Five founder lessons I’ve learned in five years of blackbear

In September 2023 we celebrated a significant milestone – the 5th anniversary of blackbear | Your safest way to hire a freelancer .?

When Stefan Hoogenboom and I started this journey, we were driven to change the way the world gets work done. I’m proud to say that what started as a small initiative has now grown into a formidable team of over 30 talented minds and an ecosystem that connects over 150 leading businesses to a network of over 12.000 working professionals.?

Looking back, I can't help but reflect on the lessons learned along the way, and to say I've gained a few insights would be a massive understatement. Although every business takes its own unique journey, filled with ups, downs, and everything in between, I hope that some of my learnings can serve as a helpful guide for fellow founders. So, without further ado, here are 5 lessons that I have learned in 5 years of blackbear:?

1. Know what you’re good at

In the early days of starting a company, the hustle is real. Even as a founder, you need to be prepared to wear multiple hats. When Stefan and I founded blackbear, we were involved in all aspects of the business – from marketing to accounting. However, as your team and company evolve, so must your role. Recognising what you excel at is crucial to channeling your energy effectively.

By understanding your strengths, you can contribute meaningfully to the areas where you make the most impact. It's about maturing alongside your company and asking, "What do I bring to the table at this stage?"

2. … and leave what you’re not good at up to others

As a leader, it's important to acknowledge that specialists are specialists for a good reason. Although you might have good instincts, it's best to assign the right responsibilities to the right people so that your company can thrive. Don't get me wrong, you still have a role to play. It's healthy to challenge ideas while respecting the authority of those who've mastered their domains.

As a founder, your role is to steer the ship with a tangible, long-term vision, an obsessive focus on execution, and the awareness that collaboration and reliance on others' expertise are essential for sustainable growth.

3. Your company is only as good as its people

Let’s face it, a thriving company is the complete opposite of a one-person show. It's a team effort, and who you bring on board matters big time. As a leader, it is worth your while to invest time in hiring the right people that align with your company culture.

My advice? Conduct culture checks during the hiring process. This will ensure that you have a cohesive team. While it may seem tedious to juggle this with your other responsibilities, the investment pays off in sustainable growth and reduced staff churn. Don’t forget, your people define your company, so choose wisely.?

4. Nothing builds trust more than admitting mistakes

Let's keep it real – we're all bound to make mistakes every single day. In my opinion, a genuine leader of any successful business doesn't shy away when things go south; they own it. We make it a point to host monthly?'All-Claws' sessions, where we deep-dive into both our successes and where things may have veered off course. This open acknowledgement of our shortcomings serves as a fantastic chance to lay the groundwork for learning and improvement and is the secret sauce that builds trust and camaraderie within our team.

Let's drop the pretence of perfection right away; instead, be the kind of leader who not only owns up to missteps but actively works with the team to turn every blunder into a valuable opportunity for growth.

5. Take listening seriously (and dare to create space for others)

As your company grows, effective communication becomes more important than ever. Actively developing your listening skills is essential for staying informed about various facets of your business. In a more literal sense, becoming a better listener enables you to receive crucial information from your team and ensures that you never miss out on vital information. Figuratively, it creates infrastructures within your organisation that promote alignment and transparency so that everyone is on the same page.

It’s worth your while to invest in creating transparency across the board so that information can flow freely. This will prevent disconnection as your company grows. On top of that, becoming a better listener enables you to take that step back and create space for others to thrive. Giving your team the stage to do the talking (and to walk the talk!) will create a culture in which everyone is able to become a better version of themselves.?

Looking back, it hasn’t always been easy, but building blackbear from the ground up has been incredibly rewarding. Our 5-year anniversary is a testament to the efforts of our incredible team who have turned blackbear into what it is today. Our journey doesn't end here; in fact, it's just picking up speed. As we gear up to head into another year in business, I am eager to see what lessons and experiences await us.?Here’s to the next 5 years! ??