Building a startup means becoming an expert in… whatever today demands.
One day you're deep in code. The next, you're googling how pension plans work and negotiating with a printer that's clearly on a personal journey of growth and independence.
The Quote-Writing Meltdown
Last week at Lab Donkey we had what can only be described as a quote-writing meltdown.
A few innocent lines turned into hours of overthinking, Slack spirals, spreadsheet acrobatics, and the kind of silence where you can actually hear someone blinking.
And yes... several emotional snacks.
The Magic Moments
But thankfully, it's not all like that.
Some parts of this job are just pure fun—when the robots behave, the workflows click, and you realise it's 7pm and you forgot to eat lunch (again).
Those moments of geeking out, testing things, and actually making stuff better? That's the magic.
So is meeting brilliant people, hearing their wild lab stories, and learning about all the weird and wonderful instruments that make science go round.
Winging It Brilliantly
Startup life is messy, unpredictable, and often ridiculous.
But I wouldn't trade it for anything.
To everyone out there winging it brilliantly—I see you.