Over the course of my career as a consultant I’ve been party to many sales meetings and negotiations. There’s one theme that’s an ever present thread linking these encounters: the group of documents known as non-x (non-disclosure, non-compete, non-poach, etc). It may be subtle, but behind these documents is paranoia, a fear that someone you are engaging with is out to get you.

I’ve had the occasion recently to work on some projects in very small teams, just 2 or 3 others at most. This experience has rekindled in me a joy for this kind of working environment and atmosphere. There’s just something about not being lost in a sea of teammates or (even worse, leading a giant team) that really appeals to me.