getting the right people on the bus

Today I want to share an obvious but often overlooked fact:  your business is only as successful as the people you surround yourself with.

In Good to Great, Jim Collins shares that enduring great companies worry first about who will be involved in the company, and then what the company will make or do.  This principle, referred to in the book as “first who, then what,” involves getting the right people on the bus and the wrong people off the bus BEFORE deciding where the bus will go.

Involving the right people in your business from the early stages can have a big impact on the kind of company you’ll build in the future.  In the book, Collins shares stories of entrepreneurs who hired key people for their companies, even if they couldn’t really afford them, or didn’t have a position available.  They knew that getting the right people into the company had to take priority over any other concern.

But how does this principle apply to solo endeavors?  How do you get the right people involved when the only person you can afford to keep on the bus is you?

Well, you can dream about the day when you’ll hire your first employee.  And you can look at your vendors and service providers to make sure they are your “right people.”

But I think the most important way that solo entrepreneurs can apply the “first who” concept is to surround themselves with the right people.  Sure, they may not be on the payroll.  But involving the right people as mentors, friends, confidants, and support systems can have a tremendous impact on the success of your business.

I don’t think it’s any coincidence that when I was spending time with another entrepreneur who was feeling frustrated and doubting her business, that I was also frustrated and filled with doubt.  Or that since I’ve started hanging out with Tara, I’ve felt a renewed sense of drive and passion for my business.

The bottom line?

People who want to run successful businesses need to surround themselves with successful, motivated, driven people.

So, where do you find these successful, motivated, driven people?

Well, you can search social media, network at events, and strike up conversations with strangers in the hopes of finding your own Tara.

Or, you can join a growing community of them!

That’s right, today I’m excited to announce the official launch of The Creative Empire – an exclusive membership community for creative entrepreneurs founded by myself and Tara Gentile of Scoutie Girl.

Tara and I have seen firsthand the benefits of being involved in a supportive community, and we want you to do the same.  The Creative Empire is all about helping you turn your passion into a profitable, scalable, sustainable business.

Here’s what some of our early members have to say:

I am LOVING this community! I love being surrounded by other entrepreneurs. It can be a lonely, misunderstood world of creating, running and expanding a business. It is comforting to have a place to go where I know others “GET IT”.
– Holly, Accounting Spot

I like that this forum is not used for complaining, negativity, or blatant promotion. The other members are very honest and open to sharing what works and what doesn’t, critique, positive feedback, and the peace of mind that you’re not alone. It’s a great avenue to tackle the more pressing subjects when you’re ready to move from hobby to career.
– Tina Jett

We Believe

We believe that we learn best as a group. We believe that sustainable businesses are built on passion. And we believe that businesses built on passion should be profitable. Very profitable.

Who We Are

The Creative Empire is a community of like-minded creative business owners. We are entrepreneurs who are looking to get ahead of the game, learn from each other, try new strategies. This is a place for serious action and frank discussion.

We are not all crafters or artists. Inside, you’ll find writers, designers, coders, numbers people, and more. We are all looking to find out of the box solutions for running our businesses.

What We Do

Monthly training activities, conference calls, freebies, and lots of discussion on the forums – there’s a lot! Click over to find out more.

If The Creative Empire sounds like something that could help you realize the dream of having a successful, sustainable, passion-driven, profit-creating business, click over to the site to find out more.

(image credit)