Quick intro
What’s the problem?
Starting a business involves a lot of work. There might be skills you have to master without knowing beforehand that those skills exist. Your product might require work that is not as fun or interesting as expected or a type of work that you just don't know how to do. As an entrepreneur who is just getting started, you often have small amounts of money to hire someone that could do some work better and faster than you. But what if there are other options to get your first freelancer, part-time employee, or assistant?
Own background
What’s my context/experience?
When I started LIVRIA, a community for underground musicians and their fans, I had no idea which activities and skills I needed to apply. I did some initial research and interviews to identify the pain points from musicians. Based on that research, I came up with dozens of ideas on which products would help them grow their audiences and make a living from their music. That's it, I thought. Now it's about execution. Some of the product ideas involved 'developing a social media platform for musicians', 'producing high-quality content for Instagram and YouTube interviewing musicians in a studio', 'organizing music events in Berlin' or 'designing, printing and selling cool t-shirts to boost the brand'. Back then, in 2020, I had no clue how to bring those ideas to life. I just went step-by-step and reached out to people who had expertise on those topics. Even though LIVRIA hasn't reached profitability yet, I managed to execute the ideas I started with. I wouldn't have been able to do that without the help of people who believed in the project. And I would never be able to execute if there was no help from people that were believing in the project. Those years were a big learning for me in terms of hiring people for my company. It showed me that, even if money is scarce and there is no funding, you can create win-win situations in which highly-skilled people see value in working for your business. In the end, working at LIVRIA never felt like 'working alone'. There were always 2 to 7 other people actively working on it for a given period.
My approach
How do I tackle it?
The solution tree is a visual representation of the decision-making process when considering hiring people for your business. It helps you to analyze your situation and find the best solution for your needs. By following the branches of the tree, you can answer key questions about the type of work, your capacity, your budget, and potential win-win situations. This process allows you to strategically evaluate your options and make informed decisions about hiring, even when financial resources are limited.
In my case, most collaborations with people working on LIVRIA were based on win-win and a common foundation of believing in the vision of the project. When people reached out to me or I reached out to them asking if they could/want to join working on the project, I always focused on the potential wins for them first. If a salary or payment was not an option, we ensured that both parties get some value out of the project, even if the collaboration would end tomorrow. Doing so, I think, marked the foundation for all the great teamwork during the last years.
Community Space
Your comments, ideas, feedback
- Have you ever hired someone without having the necessary funds? How did you manage to do it?
- What are your preferred ways to find talented people who are willing to work for non-monetary value?
- Do you have any tips for creating win-win situations when hiring people on a limited budget?
- What are your thoughts on offering equity or other incentives in exchange for work?
- Have you ever used a solution tree or a similar framework to make hiring decisions?
- ...
Join the discussion below. Or write me an email to fabiano@40hourentrepreneur.com