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Today we’re talking about the pros and cons of building a team OR staying a solo creator.
I’m gonna get real with you for a second: I have some psychological trauma around this topic because I ran an influencer marketing agency for 7 years, initially it was just me but as the business started growing and I started struggling to keep my head above water with the work, I did what I thought you were supposed to do - I hired an employee.
That went well so I hired another, then another.
Fast forward 5 years and my payroll was almost $50,000/month. I know that seems like a lot but we were also making a lot of money, pulling down multi-six figure brand partnership contracts.
But then, everything came crashing down in 2020 with the pandemic. I tried everything I could to save the company but it just wasn’t enough and I had to lay off all my employees.
It was the absolute lowest point of my life emotionally and professionally. I spent several months in a really dark place.
But then, thankfully, I emerged from those ashes and started Creator Wizard.
And it’s really starting to grow. BUT now I have this crippling fear, that if I start hiring too many employees again, it’s all gonna come crumbling down like the agency.
Even though I’m aware of this limiting belief, it’s super hard to not let the anxiety creep in, especially during fluctuations in revenue, month to month.
And sometimes I wonder, do you really need to grow a team to build a successful creator business? Is it possible to stay solo and still thrive?
I’m honestly not sure which is why I asked two experts to settle this debate, once and for all.
Barrett Brooks is a writer, coach, and previously the Chief Operating Officer at ConvertKit so you can say he knows a thing or two about building teams.
Justin Welsh, on the other hand, runs a one-person business that teaches creators how to identify, develop, and monetize the skills they already have.
By the end of this episode, you’ll know:
1. When is the best time in your creator journey to make the decision to grow a team vs stay solo?
2. The unexpected and surprising benefits to both
3. Who is a better Creator Debater: Barrett or Justin?
Chapters
00:00 Solopreneur vs. Team Overview
02:51 Opening Arguments
06:51 Round 1: Going from 0 to 1
12:25 Round 2: Unexpected Benefits
23:28 Round 3: UNO Reverse
30:46 Final Appeals
Follow our guests
Justin Welsh
Website: justinwelsh.me
X @thejustinwelsh
Instagram
Course: https://www.justinwelsh.me/the-operating-system-grow-monetize-your-linkedin?
Barrett Brooks
Website: barrettbrooks.com
X @barrettabrooks
Workshop: https://barrettbrooks.ck.page/products/meaningful-job-self-paced
