When assembling your team, start by filling the role where your skills are lacking the most.
This requires a frank and objective self-assessment of your abilities.
You can’t simply wish to be good at sales if the data shows otherwise.
Business doesn’t operate on wishes. Be brutally honest with yourself.
No matter what you discover, it’s okay.
It’s just a question of how quickly you want your business to grow.
Do you prefer slow growth with enduring struggles, or a faster path with fewer challenges?
Pain is inevitable at some point, so why not minimize it?
Typically, the first role you should fill is one that’s customer-facing.
You can either outsource lead generation and hire a salesperson, or bring in a lead generator and do enough selling to eventually hire a salesperson.
Without sales, there’s no need for operations, finance, or administration; that’s the hard truth.
Keep in mind that when you hire someone, they should be better than you.
Avoid limiting their potential.
The idea that “I couldn’t do that, so I shouldn’t ask them to” is a serious mistake.
If they’re not more skilled than you, meaning you can’t delegate more to them, then don’t hire them.
Period.
I’m serious about this.
Set high expectations, don’t make excuses for your sales team; they’ll make their own.”