Fire Starters,

Here are some field notes for growth from the woman who runs our business: Angie Wheeler, CMO / Creative + Marketing Strategy.

xo, Danielle

A FEW GROWTH POINTERS FROM TEAM D

1. Bigger is not always better. A healthy business pays around 20% of gross income in payroll (up to 40% in some industries). Anything above that is unhealthy.

2. Skills tests are helpful. Someone may look great on paper, but it’s helpful to get a real-life taste of their work ethic and personality (and for them to get to know yours). A skills test is a great way to find out if you’re on the same page.

3. Hire for passion too. Just because someone has the skills doesn’t always mean they’re the best person for the job. You want someone who believes in your vision, mission, and goals. If their heart is IN IT, they’re more likely to think big picture when it comes to their impact. If it isn’t, it hinders their ability for excellence.

4. Give them room to rock. Give your new hires structure, but with enough freedom to take ownership of their role. Micro-managing is stressful for everyone involved.

5. And if they prove themselves… leave space for them to blossom. We look to hire folks who are a great match for their jobs, and then leave room for them to grow into a management/leadership role and receive a raise, a bonus, or both.

6. Invest in individual growth + team culture. Ask team members to identify professional development opps and courses to help them grow in their role. Plan personal development and team building exercises to create a team culture that matches your values.

7. Ask what your team needs—often. What do they need to be able to show up at their best each and every day? Tools? Training? Sleep? #TeamD is full of super-humans… who are human. We’ve played around with schedules to ensure that everyone feels free, well-rested, and capable of doing their job at the highest level of performance, while meeting our needs as a business.

Got a friend who needs to build their dream team? Press send.