Disclaimer: This post integrates principles rooted in biblical teachings alongside practical business advice. While my aim is to inspire and provide actionable insights, I want to acknowledge that my faith may not align with everyone's approach. I welcome readers of all backgrounds to reflect on the concepts presented here and adapt them as needed for their personal journey.
You Don’t Have to Go It Alone
In the world of entrepreneurship, the idea of going solo is often romanticized. Many of us start as solopreneurs, wearing all the hats, managing every aspect of our business, and thinking this is the way it’s supposed to be. But the truth is, business is a team practice, and trying to go it alone often leads to unnecessary challenges and missed opportunities.
Imagine this: You’re stepping onto a soccer field to play a game. You know soccer is a team sport, but you decide to start playing alone. You reason that running onto the field solo will be quicker than building a team. You plan to score a few goals and then go recruit players once you’ve established some momentum. Sounds crazy, right? No one would approach a team sport this way, yet this is exactly how many people approach building a business. The truth is, solo efforts can only take you so far. Success in business—just like in sports—requires collaboration, strategy, and a strong support system.
We start off doing everything ourselves, hoping to secure a few wins before assembling a team. But what happens? We get exhausted, fall behind, and ultimately lose business to teams that were built from the beginning. The truth is, a well-assembled team will always outperform an individual—and this holds especially true in business.
The Lone Ranger Mindset
Having been a photographer for a decade, I know firsthand what it’s like to embody the Lone Ranger mindset. I literally did everything myself—poorly, looking back. I started my photography business out of a love for the craft. I would schedule photoshoots, take payments, edit the photos, and send them back to clients. That’s what I thought running a business was. I had no concept of marketing or sales. Customer service was the one thing I grasped since I handled each client personally.
As my career grew, I began traveling for work, adding the responsibilities of managing travel expenses, planning logistics, and countless other tasks. I was making money, and even hit six figures in gross revenue after a few years. But the reality was far from glamorous. I was barely staying afloat. On some days, I was editing over 100 photos from travel tours, surviving on minimal sleep. I sent hundreds of DMs on Instagram, desperately trying to book clients for upcoming trips just to break even.
There were moments when I realized I needed help. I thought about hiring an assistant, and I sometimes brought on other photographers to capture behind-the-scenes footage. But they never quite did things the way I liked. I collaborated with photographers to share costs, yet I often ended up shouldering the majority of the expenses since these trips were my projects to begin with. I even tried offering referral incentives to clients to bring in new business, but the results were minimal.
From the outside, my peers saw me as a successful photographer—consistent and seemingly on top of the world. But the truth was, I was crumbling under the pressure. Bills piled up, subscriptions drained my revenue, and I struggled to build a sustainable business. While I’m proud of having generated six figures from my photography, it felt hollow without profitability or balance.
I should have hired photo retouchers, video editors, and makeup artists to ease my workload. More importantly, I should have taken the time to learn what running a business truly entailed. I needed to understand the essential roles required to thrive: marketing, operations, finance, and sales. Only then could I have built a foundation for long-term success.
We’ve been conditioned to embrace the Lone Ranger approach to entrepreneurship. The idea of being self-made is celebrated, but it often leads to burnout and stagnation. We’re told, “Wear all the hats now, and delegate later when you’ve hit scaling mode.” While this advice has its merits, it often delays the creation of a high-performance team that can truly drive business growth.
Let’s reframe this narrative. Instead of trying to do it all yourself, consider the roles that every business needs to thrive:
Key Person of Influence (KPI): The visionary who drives the brand’s mission, builds relationships, and attracts opportunities.
Head of Sales and Marketing: The individual who ensures that your products or services reach the right audience and generate consistent revenue.
Head of Operations: The person who ensures that the business runs smoothly, efficiently, and effectively.
Head of Finance and Reporting: The one who monitors the financial health of the business and ensures resources are allocated wisely.
Thinking Bigger Than Ourselves
Whether you’re a photographer, a makeup artist, or a fitness coach, building a business isn’t just about personal achievement. It’s about creating something that goes beyond yourself. It’s about:
Impacting Your Clients: Building a team allows you to serve your clients in deeper and more meaningful ways. With specialized roles, your business can provide exceptional value that one person alone cannot sustain.
Creating Opportunities: A team provides jobs, allowing others to provide for their families and be part of something bigger than themselves.
Experiencing True Freedom: Being self-employed often means being tied to your business. Building a team gives you the freedom to step back, innovate, and grow without being bogged down by every detail.
As Proverbs 15:22 (NIV) reminds us, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” A team offers diverse perspectives, expertise, and collaboration that propel your business forward in ways you could never achieve alone.
Building a Team That Reflects Your Values
Your team should not only be competent but also aligned with your core values. When your team members share your vision and principles, it creates a unified effort toward achieving your goals. However, one of the biggest challenges many self-employed, aspiring entrepreneurs face is hiring team members when they’re unsure how to pay them—especially if they’ve struggled to pay themselves consistently.
Overcoming the Fear of Hiring
The fear of hiring often stems from uncertainty around finances. How do you commit to paying someone else when you’re still trying to stabilize your own income? The key lies in planning and transparency. Here’s how you can approach this challenge:
Start Small and Prioritize Key Roles: You don’t have to build a full team overnight. Identify the role that will have the most immediate impact on your business. For many, this could be an assistant to handle administrative tasks or a specialist to take over time-consuming duties like editing or bookkeeping.
Use Our Revenue Allocation & Pricing Calculator: The Revenue Allocation & Pricing Calculator will help you assess whether you can hire team members while maintaining financial health. This tool is designed to assist you in pricing multiple products or services, calculating direct costs (COGs), and tracking operating expenses. It also enables you to evaluate your overall capacity and potential annual revenue. This will help you visualize how much you should allocate out of each payment your business receives and will let you know if your prices need to increase or not.
Hire Freelancers or Part-Time Team Members: You don’t need to start with full-time employees. Consider hiring or partnering with freelancers or part-time professionals who can help lighten the load without requiring a full-time salary commitment. This allows you to scale their involvement as your revenue grows.
Set Clear Expectations: Be upfront with your hires about the growth stage of your business. Some professionals are willing to work with startups when expectations and opportunities for growth are communicated clearly.
Building the Right Team
Once you’ve addressed the financial concerns, focus on ensuring your team aligns with your values. Here are some steps to get started:
Define Your Core Values: What does your business stand for? These values will guide how you hire, manage, and grow your team.
Hire for Alignment: Look for people who not only have the skills but also share your vision and values. Conduct interviews that go beyond technical skills, diving into their motivations and personal goals.
Empower Your Team: Give your team the tools, trust, and authority to make decisions and contribute meaningfully. When team members feel valued and trusted, they’re more likely to stay committed.
Communicate the Bigger Picture: Help your team understand how their role fits into the overall mission of the business. When they see how their contributions make an impact, they’ll feel more connected to your vision.
By taking these steps, you’re not only addressing immediate fears around hiring but also laying the foundation for a values-driven team that will help your business grow sustainably.
The Bigger Picture
Building a team isn’t just about scaling your business; it’s about creating a legacy. It’s about stepping into the role of a leader who empowers others while driving a mission forward. As Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV) reminds us, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”
So, let’s move beyond the lone ranger mindset. Let’s build businesses that not only achieve our dreams but also impact the lives of others. A thriving team isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s the foundation of a business that succeeds in every sense of the word.
Comments