Growing fast and feeling that itch to hire — but also hearing the tiny voice asking, “Um… are we sure?” You’re not alone. In this candid, super practical deep-dive (basically a masterclass tbh), we walk through the exact thought process of when to hire, who to hire, and how to do it responsibly — especially if you’re a small business owner who wears 47 hats and prefers a sleep-filled life over waking up at 2am in payroll panic.

But this episode isn’t just about checklists and cost formulas — at its core, it’s about trust. Trusting yourself to make a call (sometimes before you feel “ready”), trusting the numbers enough to quiet the what-ifs, and trusting that a thoughtful hire can create space for more growth and more possibility. If you’ve ever wondered whether bringing someone on would free you up or just weigh you down, the goal of this conversation is to give you the clarity to move forward with more confidence about building a team that truly works for you.

🌟 Have a specific question you want me to workshop on the show?

I set up this voice-note line so you can send context-rich questions I can answer for everyone’s benefit — and I can’t wait to hear what you’re building!

What’s inside this episode

• The simple litmus test that tells you what your first (or next) hire should be able to do — and how to spot that thing before you post a job
• The “90-day runway” rule that keeps you from white-knuckling payroll — plus when to bump that to six months
• When SOPs are non-negotiable (even for tiny teams) and how to have your hire draft them while you train—without lowering standards
• How to sneakily get some extra bang-for-your-buck out of your next hire
• A tiny distinction between two types of hires that explains 90% of onboarding headaches
• A lesson I had to learn the hard way about choosing between “potential” and “ready right now"
• The permission slip you need to stop waiting for “every duck in a row” and start making smart, data-backed calls with your gut

Connect with Adriane and Visionaries!

• Let's be friends on the 'gram – @visionariesonline or @adrianegalea
• Connect on Linkedin – with Adriane or Visionaries
• Visit us on the web at visionaries.co
• Come network with us in The Visionaries Collective