Two big questions for small business owners are who to hire to help you with your business and when is the right time to do it. There is a lot of advice out there, but in the end, you need to decide what it right for you.
For twelve years, I have primarily wanted to grow a solo consulting business that supports me and serves great clients. However, being the only person doing coaching, administrative support, finance, and customer service is exhausting. While I will be the first to admit this is a good problem to have, when my business gets too many clients signing up at the same time, some of the plates I am juggling start crashing to the floor and shattering.
You have probably experienced that as well.
If you have been following Carol Roth for a while, you’ll know she always recommends doing small partnerships with people to make sure they are who they say they are, and that your business values and expectations are compatible. This is excellent advice.
My first hire seemed to be a great choice. They were someone I knew well who was respected in my community of entrepreneurs and speakers, and had also been a happy client of mine, so they knew my work. I thought we would build a high-profile training and coaching business, but the timing wasn’t right for my hire, and I didn’t get what I had hoped for regarding support for client overflow and technical support. We had an amicable separation, but I haven’t brought anyone in to help me since then.
It’s been four or five years that I have been considering who the right person would be to help me from a skills and personality perspective. They would need to have experienced my work and love the types of clients I coach. They would need to come at this work with giant heart and a fierceness to help clients push through limiting beliefs and fears.
They also would need to be proficient with administrative tasks, software, and communications.
I got really clear on what I needed and then waited for the right person to show up. In fact, I was so clear, that when they did show up, I jumped on the opportunity to have them partner with me. Earlier in her career she’d been the office manager and certification program specialist for a premier coaching training organization AND she was a certified professional life coach. Bingo!
While her job description and responsibilities will evolve over time, I am thrilled to announce that Angie Rome Gonzalez will be partnering with Point A to Point B Transitions Inc. She is a true people person and a beautiful soul, and she will kick my butt to get all the things that have been on my to-do list done.
In addition, she is wildly creative, so my branding and content will get will get a much-needed refresh. Woot!
Photo by LinkedIn Sales Solutions on Unsplash