 For the first 12 years of my business, I worked as a solopreneur. While that gave me independence, it also meant I wasn’t responsible for anyone else’s paycheck, benefits, or career development. The idea of being accountable for another person’s livelihood was overwhelming—and that fear kept me from hiring and growing, even though I knew it was long overdue.
What finally gave me the courage and the know-how to take the leap? Mentorship through SCORE. I was first introduced to SCORE through OneZone Chamber, where I attended a few in-person trainings. Those sessions planted a seed, but I didn’t return to SCORE until more than a decade later. That’s when I was paired with Helena Masters. Her enthusiasm for what I was building—and her infectious giggle—made me feel at ease from the jump. For several months, we met every two to three weeks. Helena guided me step by step through the intimidating process of hiring and onboarding my very first employee. She showed me how to write a solid job description, draft confidentiality agreements, create employee handbooks, and think through policies around remote work, computer use, benefits, paid time off, salaries, and performance reviews. For someone with no formal business training, these were daunting tasks—but Helena broke them down into manageable pieces, offered examples, and reassured me along the way. With her help, I successfully hired an intern who later became my first official employee. More importantly, I built a foundation of HR practices that will support my company as it continues to grow. The experience taught me something profound: mentorship doesn’t just provide answers, it builds confidence. SCORE gave me both the courage and the tools I needed to move forward after years of hesitation. The beauty of SCORE is that its mentors volunteer their time and bring real-world expertise tailored to your needs. For me, that meant HR and leadership development. For others, it might be marketing, financial planning, or scaling operations. Whatever the challenge, SCORE provides guidance that can make the difference between staying stuck and moving forward with confidence. If you’re a small business owner wrestling with fear, uncertainty, or your next big step, I can’t recommend SCORE highly enough. You can learn more about the Indianapolis SCORE program here: https://www.score.org/indianapolis.
0 Comments
|
