When I started this journey, it was just me—doing everything. I obviously wasn't offering all the services we do now, but I definitely tried my hardest to be a jack of all trades. I bought a nice camera and started taking photos, I was a self-proclaimed Canva "graphic designer," a web designer, and a social media manager. Now, I wasn't awful, but I definitely wasn’t great—and that’s okay! Without experience, it’s really hard to be great at something. (And usually, someone isn’t an expert in all those areas, but if you are, I applaud you!)
Looking back, I can see that trying to do everything slowed down my growth. Not because I wasn’t capable, but because my time and energy were spread too thin. When you're the person handling every single aspect of the business—client work, sales, marketing, admin, and more—you're bound to hit a ceiling. And that’s exactly what happened. I reached a point where I couldn’t take on more clients without sacrificing quality, which is something I was never willing to do.
Fast forward to today, and I’ve brought on creatives who are experts in their respective fields. So what did this mean for me? It meant I could provide our clients with results and deliverables that I am truly proud of. It meant I could outsource and not have to do everything myself. And it meant I could raise prices to reflect the value we were bringing to the table.
But beyond just freeing up my time, hiring specialists completely changed the level of work we were able to produce. A professional designer will always be better than a Canva enthusiast (sorry, past me). A photographer with years of experience will always capture shots I wouldn’t even think of. When you put the right people in the right roles, everything levels up—your brand, your reputation, your client satisfaction, and ultimately, your bottom line.
I feel like such a lucky person—my team truly makes me so happy. As a small team and business, we have the ability to really get to know one another. Some people say you shouldn’t mix business and pleasure, and technically, maybe we are. But at the same time, technically, we’re not. Just because we’ve built strong friendships doesn’t mean we don’t get the work done. If anything, I believe the opposite is true. As we’ve grown closer, I feel my team is more eager to work harder, collaborate better, and take ownership of their roles in a way that makes all of us better.
One thing I’ve learned is that a strong team isn’t just about hiring the most talented people—it’s about hiring people who fit the culture you’re building. I wanted a team that shared my values, work ethic, and commitment to delivering quality. Skills can be taught, but personality and attitude? Those matter just as much. The right team members will push you, challenge you, and make you a better leader. They’ll bring ideas to the table, take initiative, and make the business feel like a team effort rather than just a solo hustle.
So where am I going with this? Honestly, I don’t even know. But here’s what I do know—when you're starting out, be selective about who you hire. Make sure they fit into your ecosystem. Ensure they align with the values of your company. Find people who work well with others and don’t be afraid to get to know them personally. It could actually make your business and team stronger than ever.
There’s something incredibly fulfilling about not just building a business, but building a team that wants to be part of that journey with you. A team that celebrates wins together, tackles challenges together, and genuinely enjoys working alongside each other.
And at the end of the day, I gained four new friends. (Five, if we’re counting Keith hahaha)
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