Welcome back to our series on launching your dream business! Today, I'm sharing five pro tips to help you build your dream team. Hey everyone, I’m Ted. Outside of YouTube, I run an award-winning digital marketing agency that I've built over the last 22 years. If you want to learn how to run your business profitably and consistently, follow along!

1. Hire on Core Values

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is hiring someone just because they can do the job for the wage you're offering. Like any successful relationship, your team members need to share your core values. Companies and teams that thrive together live and breathe the same principles. This alignment makes it easier for employees to make decisions as you would, even without supervision. Over the years, we've used both Jim Collins’s Vision Framework and Gino Wickman’s core value exercise from his book "Traction." (I'll put the link in the description below.)

2. Conduct a Feasibility Test

Even if a candidate aligns with your core values, you need to ensure they can do the job. Have them complete a sample project during the interview process to gauge their capabilities. Grade and compare these projects against other candidates. If none of the candidates meet your standards, keep looking—never settle. Also, always check references. Candidates can interview well, but references will give you the real scoop. A key question to ask is, "If you were to hire this person again, how enthusiastically would you do so?"

3. Have a Solid Employment Agreement

Employment laws in places like California and Canada protect employees from bad employers, but you also need to protect yourself as an employer. Ensure you have a solid employment agreement. Pro tip: Hire a legal professional to draft this agreement. Don't skimp on this step. I made the mistake of not using a professional initially, and it likely cost me hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years.

4. Invest in Good Onboarding

Big businesses have extensive training and onboarding processes, and just because you're a small business doesn’t mean you can skimp on this step. Poor onboarding leads to rookie mistakes, which can be costly. If you’re unsure where to start, use Zoom to screen share and record yourself explaining every step of the job. Pro tip: Take baby steps. Start with the obvious tasks, store them logically, and build from there.

5. Plan for Your Team's Growth

You might think, "They just started—why plan for their growth already?" In today’s competitive labor market, employees want to see a clear path for advancement. Creating a growth plan shows you care about their future and want them to stay long-term. This fosters loyalty and support within your team.

Outro

Now that you’ve onboarded your team, how do you ensure you're not interrupted with questions every minute of the day? The secret lies in becoming a delegation superstar. Check out our upcoming series, "Running a Business for Starters," where I’ll share tips on effective delegation. If you enjoyed this video, please like, subscribe, and share.

I’m Ted Lau. Thank you for watching You Know Ted—I’ll see you in the next one. Bye!