Overwhelmingly, media coverage of team building, hiring, training, etc. is often geared towards the issues faced by HR at Fortune 500 sized companies. Even when it’s positioned as advice for small business owners it is often coming from an executive or consultant working primarily with giant corporations. We think it’s far more relevant to hear from small and medium business owners who have successfully grown their businesses – and so we asked some very talented folks to tell us the stories of their initial hires and the struggles and lessons they can share.

Abigail Gibson

When I began Laurel & Co. Events, I put so many hours into building the business from scratch. Eventually, the business grew so quickly to the point when I needed to either expand or turn away business. Any entrepreneur will tell you the difficulties with trusting another person with your clients, carrying integrity of your company and ensuring you’ve trained them properly. Read more>>

Matthew Berry

When I first started my surf school in Oceanside, recruiting the initial team members was an exciting yet challenging task. I began by tapping into the local surf community, reaching out to experienced surfers who were not only skilled in riding the waves but also had a passion for teaching. I also posted job listings in local surf shops and used social media to attract potential instructors. Read more>>

Kristin Chau

When I initially embarked on the journey of establishing The Source Coffee Roastery + Taproom, it was a family endeavor. My husband Linn, sister Haley, and parents (Joe and Lisa), wore many hats, from roasting beans to brewing coffee to interacting with customers. The early days were filled with excitement and challenges as we worked tirelessly to bring my vision to life. Read more>>

Waitk Aleem

My business didn’t start with employees. It was only me and I was managing my first artist which was my son. I wasn’t making any money and expenses were through the roof. Over time bumping my head and spending money in the wrong areas without getting anywhere made me have to really think of how we were going to survive. I thought it would be good if we put together a team and prioritize what needed to be done to move forward. Read more>>

Andrew & Lauren Marburger

We started Lockport in 2016 with three employees and help from a lot of family and friends. Opening our brewery in our small, rural hometown, we were not sure how well our business would be received by the community, but we sensed the demand for craft beer and what we had to offer was there. We quickly learned that to be true, and began adding more staff to meet the demands of our taproom. In the beginning, we had to push to open our doors quickly, and our interview process was pretty rudimentary. Read more>>

Brianna Shrader

I never intended to run my own business. I thought I always needed someone directing me and telling me what to do next, motivating me, etc. I then found myself deeply involved in someone else’s company where my voice was not heard, I found myself apologizing for someone else’s conduct and just felt ugly inside all of the time working with someone who’s morals and values were a far cry from my own. I felt bullied, under appreciated and taken advantage of, so I found my voice. I spoke up, and I walked away from what had turned into a business partnership. Read more>>