Sam van der Steen’s Post

We are performance driven.

These points are good for self-reflection as a leader.

I’m a huge believer that great team = great business. You can be selling the same product as your competitor but if you have the better team, you’ll win every time. That’s why at PurpleFire I really try my hardest to hire the best talent possible (not only from the U.S. but globally). Couple key traits I look for in new team members: • Accountable • Easy-going yet hard-working • Growth-oriented • Client-focused What do you look for when hiring new team members?

**read this if you're building a team** So you've decided to scale. You know you need the help of a reliable team to move forward... And you even started hiring. Congrats. But here's the thing when it comes to hiring a reliable team... It's like nurturing a basket of apples. All it takes is just one bad apple to ruin the entire basket. Every team will encounter one person who is a bad apple. These people will kill the enthusiasm of all your motivated team members. They blame. They complain. They resent the overachievers in your team as they make them look lazy & ineffective. You must not let them contaminate your team! Your only job as a team leader is to: Protect the energy, enthusiasm, and the code of honor. And you'd have built the team that gives you freedom :) So here's my one line team building mantra: - remove contamination & nurture enthusiasm. That's it. Goo Luck!

**🚀 Soaring to New Heights: ByCherryCo LLC is Hiring! 🚀** As we continue to expand and reach new milestones, I’m excited to announce that **ByCherryCo LLC** will be looking for talented, driven individuals to join our growing team. 🌟 Taking ByCherryCo LLC to the next level as an entrepreneur requires a unique blend of skills and a relentless mindset. Here are **10 key skills** that have been instrumental in our journey: 1. **Customer Engagement**: Building meaningful relationships with our customers is at the heart of our success. 2. **Community Involvement**: Being an active part of the community has not only expanded our network but also strengthened our brand. 3. **Resilience**: Staying focused on the end goal, even when the path is unclear, is essential. 4. **Visionary Leadership**: Leading with a clear vision that inspires and motivates others. 5. **Adaptability**: The ability to pivot and adjust strategies as the market evolves. 6. **Strategic Planning**: Mapping out a clear plan and sticking to it, while remaining flexible. 7. **Effective Communication**: Clear, consistent, and transparent communication within the team and with our customers. 8. **Innovative Thinking**: Constantly seeking new and creative ways to solve problems. 9. **Time Management**: Prioritizing tasks effectively to maximize productivity. 10. **Financial Acumen**: Understanding the numbers and making decisions that drive profitability. It's important to remember that even when you’re starting from grassroots, keep walking, leading, and operating as if you’re already running the multimillion-dollar company you know you are destined to become. **Together, we can move mountains.** 💪 If you’re ready to be a part of something extraordinary, I encourage you to connect with me on LinkedIn and stay tuned for upcoming job opportunities. Let’s make history, together! **Cherice Smith**   CEO, ByCherryCo LLC

This is why hiring A-players matters. Stop asking— “How am I gonna do this?” Start asking— “Who’s gonna do it for me?” It’s all about having a reliable team. A team of high-performers. But how do you find the right people? You need the right training. Training and leadership are huge. And you need the right systems and processes in place. Clear workflows. Defined roles. Efficient tools. These keep everyone aligned and productive. These are the keys to building a top team. A team that helps you grow and scale. Want real growth? Invest in A-players.

Here’s what I believe makes a great boss: • They trust you and give you the space to excel in your role. • They are accessible, always ready to support and guide you. • They build up their team with genuine encouragement and appreciation. • They recognize your strengths and provide opportunities to develop them. • They value every team member and understand success is a collective effort.

As a leader, there are two types of positive feedback from my team that warm my heart. One is, "I wanna be like you when I grow up" (oh, sweet Gen Z, you're so kind), and the other is, "I've never worked in a team like this before" from our new hires (last quarter we successfully onboarded four people). Our team thrives in a friendly and supportive atmosphere, where there's no internal competition but a collective drive towards a common goal. We have a deep connection and respect for each other's efforts. I truly believe that a positive team atmosphere significantly boosts productivity and job satisfaction. Happy people work better. As a team lead, I've learned a lot about maintaining this team vibe. Here are some basic principles I follow: - Love your people - Trust them - Listen to them - Support and protect them - Help them grow That's my recipe for a succeeding team. Do you have similar experiences or different thoughts? P.S. We're hiring!

Have you ever wondered why your team sometimes feels like it's swimming against the tide? When building and scaling high-performance teams, the dynamics are as crucial as the talent...I would say even more crucial. The secret sauce isn't just hiring top-tier talent ("Cue the 'we only hire the top 1% of developers' spiel.) It's about fostering a culture where collaboration trumps competition. When everyone is rowing in the same direction, great things happen. How do you ensure your team stays aligned and motivated? How do you make it happen?

Regularly working a 50+ hour week Overstretched team, working incredibly hard It's difficult to ask people to add hiring to their long list of 'to do's' Hiring A-Players means you can release pressure. It's a game changer The temptation to just 'fill the seat' can be overwhelming but the fallout of hiring the wrong people can be catastrophic Take a look at my short video (link in comments) How do you make sure you hire A-Players? If you're a founder/CEO leading a scale-up and you're feeling the pressure to implement the right hiring strategy drop me a DM