PEOPLE: How To Get A Team When You Are A Startup

About People In A Business

Now, ladies and gentlemen, I got to tell you, the most difficult part of, People, Products and Process (3Ps of Business) is/are People, okay? Let me tell you why it's the most difficult in business. Frankly, when you're working with someone you don't like, chances are it won't work.?

Eventually, tensions will build up, and it won't work if you're working with someone who's not a part of what I call The Dream Team. In other words, people that believe in your product, your service, and your mission. This is especially bad if they're (people) just there to get a check. In this situation, it's most likely not going to work.

Hence, I'm saying to you, the most difficult part is picking the right people.?

You're A Startup and Don't Have Money

You might be saying, "Okay, AJ, I'm a startup. I don't have money to pick the right people."

My advice is simple.

You should pick people that believe in your mission. Easy to do? Still, not so much when you don't have money.

So what's the solution?

Offer a small stake. Many successful companies such as Facebook, Microsoft, and others gave a piece. This why they say that even secretaries in these founding companies are millionaires. So how does this apply to your startup?

Equity Piece Is Key To Growth

If you feel (after vetting) that the right fit person/people are worth it, then offer a small stake. Equity in your company, so you don't have to pay them money upfront, it is a great trade-off if the right person/people fit.

*Special Note: Fit, in my opinion, is not only culture, but an impregnable belief in a company's mission and vision.

To that point, they believe in what you're doing and have a single focus... growth of your startup. Simply stated, as long as they believe in what you're doing and they understand that you are the captain of, the ship, male or female, and will to take the journey, then go for it.

Building Confidence and The Dream Team

Say you've done your vetting and offered equity, what's next? You have to build confidence in your Dream Team. How do you do this?

*Hint: Remember the 3Ps (People, Product, and Process).

The answer is simple. Seeing that you are the captain, you have to have plans to get from startup to growth and scale. In short, you need Processes based on a plan in your business. Just as a captain of ship would have a map. In my opinion, people are more willing to adhere to what is organized.

Quick Shift - Other Thoughts

Although this article is about People, I can't stress enough that a winning team needs processes to follow. You never want your people to feel that your business make moves adhoc. Also, keep in mind, just because you can have successful selection of people, of process and product, it does not necessarily mean that you're going to have success as a business.

The one thing that's guaranteed in any business is struggle, right? Not success, but struggle.?

Still, your chances of success increase, in my opinion, when you pick the right people, have a great product/service and a process to deliver value.?