Surrounding Yourself with Quality

In the corporate world there is a motto that is heard no matter where you work, “Surround yourself with quality people who know more than you and you will always look good.” And guess what, for the most part this is true. CEO’s who want their companies to succeed usually have a team of people who are experts in their field who advise them on everything from building, human resources, operating procedures, finance, and more.

But what if you are not a Fortune 500 company? What if you only have one employee – yourself? What if you fill all the positions on the board of directors? Who do you surround yourself with during committee meetings?

Recently I have had to undergo several (7 to be exact) foot surgeries. While I was used to doing everything except computer related work for myself, quickly I realized that was no longer possible. Hopping in the car to run a quick errand to the UPS store was no longer in my responsibilities list. Because my business structure is an LLC, I do have a few people named as board members on paper. My husband acts as vice president of the company and my daughter the secretary of record. Once a year right after Christmas we have a meeting as required by law. I give them an overview of how things are going while we eat leftovers. But the day-to-day operation of the company is all mine. Was that always in my best interest?

Because I worked in the cooperate world for so many years, I remembered that motto when it can time to search for help.  Where would I find quality people to fill in the gaps for me while I recovered? Which tasks could I hire out and which could family do?

I started by making a task list. All the things that would need to be done to keep my business going while my foot was healing. The task list was then divided into things that family would do and things that needed to be hired out. Of course, family members want what is best for you, but be selective with which family members you ask. Once the family list was finalized, the search for the right quality person for the remaining tasks began. 

I have always had wonderful results by connecting with counselors at the junior college level and or youth pastors who teach college/career classes. They usually know their students well, who the hard workers are that need the extra pay. After interviewing serval candidates, I settled on a young lady who had the experience I was looking for. We agreed on a pay structure and the times she would be available. A contract stating the terms we agreed to was signed by both of us. This young lady was one of the best employees I have ever had. I wish I could have kept her forever. 

This short-term solution worked for me during a time when I needed it most. I learned that every task in my business did not need to be done by me. I still use college students, to help during my busiest times. Several of them have showed me some time saving hacks and helped me look at my workflow in a new light. 

Creating your good life in business is joyful work when you surround yourself with quality people.