Kubernetes, a leading container management solution, simplifies the development, deployment, and operation of applications by providing a robust API-based framework. However, the complexity of modern cloud-native applications necessitates a shift-left approach to troubleshooting, which involves addressing potential issues early in the software development lifecycle. The shift-left paradigm encourages designing applications with deployment and operational considerations in mind from the outset, testing them thoroughly before deployment, and ensuring they are easy to manage and troubleshoot post-deployment. This approach is crucial as developers increasingly take on operational roles due to a high developer-to-DevOps engineer ratio. Implementing best practices for each phase of the Kubernetes lifecycle—design (Day 0), deployment (Day 1), and operation (Day 2)—can enhance application robustness and cluster management. Tools like Komodor can further assist by enabling teams to independently troubleshoot and optimize Kubernetes-related issues, integrating with existing operations to improve efficiency and prevent disruptions.