I was asked to write a post about hiring, and so many of you had such great questions that I’ll do my best to answer them here while also sharing my own experience and perspective. When I started, I read a lot of different experiences, and learning about everyone’s different approaches helped me form a more holistic picture. There’s no one right way to hire, but I’ve definitely learned what works for me and what doesn’t. I inadvertently followed Dan Martell’s Replacement Ladder before it was even published, but that’s a big recommended read for you all (PDF is attached below). The concept is in the Buy Back Your Time book. Another solid one is Who Not How. For context, here’s what my support team looks like right now: - About 12 instructors, lifeguards, and safety instructors - 3 social media people (one manages the others and also manages the data analytics team member) - 1 VA - 1 marketing and analytics executor (doing a lot of the doing that comes from the marketing coach) - 1 marketing coach (big rec here- https://angiecolee.com/work-with-me/#caos) - 1 executive coach (big on vision and growth strategies) - 2 financial people (a CPA who does my taxes and used to do bookkeeping and payroll, but we’re bringing that internal now) - I also co-own another business with 4 technicians, an on-site manager, and 2 admin staff I do believe a VA should be most people’s first hire. My first backend hire was an ops assistant because I could make more money teaching swimming than what I paid her ($22/hour). My teaching rate was around $150/hour at the time, so it made sense. My very first hires were more instructors because I couldn’t teach enough to match demand. !!!! You will never feel ready to spend the money on a hire, but once you do, you won’t go back. !!!! I’ve used Indeed, Fiverr (originally, not anymore), and Seek (an Australian platform for overseas talent). Now, I have enough team members that I just tell them what kind of person I’m looking for, and they handle finding me the right fit and someone who can hang with our expectations and growth.

Hey I said STF, not WTF! I spent a good amount of time organizing all of our swim gear in the storage unit after some of our instructors turned in the gear. So! Many! Kickboards! I need to get one of my instructors to do this next year, lol. I also took a nap (clap for me!!), because I woke up again at 4:30 for my early workout class (clap for me!!!) I had the follow up PIP convo with my underperforming team member, and the plan was to give her another month and then re-evaluate. And then she no showed to a meeting in the afternoon with someone else on our team. I-....... Also tough for me to be really harsh (or maybe appropriately harsh), because her dad passed away this week. I am reeeeally trying to offer grace, but the grace can't come at the expense of the business this much (some I can be flexible with). I also have scheduled the meeting for the other new hire I am hiring to bring payroll back internally. I also taught a class this evening. Lighting wise, we are ramping up and getting ready for our first training weekend. OMG also! We got interest from the manager at one of our storage units who needs a lighting contractor (hates his current options in the approved vendor list), so that is a super excited growth opportunity for us. Big moves and I am soooo excited for one week from Wednesday when I am flying to San Francisco!

Amaaaazing hour session with the marketing coach I started working with. It is always tough to swallow the multi multi hundred dollar hour fee for some of the coaches, but damn investing in myself pays off way more than the pain of that price tag. I did also teach a few classes and watch a few swim classes on Tuesday. Yay for all of the progress made over this season! Our indoor schedule is also now live for swim classes inside.

Today was a busy non Legacy Tide day as we conducted final interviews for the last round of the lighting business. I guess I can shift these posts to cover both efforts, because both are taking a good amount of my time. I posted earlier about how streamlined hiring felt this time around, just due to increased competency on the subject. I prepared for the PIP convo I had started with one of the team members a few weeks ago. It feels a bit of a let down to have to be going through the PIP process less than six months in, but she has taken an absolute 180 in performance and is quite closed about any causes, which makes it difficult to coach through. Later this week was the PIP convo, another marketing coach meeting (where we are identifying best website redo gameplan). I am always a morning person, but actually working out as early as 5-5:30 is a bit earlier than I am used to, but that is on the agenda almost every day this week, because it is the best time in my schedule to get it done.

🌙 We all begin for one reason or another. ✨ Take a moment and strip it back to the core and tell me in just 3 words 💭: For me I wanted to live with more Freedom 🕊️ Love ❤️ Expression 💃 ⭐ So I am called to ask, What made you want to chase your dreams? 🌌