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.

Sean Butler

Certainly, I appreciate the curiosity about our journey. When we started our company, it was just the two of us navigating uncharted waters. The initial days were a mix of excitement and challenge, as we tried to lay the foundation for what would become our venture. Read more>>

Jordan Plummer

Amid the journey, the hiring process emerged as the most formidable challenge, a testament to my belief that the team is the heartbeat of the enterprise. Crafting a vibrant culture entails aligning a business’s goals with clear core values and then proceeding to cultivate them on a daily basis. At Shook, we prioritize purpose, community, family, and then business. This hierarchy influences all decisions, especially when it comes to building a team. Read more>>

Peter Choe

Quick background on me, although being born in the U.S., I was a traditionally Korean raised speaking only Korean in the household growing up. All I was taught to do was to study and learn key musical instruments and participate in hobbies that “helped me” be a better student. My job growing up is to be the best of the best student. Read more>>

Conor VanBuskirk

The first business I bought and operated was a local Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company franchise we opened in the Dierbergs Plaza off of Mid Rivers Mall Dr. We sold it after 18 years and it is still open and thriving- I just bought some chocolate-covered strawberries for family dinner from the new owner last week! Read more>>

Angela Buccellato

After getting unexpectedly fired from my recruiting job, I decided to take my business, The Resume Rescue, full-time. On day one, it was me trying to navigate the waters of entrepreneurship and figuring out how to make a business successful. Due to increased demand, I found myself needing to hire employees. I was absolutely terrified of paying someone else’s paycheck. Read more>>

Trisha Roberts

I started my business initially with one employee, Tori. We had previously worked together at an insurance agency a few years back. A few months before I opened, I reached out to her and offered her the position. She accepted without hesitation, even though I couldn’t pay her for two months. She was my day one and helped my from painting setting up the office, to winning Agent of the Year two years later. Read more>>

Erin Stahla

Our business did not have employees from day one; it was just the founder, Grant. Recruiting the first few team members was an enjoyable process. Typically, Grant would turn to college friends who wanted to be a part of the company, making the experience more fun and collaborative. Read more>>

Tara Lashae Flowers

The process of hiring and recruiting begins by establishing genuine and lasting relationships. By cultivating a strong network, you can avoid cold leads and instead rely on referrals from individuals within your network. Utilizing references from familiar contacts in the initial stages of growing your business can be immensely beneficial. That has been my strategy as a small business owner, and it has helped me find valuable employees who are a great fit for my organization. Read more>>