Field Note #004: Everyone Has the Tools. Few Have the System.

Why Speed Isn’t a Mindset or a Directive. It’s a System Outcome.

The myth of unfair advantage is fading. The real edge today isn’t access, it’s acceleration.

Most teams start with the same building blocks. But only a few turn those inputs into momentum. What separates them isn’t tech. It’s how they move.

Everyone has access to the a similar stack now: same AI models, templates, the power of automation, same 24 hours.

So why do some teams feel like rocket ships (Lovable, Gamma)…And others feel like they’re dragging a piano uphill? (won’t name names)

Here’s my take: The edge isn’t your tools or the recent star hire. It’s your system.

In 2025, what’s actually scarce isn’t technology, it’s how you organize humans around it.

I saw a team last week with a world-class tech stack stall for two weeks on a decision because no one felt safe just saying "go." And another team, with a very similar tech stack, shipped a product launch and three product tests in the same window.

The 3 variables that create asymmetric speed

⚡ Speed

• Most teams optimize for consensus (no bu…