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.

Mariella Falls

When I first started MBM it was just me. I was still learning all about the industry and business. Once I really started digging deep I realized how important it is as a business owner to not just have an employee but also an entire village of support. That’s when I started posting about hiring. I got many applications and did many interviews. It was so important to me to find someone who was as passionate about making someone’s day perfect. So o searched and searched after months I found a couple ladies I was really interested in. I contact them via phone and chatted and then we met at a local coffee shop to get to know each other more. I think it’s super important to know your staff on both a professional and personal level . Read more>>

Christy Gish

When I first started my hiring process, I just brought on a friend that i worked with before. I loved every minute of that because I knew we vibed well together. When it was time for her to move on, it was sad, but, ultimately I was happy for her doing what was best for her business. From then on, I hired people that I did not know, but got a good vibe from. My hiring process now involves my interviewees meeting the team before I decide whether or not to bring them on board. I like to make sure everyone will get along, since we all have such a great relationship. Read more>>

Arie Weissmann

No, I started alone. In the beginning, it was just me handling everything—from managing clients to taking care of operations and even the smallest tasks like bookkeeping. It was a challenging but rewarding phase, as it gave me a firsthand understanding of every aspect of the business. As the workload grew, I realized I couldn’t do it all myself and started hiring. My first hires came after reaching out to my network for recommendations. I was looking for people who not only had the skills but also shared my vision and drive to grow something meaningful. The recruitment process was informal at first, focusing on conversations rather than rigid interviews. I wanted to understand their motivations, values, and how they would adapt to a startup environment where flexibility and a willingness to wear multiple hats were key. Read more>>

Bin He

In the beginning, I was the only one responsible for everything. My first collaboration was with Luis Quijano, whom I met in 2016 on the second project I worked on as a producer. At that time, I wasn’t actively hiring; we naturally connected through working on the same project. There wasn’t a formal interview process—it was more about establishing a working relationship based on shared creative goals and mutual respect for each other’s talents. Read more>>

Daniel Jones

In any business, one of the most critical aspects of success lies in strategically outsourcing tasks that can be delegated, allowing you to focus your time and energy on the core areas where your unique skills and vision create the most impact. When I started, it was just me at the helm, managing every detail. While that was a valuable learning experience, I quickly realized the importance of building a team to take over operational tasks and free me to drive innovation and growth. Read more>>

Chris Smith

Well, as what I do is not your usual business venture, my story had to take a different road, but much of the challenges are the same. We set out to ‘plant’ a new church, so it was my wife and myself to start. Big dreams, excitement, massive steps of faith and trust that this was what we’re supposed to be doing. Our first focus was prayer, finding out if this was actually what God wanted us to be doing. It would mean moving again, picking up our 2 high schools boys and transplanting them in another school. Leaving our church and family to enter a new region, one with only a handful of people that we know. Buying a new home, finding community again and simply leaving the ‘known’ to follow what God put in our hearts…but we wouldn’t have it any other way! RISK & FAITH!  Read more>>