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.
Theresa Frueh
Animal Ark has historically had a small staff supplemented by a large group of volunteers. My predecessor almost doubled the staff in the three years that he was at the Ark. The problem was we were in desperate need and short staffed while he was hiring and we ended up with a staff that didn’t fit well together. Read More>>
Linda Nemec
Since its founding, Happened By Chance Horses (HBCH) has been entirely volunteer-run. Every aspect of the rescue’s operations—from daily care and rehabilitation to facility maintenance, fundraising, and outreach—has been carried out by individuals who give their time, skills, and hearts without compensation. Read More>>
Rudy Wyatt-Coleman
When I first started Prep Smart Tax Services, it was just me. I was wearing every hat — owner, tax preparer, marketer, administrator, customer service, everything. I was learning as I went, working late nights, double-checking returns, and building trust with clients one relationship at a time. It was exhausting, but it was also empowering because every win felt personal. Read More>>
Cassieandre Jones
Yes, I had employees from day one — two lash artists and one brow artist. I started interviewing in October 2017, and we didn’t open until March 2018. I did a lot of interviews because, honestly, most people were not qualified. That hasn’t changed. Read More>>
Junki Hong 
At the beginning, it was just my wife, my children, and me. My wife helped with many things behind the scenes, and I focused on teaching classes. Our children were very young at the time, but they were often at the school with us. Even though they were young, they helped in their own way. Read More>>
Bbassi
It was just me at the start which for any artist can have its challenges. I sought out like minds with some success and a lot of failure. In the beginning it wasn’t about the business but the art. Read More>>