[alekhine]

Hi everybody,

My name is Manny and I've been an entrepreneur since I was 16 when I found the Internet. I can't believe it's almost 10 years since then!

Anyway, I don't want to bore you with my life story, so here's the brief:

I moved to Los Angeles from South America this year (I have a legal permanent resident status btw). I moved my company here as well. It's an internet marketing company where I'm the only employee (everything else is outsourced).

I really feel 2007 is going to be my year. Business is good and I've saved enough to start hiring employees and move to a nice office. In fact, I want to get started this December.

This is a big step for me though. I've always worked alone, and I'm a little anxious about the idea of working with other people. I don't know where to begin. Should I rent the office first, then post job ads? or viceversa? How can I convince people to work with me, if they can only see a young dude with a strong foreign accent? Should I design processes for all the tasks I need help with in advance? Whould I hire highly qualified people, or inexperienced people that I can teach?

How exciting is to be an entrepreneur!

Manny

[sunithadefy]

Hello sir,
Please check PMB.
Kind regards,
Sunitha

[akula]

Originally Posted by alekhine

Should I design processes for all the tasks I need help with in advance? Whould I hire highly qualified people, or inexperienced people that I can teach?

How exciting is to be an entrepreneur!

Manny

Hi Manny, great questions

We all have low profile, cash strapped startups - so how can we win the war for talent?

Personally, we've always tended to recruit people through our customers.

If you have a good customer base, you can ask for referals and recruit good people.

By good, I mean that they're familiar with the product - they like to use it, and they understand how it works.

By bad, I mean recruiting strangers who enter the company and create a lot of uncertainty.

It's a difficult topic.....if you post more questions, I'll write some more stuff and try to put a structure around your recruitment plan

[sicnarftea]

I personally hire university students (freelance). They are usually cheap, fast, capable and generally smart. Also, i look for ones who would generally be looking for a future career in the field (of the occupation in question) which means they should know what they are doing.

There is no point hiring someone whom needs to be taught waht to do, unless its a no brainer job. The person you hire should ease the pain, not increase it.

[pbradish]

Friends and family. People you know very well and can trust.

[alekhine]

Thanks for the advice sicnarftea. I just found a place close to UCLA. I think this is the one. I may move in next week!

Will keep you guys updated!

[MojaCity]

Im about to get involve in that same process. I like the advice.

Personally I have been meeting a lot of potential on craigslist

[kwontemtek]

Originally Posted by pbradish

Friends and family. People you know very well and can trust.

NEVER WORK WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS. Money can easily come between you and jeopardize your relationships. Keep friends outside of work and employees inside. This doesnt mean you can go out with your employees and treat them all to a dinner party (which you can write off later)

Work with people who will call you "boss" or address you as "Mr." on and off work premises so they know your the authority figure in your operation whatever it may be. Employees will grow a professional respect for you.

Working with family and friends leads to slacking, arguments, and even full out brawls. So sure friends and family are people you can trust, just don't work with em.

[MojaCity]

I agree...Leave family and friends out

[sicnarftea]

money almost always wreck family/friends, i've seen it happen multiple times, and has happened to as well, over something stupid

[Bestmiler]

Hey Manny (I assume its short for Emmanuel?) Where in South America did you live?