I want to talk today about team building. *audience sighs and rolls eyes* I know, I know, you’re all thinking “What in the heck could be said about team building that hasn’t already been said??” Hear me out, Self Made Nation, because I’m not talking about “rah rah” weekend getaways-type team building. I’m talking about actually building your team. From the ground up.
Look at any super-successful entrepreneur today, and what will you find? A finely curated and complimentary team of people behind them. These businesspeople have realized that in order to make money – you have to spend money. And so should you. Let’s face it, you already know what your zone of genius is – and isn’t. You need to start filling those “genius gaps” with the right people and let them get to work helping you build (or improve upon) your empire.
Draft the Right People
That’s what my recent “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” guest Nick Legault did. An engineer by trade, Nick worked full time while launching his real estate investment company, and it was a few years before he “quit the day job” to focus full time on Building Investments. And as soon as he could, he made a point to hire people who could fill in his own gaps – allowing him to focus on what he does best: acquisition.
The results? He has since grown that business 17-fold in just a few short years and is expected to double in size every two years or so.
The Obstacle Might Be You
Nick was candid in how he learned his lesson – he bluntly said his biggest obstacle he’s faced since starting the business has been himself, “I'm definitely the source of all my problems, and that's why I need to bring it back to me. It's a natural tendency to look outside - but the problem is not outside, the problems, and the solutions are all inside. Quite frankly, I'm still learning, there's a lot of stuff I'm not very good. That list is enormous! And I tried to fill in with great people, people that can fill in the gaps.”
As a Canadian, I have to make the requisite hockey metaphor – what Nick is describing is kind like the NHL draft process. Some teams go straight for the “must have” in their picks, perhaps the hottest young player coming out of the junior leagues. But many are going for a need. They realize which gaps they have to fill on their team, and hence where certain players would help their game improve.
And there is definitely a science to picking the right people. Whereas sports teams have scouts and data, as well as sometimes grueling combines they can put potential picks through, you, Self-Made Nation, have something equally as important. Yourself.
Elevated Conversations is BACK!
You know yourself – you know what you love, what you hate, what you excel at and what you probably shouldn’t be tackling when it comes to your business. You also know your business, inside and out, and know exactly what it needs in order to grow. Running a business is the most intense self-development program you’ll ever take.
Because without the right team in place, you’ll quickly discover just how many things you’re…not so great at! LOL But that’s OK. I can’t do everything. And neither can you.
And that takes me nicely into some big news! Elevated Conversations is back! These virtual dinner parties - online roundtables of growth-oriented business owners, investors and entrepreneurs, founders and CEOs – are super fun and super informative, and I’m so excited to be starting again. Our February 8th Elevated Conversations, in honor of the 2021 NHL season opener on January 13, will provide fuel to help you dream up fabulous teams, and get them playing like a dream-team.
I was also inspired by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy’s book, Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork, “When we want something done, we've been trained to ask ourselves: "How can I do this?" Well, there is a better question to ask. One that unlocks a whole new world of ease and accomplishment. Expert coach Dan Sullivan knows the question we should ask instead: "Who can do this for me?"’ Who. Not how.
I hope you’ll join me! If you want to participate, direct message me on LinkedIn, or send me an email, and I’ll get back to you.
Building wealth can happen in many ways. Building a real estate empire is one of those ways. So please have a listen to Nick Legault’s story on “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” about constructing a real estate investment company from the ground up – it’s really very good!
Plus, if you’re an entrepreneur looking to exit, or you’re at the helm of a thriving business or startup, I would love to talk with you about your stories! You can drop me a line here.
And watch this space for more details about future Elevated Conversations.