon of weakness to a position of strength.

Why this matters: Tasks are more often than not ambiguous. Turning them into problems with a plan gives them constraints, measurable outcomes, and highlights conflicts and potential trade-offs. In other words, plans build the guardrails and success criteria around tasks providing a clearer framework for you to share with decision-makers to ensure alignment.

What to do:

Rewrite the task as a problem statement, and create a plan to address it

• Goal → the outcome we’re driving
• Constraints → non-negotiables (time, tech, scope)
• Success → if we achieve our goal, what will it look like
• Plan → your first 2 steps + a time-boxed test
• Share your update/framework with your key stakeholders/decision makers
  • e.g. “Risk: X. My plan: Y because Z. Any objections before I move?”
• Offer visible progress: “I’ll complete the first 20% by EOD to de-risk the approach.”

Script to use:

“Here’s the problem as I see it: Goal X, constraints A/B/C, success will look like Z. My initial plan to address it: two-step test, then decision. Risk is R which I’ll mitigate by M. Please let me know it there are any objections before I move forward?”

That’s it.

3) The Momentum Ritual (The Friday Five-Liner)

The first 2 steps are the building blocks for step 3... which in a nut shell is all about getting very deliberate with your actions: tight updates, specific asks, and proof of progress. This builds visible, undeniable momentum. And momentum beats perfection every time.

Why this matters: Leaders back people who help them sleep at night. A concise weekly update creates trust, accelerates decisions, and documents impact.

What to do:

Create your update framework and cadence:

• Goal:
• Progress:
• Next:
• Risk/Trade-offs:
• Ask:

In terms of the cadence, this is team, company and potentially project related. A good starting point is once a week, but here are a couple of pulse checks to know if you are on the right track.

• If your sending updates more than once a week, and most of them don't get a reaction or response then you might be sending too many
• If you being messaged by key stakeholders for updates, your not sending them frequently enough

Bonus: If you’re drowning or overwhelmed with a project, send your update early. It grounds you, surfaces risks, and invites fast help before its truly needed which is always a better situation to work from.

Script to use:

“...UPDATE.....If I don’t hear objections by EOD, I’ll proceed with option B.”

That’s it.

Here's what we covered today:

• You can’t wait for a plan, and you don't want to. Take the lead, define what “good,” is, ask for references, and set the constraints.
• Doers just action assigned tasks, owners reframe them into their core problems and create a plan of action providing constraints, success metrics, and first steps.
• Momentum wins. every time: the weekly update makes decisions faster and build your credibility.

Try one move and run it this week.

PS...If you're enjoying The Startup Career Accelerator, please consider referring this edition to a friend. You’ll help them turn chaos into clarity faster.

Thats it! We hope you enjoyed part 1 of this weeks TSCA edition. Stay tune for part 2 dropping Friday.

Until next time…Here’s to clarity in the chaos.

Hayds & The TSCA Team

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