Do you remember your first hire? There is so much that goes into building a company, but few things matter as much the quality of the team you assemble. Given the immense importance of team building, we wanted to create a series where we ask entrepreneurs who have been there and done that, to share their stories and lessons with the community.

Jesika Watson

From the very beginning, it was just my husband and me. We wore all the hats and did whatever it took to get the business off the ground. From brainstorming ideas and creating plans to managing operations, marketing, and customer service, we were hands-on in every aspect. It was truly a labor of love and a testament to our strong commitment. Read more>>

Ashley Artrip

When we started Reading Rhythms, it was just me and a small group of like-minded bookworms who were passionate about creating a community where readers could come together—not just to read, but to connect on a deeper level. From the beginning, our vision wasn’t just about hosting reading parties; it was about cultivating a network of strong community builders who understood how to create spaces where even the most introverted individuals could feel at ease. Read more>>

Dimitriy Wolf

I never intended to build a business. In the beginning, everything I did was a form of self-employment — organizing educational events, crafting workshops, and occasionally sharing my expertise at forums or company masterclasses. My world was simple: I viewed growth through the narrow lens of my own skills and competencies. To scale meant knowing more, performing better, and ultimately becoming more valuable as an expert. Read more>>

Taylor Latouche

1. My current business did not have employees from day 1.

2. It was just me, my skills and true grit

3. My current business started out of my experience of a major medical crisis. I was in a very low financial space. I started selling meal prep to supplement my income to the fellow patients who would frequent the dialysis clinic I used. Yes I was on dialysis, due to a congenital illness. It was just me at home making healthy meals for anyone who buy them; then I expanded to fitness macro meal preps, private cheffing, catering, and party rentals where the demand and profit increased. I definitely needed more employees. Read more>>

Alexander Johnson

I think unless you are able to take on money somehow, everyone just starts with the founders. That’s what we did, so we were doing a bit of everything ourselves. That persisted for quite a while, even once we were able to hire employee #1, we still all did everything.

We hired a family member as our first hire almost 10 years ago, and I am pleased to say he is still here and is on our Executive team, but I also understand that doesn’t always work out like that. It has been rocky at certain times, but it has worked for us. Read more>>