Personally, adding someone to my team is simply not something I will ever feel totally prepared for. So many unknowns. Like having a baby, for example. Are you ever truly ready? I recall, well into my pregnancy with my first son I stopped and had a moment of panic when I realized that he had to come out. Like, there was only one way out and that was through! I don’t care who you are, that is some scary sh*t!
Anyway, just like I survived giving birth, I survived another round of finding a new member of our team (more to come on that). I have learned a lot in the couple of times I have gone through the process so thought I’d share.
Not all Moms want to be stay-at-home Moms, but……….
They also do not want to feel like “a bad Mom.” Mom guilt is indescribable, can last for days, and wreak havoc on our mental health if we let it. Yes, kids are resilient and forgiving and will be fine, but still! I am not sold on work-life balance being attainable while raising kids, but I am convinced that I have an obligation to create an environment that can get as close to it as possible. And not just for myself but for all of us. I have built my business by design, not default. I could have a business triple in size by now if I had been willing to sacrifice more time away from my family for the past few years. For what though?
Open your mind to who could be a good fit.
When I set out to hire my first full-time employee, I was convinced I knew who it had to be. Someone older (really felt like I needed to stay away from those scary millennials) and someone already licensed and experienced. I ended up hiring the complete opposite. A young millennial with no insurance license or experience. And guess what? She was (and still is) the perfect fit for me. Oh, let’s not forget that when I got into this, I came from a completely different industry with no insurance license and no clue what I was doing. We all must start somewhere and not just in our 20s! Please, can we give people an opportunity to start over at any reasonable age?! And do not even get me started on not giving someone a chance who does not have a college degree. We all know there are plenty of book-smart people who have no clue about actual life. We’re talking, none.
Holy moly do people want to feel valued!
This was a common theme during my recent conversations. People genuinely want to feel valued and appreciated. They want us to pay attention and hear what they have to say. They want to feel like they are a part of something. That they are not easily replaceable. Yes, I understand all the hype around the “great resignation” and the difficulties of hiring and retaining good people in today’s market. I also understand that money and the wages people are asking for these days are sometimes unrealistic but not everyone only cares about the money. I am telling you, every single person I spoke with shared some version of not feeling appreciated and it often started with “it’s not as much about the money as it is…………” Let’s do better.
Disclaimer** Yes, I realize that this is much easier said than done in my small agency compared to a manufacturer who needs to hire twenty people tomorrow, so no need to come at me with that point. Cheers!
Anyhoo, if you want, stay tuned for more tidbits on giving birth and building a business!
Liz
