The Entrepreneur’s Tool Kit: Picking Your Core Team
“You don’t build a business. You build people, and then people build the business.” — Zig Ziglar
In this week’s installment of “The Entrepreneur’s Tool Kit,” we move to the fourth step: picking your core team.
You’ve validated your idea, consulted with experts and have a blueprint to guide you on the journey through entrepreneurship. Now you’re ready to choose the people to build your business with.
To say this step is important would be understating the case. The decisions you make at this stage will influence your business throughout its lifetime. This first generation of collaborators will not only shape the product and processes of your company; they’ll also establish the corporate culture future hires and the public will come to know.
(Which brings up one key tip: Don’t hire anyone, no matter how talented, who you and your team won’t be able to stand being around!)
Your core team will vary in size depending on your type of business, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution here. Also, your personal skill set plus amount of time you can dedicate to your business will also factor in.
To start, you will need to be able to build your product, market it, keep track of finances, leverage technology, and potentially discuss legal issues. These five areas are typically the bedrock of launching a business.
It’s at this point when you will decide what level of support you need and how to get that help:
- Will you hire freelancers to do work for you?
- What skill level are you looking for in those you bring on board?
- Will you compensate people with cash or equity in the company?
- Do you require people on your team to meet in person or virtually?
You can ask more questions to refine your needs and clarify your search to determine the best fit for your core team.
Explore freelance sites, community startups, or specific group meetups to make new connections. Once there, hone in on the people who match your list of core team members to take your business to the next level.
Previously on “The Entrepreneur’s Toolkit”: Blueprints.
Next week: Engaging talent from universities.
