Your first 90 days

Dear XIR –

Feliz Quarta (Happy Wednesday) from 36,000 feet in the air! 🇧🇷 

I'm writing this on my way to Brasil, and in a rare coach moment, scored the holy grail – an empty seat next to me. 9 hours. Small wins, big vibes!

More importantly though, I have sheer bliss in my heart. For real.

After months of talking about the XIR, writing about the intersection, and building frameworks to help generalists like us thrive...

something incredible just happened.

The first official XIR has been hired

Not a consultant. Not an advisor. A recognized, valued, titled XIR who will be driving growth at the intersection.

This is real. This is happening. This is not a drill.

Meet Mofiyin (aka Mofi) – a 21-year-old powerhouse who embodies everything an XIR should be. At 18, she founded her first company working with the UK government on education programs, scaling to a team of 100+ frontline workers.

She's got a tech background (computer science), community building experience, and that special ability to see connections others miss.

When I jumped on a call with her this week, I literally got chills.

Her story felt so familiar:

This is why we're building. To create language, systems, and opportunities for brilliant minds who don't fit neatly into traditional boxes.

Now, as Mofi steps into her new role, it got me thinking:

Whether you're hoping to land an XIR role, you're a founder considering hiring one, or you're already operating at the intersection without the title – this framework will help you navigate those critical first three months.

SN: if you have a sec, go say Hi to Mofi – the new XIR at Pally.

The First 90 Days: Your XIR Blueprint

Phase 1: Learn & Connect (Days 1-30)

🤝 Make Friends Everywhere

Your success as an XIR depends on understanding how each department operates and what they care about.

• Schedule 1:1s with leaders from every department in your first two weeks

• Create a stakeholder map identifying key players and their priorities

• Find out which metrics matter most to each department

⚙️ Set Up Your Command Center 

Building systems early will save you countless hours and help you manage the inevitable chaos (remember: this was my secret to the $20M in 6 days).

• Choose your core productivity tools (I recommend Airtable + Notion)

• Build a simple inbound system that captures and categorizes all requests

• Create templates for common communications to save time

• SN: Lmk if you need help building this out

🚀 Test the Waters 

Small wins build credibility and help you refine your approach before scaling.

• Launch 2-3 small initiatives that can show quick results

• Document everything: attendance, feedback, outcomes

• Share wins publicly to build excitement

Phase 2: Building Bridges (Days 31-60)

🔗 Connect the Dots 

This is where your translation superpower shines: helping teams work better together.

• Identify specific gaps between departments that you can bridge

• Create a "translation document" mapping each department's goals and language

• Facilitate cross-functional meetings around specific opportunities

💪🏾 Play to Your Strengths 

Focus on your unique abilities while amplifying what others do best.

• List your top XIR superpowers and where they create most value

• Look for team members whose strengths complement yours

• Communicate clearly what you can (and can't) deliver

📊 Track What Matters 

Establish metrics that capture your cross-functional impact.

• Establish 3-5 custom KPIs that traditional roles wouldn't track

• Set up attribution systems to connect your work to revenue

• Collect qualitative feedback from stakeholders

Phase 3: Hitting Your Stride (Days 61-90)

🎯 Double Down on Wins 

Identify what's working and scale those initiatives.

• Analyze results and identify your top performers

• Allocate 70% of your resources to scaling what's already working

• Set aggressive growth targets for your proven approaches

⚡️ Build Systems That Run Themselves 

Create processes that maintain momentum without your constant attention.

• Document your core processes step-by-step

• Automate repetitive tasks using tools like Zapier and Airtable

• Create clear handoff points between you and other teams

🌟 Stay True to You 

Balance company representation with your authentic voice and vision.

• Find the sweet spot between company needs and your unique approach

• Schedule regular reflection time to assess alignment with your values

• Remember: YOU are X – the role should fit you, not the other way around

Want the complete playbook with detailed guidance for each step?

Cooked something up for you with expanded action items, templates, and real-world examples from my experience at Brex and beyond.

Dropping the doc tomorrow on beehiiv (resources) and LinkedIn (will include in next week’s Letter 10).

What's Coming Next

This week has been a breakthrough moment for the XIR movement.

Posts and interest lists popping off.

The first cohort is starting March 31st.

People are officially being hired with XIR in their title. Companies are creating roles specifically designed for people who operate at the intersection.

We have arrived at the intersection, my dear dear XIRs.

Next week, I'll touch on the framework that will help you articulate your unique value in language that sells –

Just one of the areas we'll be diving into in the cohort.

Until then, remember:

And if you're ready, the XIR Interest List is still open for a few more days!

Jobs / resources / capital for unconventional builders

• Mercury still literally hiring an XIR on the product side. Please tap in! If you need guidance or are interested, let me know.

  

• Papa hiring a General Manager of New Ventures. I know the founder well and he is accepting referrals. Must have an established relationship with me before I can refer.

• For cross-functional founders seeking Seed funding, Drive Capital relaunched their Seed Program. The GP is a friend so if you’re looking for an intro, send me a forwardable (can find a template here)

What my ADHD caught this week

• A pattern I'm seeing more of: Companies creating XIR-adjacent roles specifically designed for people like us, even if they don't have "XIR" in the title yet. This signaling is important.

  A concept I can't stop thinking about: The importance of systems that maintain the human touch at scale – like the Airtable inbound system I shared with Mofi

  A belief I'm doubling down on: XIRs who learn to translate their weird into revenue will never be limited by traditional career paths again

Would love to get an initial vibe check on the First 90 Days blueprint.

Is there anything you'd add from your own experience?

Reply with your insights – I read every response personally.

And if you've been thinking about joining the first XIR cohort, now's the time!

Only 6 spots remain, and we start March 31st.

Until next week,

💜 J