I made a pretty questionable choice at our Halloween party. We had the whole team there. People showed up in ridiculous costumes, the office looked chaotic in a fun way, and the night had that early-stage energy where everyone is just comfortable being themselves. My costume… wasn’t the best call. I didn’t think much of it while we were all hanging out, but the next morning it hit me that it probably landed the wrong way for a few people. That feeling stayed with me on the walk into all-hands. So I brought it up. I told the team I shouldn’t have worn it and that I was sorry. It wasn’t a big moment, but it felt necessary. Early teams remember these things - the wins, the mess-ups, the jokes that become inside jokes. These small stories turn into the company’s early lore, and they quietly influence how the culture forms as the team grows. This will probably be one of those stories. I made a mistake, I owned it, and we kept going. And somehow, it brought everyone a bit closer.
