Notes from our first year

A year ago Obvious was two people and a spreadsheet. Here's what we learned, what we got wrong, and why we're staying small on purpose.

What went right

• Staying close to every client, with one named person each

• Fixed prices, agreed before we start

• Saying no to projects that didn't save real time

What we got wrong

We underestimated how long the first week of every project takes. Understanding a business properly takes time, and we now build that into every plan.

We also waited too long to write things down. Every lesson lived in our heads. This journal is part of fixing that.

Why we stay small

Small means the person you talk to is the person who builds it. It means decisions happen in a conversation, not a meeting. We think that's worth protecting, even if it means turning work away.

We'd rather do fewer projects properly than many projects fast.

What's next

More clients in the same industries, so each build gets better. More sharing, here in the journal. And the same promise: every email answered within two hours.