Eventually that's where you want to be really scrappy as an entrepreneur when you're first getting your business up and running: hiring the right people, partnering the right way, getting feedback on what you're doing.
Alexis MaybankAs an individual, you know what you are good at and what you're not good at, so over time as you are hiring, you should be hiring for the skill requirements as the rule, but you should also be thinking, "What am I less good at?" and knowing you need to hire those people to create a stronger team. Different personalities are good at different things, but as a leader and and entrepreneur, it often has to start with you and building around your shortcomings.
Alexis MaybankIf you recognize how you are most effective - whether it's how you present yourself or whether it's how you speak, how you convey enthusiasm - when you realize what makes you feel like your most confident self, that's when you are going to be your best. You just have to figure out what makes you effective in your environment. As long as you get that right, they are always going to remember you a lot more!
Alexis MaybankAs an entrepreneur you are often failing as much as you are succeeding. You are falling on your face as much as you are stepping up and moving forward. You need resilience to get up, re-gather, think of what you are going to do next, not letting that misstep pull you down. Next, you cannot be afraid of looking stupid or not being perfect. You have to be okay with sticking your neck out, being willing to fall down, and knowing that you are more measured over time about how you are getting back up.
Alexis MaybankI always have to add to a team someone who is a highly tactile, list-oriented person who keeps us on track. And call them a COO or executive all-star, or whatever. I need to balance myself with people around this table who are much better at organizing, which is certainly a blind spot of mine.
Alexis MaybankWith resilience you are learning to be flexible and take feedback on how people are experiencing what you are building, you're listening to what your customers are saying, you're building these relationships, and making better decisions over time. That all really starts with that resilience and that willingness not to be perfect.
Alexis Maybank