Lesson 4: Build Your Team Before You Need It
Going solo doesn’t mean going alone. Most solo-preneurs or independent consultants can’t — or don’t want to — deliver completely alone. When I started my business after a 25-year corporate career, two things were true:
I was used to having a talented circle — researchers, designers, analysts, and writers by my side.
I genuinely like working with a team. I believe better work comes from collaboration and diverse perspectives.
One of the hardest limiting beliefs I had to overcome was the idea that, without that built-in team, the quality of my work would slip — or that I had to do everything myself.
Could I do it all? Sure. But running a business is also about smart resource management. Some tasks aren't the highest and best use of my time — or the client’s investment. Clients get better results when you curate the right resources from your network and bring them together to deliver stellar work.
Tip 1: Leverage Your Professional Network
If you already have a robust network:
Pick a handful of people with complementary skills. Plug them in on small projects. And pay them. Think of it as R&D — a way to discover:
Who does great work
What they’re truly great at
Who you can trust to deliver consistently
You may have worked adjacent to someone in the past — but have they worked for you on a project that had your name on it? Are they building an independent career, or are you just a stop on the road to something else? It's worth finding out early.
If you're wired like me, you might catch yourself thinking:
"It'll be faster if I just do it myself."
"It’ll take longer to explain it."
"They won't do it exactly how I would."
It’s tempting to slip into short-term control freak mode.
But finding your people is an investment in your (and your firm’s) future.
In the early years, I experimented by giving new collaborators small, well-scoped projects with a fixed fee. It gave me a clear way to test fit — and minimized risk for both sides.
Tip 2: Use Contractor Platforms for R&D
If you’re not sure where to start:
Try platforms like Upwork or Graphite.
Pro tip:
Create a small sample project that mirrors the type of work you’ll actually need. Example: If you need help formatting PowerPoint decks, build 10 messy slides and ask three freelancers to clean them up. See who delivers the best work — and hire your favorite for a bigger job later.
Important:
Do this before you're under a tight deadline. Think of it as R&D, not rescue.
I’m lucky to have found incredible collaborators over the years. Every now and then, I bite off a big project that’s bigger than one person can handle — and friends and colleagues like Mary Jane Credeur, Jill Hall, Sarah Walker, Erin Gendron, and Hope Eyre have been absolutely invaluable.
They've helped me sustain and grow my business — and deliver the very best work by curating the best talent.
I hope this gives you a few ideas — and a little inspiration — to find your people, too.
