go ahead and (do something)

People use this phrase in casual conversation to express doing something soon, instead of waiting:

You guys go ahead and eat — I'm not hungry.

Let's go ahead and pick a day and time for our next meeting.

Let's get started.

"Let's get started" means "Let's start."

Is everyone here? OK, let's get started.

It somehow sounds friendlier and more natural to use the phrase "get started" instead of just "start". People use this phrase a lot at work, at conferences, at meetup groups, and so on.

Thanks for (doing something)

When you say "thanks" to someone, it's sometimes helpful to explain why you are thanking them. For example:

Thanks for letting me stay with you guys.

Thanks for inviting me last week. It was really fun.

Thanks for stopping by!