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.

Chelsea Remines

When I first opened Tides & Vine, it was just my sister, Ashlea, and me. We started small, opening only three days a week—Thursday through Saturday—uncertain of how a cozy little bar would fare in our small, quiet town. At the time, I wasn’t even living on the Eastern Shore yet. Ashlea took charge of running the bar, while I handled the administrative tasks and behind-the-scenes planning. Read more>>

Ottoweiss Cook

When I first started, it was just me. I was passionate and driven, eager to bring my vision to life. Those early days were a whirlwind of long hours and countless challenges, but they were also incredibly rewarding. Because I had done my research and due diligence, I knew I had to have a board of directors for a non-profit organization. I did not have any unusual or unconventional process for recruiting or training. I just knew I needed loyal, intelligent, selfless, bold. articulate members of my board. Training was an ongoing process. Since we were a small team, we all wore multiple hats, and learning was very much on-the-job. I encouraged open communication and fostered an environment where everyone felt comfortable sharing ideas and feedback. This collaborative approach helped us build a strong, cohesive team. Looking back, if I were starting today, there are a few things I might do differently. I would invest more time in defining roles and responsibilities from the outset. Read more>>

Tionna Van Gundy

I always knew that I’d be an entrepreneur and that I’d manage a team. What that looked like exactly and how I was going to get there I was unsure of. When I originally took my leap into full-time entrepreneurship, I was a soloprenuer like most of us doing everything in the business and wearing way too many hats! However, I do believe there are lessons learned in those early stages that help lay the foundation for your processes and the leader you will become as you begin to scale, grow a team and hire to replace yourself. Read more>>