1 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 1: Hi, I'm Britney Saunders and welcome to Big Business, the 2 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:09,480 Speaker 1: place where business is far from boring. And today I'm 3 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:12,719 Speaker 1: recording on gaddig or Land. Now I somehow manage to 4 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: build an empire from the garage underneath my house and 5 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 1: I'm here to share it all with you, from the wins, 6 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:22,279 Speaker 1: the mistakes, the challenging times and funny moments in between. So, 7 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 1: whether you're in business already, perhaps you're not in the 8 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: game at all, Maybe you're just looking for some inspiration, 9 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: or you simply just want to hear the tea, this 10 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,839 Speaker 1: is the podcast for you. Coming up on today's episode, 11 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: I'm going to be talking all things making that first hire, 12 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:39,959 Speaker 1: or if you've already got your first hire, making the 13 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: next higher, knowing when to take the leap to make 14 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 1: your first hire, or knowing and being able to recognize 15 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 1: when you're ready for that next role to come into 16 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 1: the business. Hiring people is the scariest and one of 17 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:56,280 Speaker 1: the biggest. I was going to say the riskiest, but 18 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: is that really a word. The riskiest things, most risky 19 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: things things in business. It's petrifying and when you're starting out, 20 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: you have no idea what you're doing and it all 21 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:08,679 Speaker 1: seems so scary, and I'm right there with you. It 22 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,040 Speaker 1: doesn't matter if you're hiring your first or your second employee, 23 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:16,680 Speaker 1: or hiring year seventieth. It's never not scary, and there's 24 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 1: a lot of risks involved. So let's just jump into 25 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 1: it and talk all things hiring, what to do, what 26 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 1: not to do, and all the mistakes that I've made 27 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: in the years of hiring people at FATE. So let's 28 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 1: just get down to business. I've said this before and 29 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 1: I'll say it again. Hiring people and dealing with staff 30 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: is the hardest part of business. I've said it a 31 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 1: billion times and I'll sing it from the rooftops, and 32 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: I think every business owner out there will agree with me. 33 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: Staffing in general, dealing with real people in your business, 34 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: in their day to day lives, their feelings, their thoughts. 35 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 1: You have to be mindful of everything. It is the 36 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: hardest part of business. I will take going missing, having 37 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 1: to pay huge tax bills, you know, logistics, things going wrong. 38 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: I will take all of that any day over staffing. 39 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 1: It's the hardest part of business. And the thing with 40 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:14,240 Speaker 1: it is it's you can't avoid it. If you're wanting 41 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: to start a business and you're wanting it to grow, 42 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: You're gonna have to deal with staffing, and it's never 43 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,959 Speaker 1: gonna be easy for anyone. You are always going to 44 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 1: have issues no matter what business you're running. And I 45 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 1: so vividly remember when I started Fate, and you all 46 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: know surely by this point, I started it in the 47 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: garage at the bottom of my house. I say that. 48 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: I literally say that at the start of every episode. 49 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 1: Underneath the house. Yeah, like it was like a townhouse thing, 50 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 1: you know how the garage is like the bottom floor. 51 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:43,919 Speaker 1: I started Fate in there, and we had the double 52 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 1: garage and Aj was my new boyfriend at the time, right, 53 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: and so he'd moved in with me because he was 54 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: living at home at the time because he just moved 55 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: back from working in the mines or whatever, and he 56 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 1: moved in with me, and so we both had a 57 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 1: car spot under my house. And when I started FAT, 58 00:02:57,919 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: I said, sorry, but you're gonna have to park on 59 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: the street because I wanted to keep my car spot. 60 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,640 Speaker 1: And then I set up Fate in his car spot, 61 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: and like he was like a really big shed for 62 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 1: a townhouse. So I set up the whole thing in there. 63 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 1: I had my packing table with a little stool at it. 64 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: I had some plastic tubs on the ground with my 65 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 1: stock in it. And then I had a little photo 66 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 1: shoot backdrop and I would quite literally just get girls 67 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: that I knew that lived in Newcastle to come and 68 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:21,679 Speaker 1: I'd take all the photos. I did everything from there, 69 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,639 Speaker 1: and then we had a spare bedroom as well, like upstairs, 70 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:27,520 Speaker 1: and that's where we would do like more office admin 71 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:29,799 Speaker 1: kind of stuff. But it was just all at home. 72 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 1: And I hired my first employee to work at my 73 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: house with me. And now do I think about it, 74 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: Like was I even allowed to have a business set 75 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: up in my garage? I never even looked up, Like 76 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: if I was legally allowed to do that, who knows, 77 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: But I fucking did it anyway. Don't tell the government, 78 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: like I don't know if he's roos to get some 79 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 1: sort of special license like I got insurance, but who knows. Anyway, 80 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: I did it anyway. And so I hired my first 81 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: employee to come and can you imagine me explaining that 82 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: to her, like, yeah, she's just going to be coming 83 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: to my house a few days a week to help 84 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 1: me pack the orders. And that's exactly how it went. 85 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: For me, I have a lot of people ask me 86 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: when you are making your first hire for your business. 87 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 1: If you've started a business yourself and you're doing everything yourself, 88 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:18,840 Speaker 1: what is the first position that you hire for? What 89 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 1: is their job? My advice is always that first hire 90 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 1: needs to come on board as an all rounder. That's 91 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: how I would describe my first hire, almost like an 92 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: assistant to everything that you're doing, and they're just coming 93 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: on to do an extremely broad role. So my first 94 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 1: hire was a casual and her role was an all rounder. 95 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 1: She was going to help me pack orders, she was 96 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 1: going to help me with customer service emails, she was 97 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 1: going to help me processing returns, she was going to 98 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 1: help me writing Instagram captions. She was going to help 99 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 1: me when we're going out and about in the streets 100 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:53,919 Speaker 1: and Newcastle doing our photoshoots for the social media. She 101 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 1: came on board as an all rounder. And that is 102 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: always depending on what kind of business you've started up, obviously, 103 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 1: but if you've got a business where you're just doing 104 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,159 Speaker 1: everything yourself, your first hire is just going to be 105 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:05,360 Speaker 1: someone that's going to help you do all those things. Now, 106 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 1: I remember being so petrified when I was making my 107 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 1: first hire that I didn't know who to hire, and 108 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 1: I don't know how it came about, but AJ's mom, 109 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: AJ's mum's friend had a daughter who was looking for 110 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 1: a job, so that's how it came about. And I 111 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:23,680 Speaker 1: feel like a lot of people with their first hire, 112 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: they will always hire someone they know, their friend's friend, family, 113 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:30,799 Speaker 1: friend's cousin, whatever. And that's fine. I wouldn't advise hiring 114 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 1: people that you know now in twenty twenty five, but 115 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 1: that's because I've done it. Like I've been there, done that. 116 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 1: We all do it. We hire people that we know. 117 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 1: So I had AJ's mum's friend's daughter come and work 118 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: with me, like three days a week, casual, and my 119 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 1: fears at that time were number one, I'm not what 120 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:49,120 Speaker 1: if I run out of money and I can't pay 121 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: her one week? And number two, what if I run 122 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:56,359 Speaker 1: out of tasks for her to do. But my advice 123 00:05:57,080 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: on that is you've got to see hiring your first employee, 124 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 1: especially as an asset and not like a cost. Because 125 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 1: my first thoughts were this is going to cost me money, 126 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: what if I don't have enough to pay her kind 127 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:11,479 Speaker 1: of thing. But what I didn't think at the time 128 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:13,440 Speaker 1: because I was so new to business and young and 129 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: didn't know what I was doing. Is by having her 130 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:19,920 Speaker 1: come in and take tasks away from me and help 131 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 1: me do things that would take up normally my whole day, 132 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:26,599 Speaker 1: I could then spend my time doing different tasks that 133 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:30,159 Speaker 1: would bring in more revenue into the business. So instead 134 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: of me having to reply to our customer service emails 135 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 1: all day, I could maybe spend that time while she's 136 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: replying to them, maybe making some more Instagram reels, which 137 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: might get us more sales and bring more money in. 138 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: And that's what you have to see staff as is 139 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:48,280 Speaker 1: it's an asset to your company. It's not a cost, like, yes, 140 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 1: it's going to cost you, but they're essentially going to 141 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:54,040 Speaker 1: generate you more revenue. And if they're not generating revenue 142 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:56,279 Speaker 1: directly through their job, you know, if they're not the 143 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 1: one posting all the content that's getting all the sales, 144 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 1: they're going to be doing tasks so that you can 145 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 1: generate more money for your business. And that's something I 146 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:05,720 Speaker 1: didn't think back then because I was young and stupid 147 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:07,160 Speaker 1: and didn't know what I was doing. I know, I 148 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 1: say that, but it's true, like I had no idea 149 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 1: I remember saying to a j I'm my god, what 150 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 1: do I get her to do? And like this is 151 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 1: before we had like any of the platforms that we 152 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: use now. And I went to kmart and I bought 153 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: a little a little whiteboard like no bigger than I 154 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: don't know, three laptops put together, just precise reference, all 155 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: this screen in front of me. And every day that 156 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 1: she was coming in and it was like a Monday 157 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 1: and a Thursday or whatever, I'd get a whiteboard marker 158 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 1: and in dot points, I would write her daily tasks. 159 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 1: And I always think of that and I just can 160 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: still see that little whiteboard and I'd be like, right 161 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: back to emails, go to the po box and collect 162 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 1: our returns, do the returns. And that's how I would 163 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 1: write out her day to day to do list because 164 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 1: it was so simple back then, and that's all it 165 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: really has to be. I think when it comes to 166 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 1: getting your first employee, and if you're looking up online 167 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: and you're reading all about workplaces, it can feel really overwhelming, 168 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 1: you know, like needing to have everything like perfect and amazing. 169 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 1: But just keep it simple with your first employee. Don't 170 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 1: overcomplicate it for you. Don't over complicate it for them. 171 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 1: And my advice would be, especially if you're wanting to 172 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: grow your business, hire someone who is open to change. 173 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 1: A lot of people hate change. I've learned I even 174 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 1: years ago, Oh this could be another fucking video if 175 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 1: you really want to just keep it in the bank. 176 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: If there's one thing that I've learned being an employer 177 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 1: for so many years now is whilst there are a 178 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 1: lot of people who are open to change, a lot 179 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 1: of people hate change. A lot of people hate change. 180 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 1: And if you're going to work for a company that 181 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 1: is growing, there's going to be so much change and 182 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 1: some people aren't going to know how to deal with it. 183 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:52,720 Speaker 1: I'll never ever forget when I was, like when Fate 184 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 1: was really smaller, I only had a couple of staff members. 185 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 1: I had one person working for me, and they came 186 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:02,080 Speaker 1: out of their way to come up to me and say, like, 187 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 1: I don't remember what we were having a conversation about, 188 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: but they said, I don't deal well with change, and 189 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 1: I hate change. And I just remember being gobsmacked because 190 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 1: like we'd moved warehouse, and like the company was changing 191 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 1: and we were hiring more people, and she was upset 192 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 1: with all the changes. That were happening, and I was like, well, 193 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:23,960 Speaker 1: why don't you just go work somewhere where nothing changes, 194 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: like go work at a bank. People need to be 195 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 1: mindful when they're applying to work with companies that are growing, 196 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:32,680 Speaker 1: especially if it's like a small business that like, for example, 197 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 1: when I started Fate, I'm going to grow this thing. 198 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 1: So I think people need to be mindful when they're 199 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: applying for jobs in companies where shit is changing. But 200 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:42,840 Speaker 1: my advice would be when you are looking for that 201 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: first hire, look for someone who's willing to grow with you, 202 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 1: especially if your mindset is you want to grow your company, 203 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: if you don't want things to stay the same. And 204 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:55,680 Speaker 1: you'd be surprised how many people don't like change. People naturally, 205 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 1: I think, like routine and they like everything feeling the 206 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 1: same and just showing up every day and doing same thing. 207 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:03,200 Speaker 1: Whereas in those early days of Fate, everyone that came 208 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 1: on board with me, I was like, you're coming on 209 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: on board as an all rounder and you're gonna have 210 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 1: to We're doing whatever the day throws at us, because 211 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 1: that's what a startup is like. It doesn't have the structure, 212 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 1: it doesn't have XYZ and this is exactly what we 213 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 1: do every day, and if people are after that, they 214 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 1: need to go and work somewhere that is really big 215 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 1: and established. Another question I get is like when do 216 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:31,439 Speaker 1: I know when to hire my first employee? Like at 217 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: what point? Because there's no right and wrong, Like no 218 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 1: one says at this point this is when you need 219 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 1: to hire an employee. There's no book that says exactly 220 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: when you need to hire someone. But my advice would 221 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 1: be do everything yourself in the beginning, or if you 222 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:47,599 Speaker 1: know that when you start your business you're going to 223 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:49,200 Speaker 1: be busy straight off the bat, maybe you've got an 224 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 1: audience or whatever. Sure you can get an employee straight away, 225 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: but if you're doing everything yourself at the start, you 226 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 1: need to get the employee when you feel like you 227 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: can't do it anymore or you're at like your capacity 228 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 1: when it comes to the tasks. And I would say 229 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:06,840 Speaker 1: as well, another sign of needing to get that person 230 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 1: in is when you have other things that you want 231 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 1: to get to but you never get to them, Like 232 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: where you've got these tasks that you'd like to focus on. 233 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 1: Maybe it's something more creative or product development or whatever. 234 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 1: I have a major DJA V right now. I don't 235 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:23,719 Speaker 1: know why, by the way, I just thought i'll throw 236 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 1: that out there. But when you're kind of so tied 237 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:28,839 Speaker 1: up in all the day to day tasks and you're 238 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 1: pushing aside, like those things that you're passionate about, that's 239 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 1: when you need an employee because you need them to 240 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 1: come in and take those smaller tasks off you. You 241 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 1: delegate to them, and you've got to become good at that, 242 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 1: by the way, because it's really hard to let go 243 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 1: of things when you feel like you're so in control. 244 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 1: But when you feel like you're pushing important stuff aside, 245 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 1: that's when you need a staff member. And I know 246 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:53,960 Speaker 1: how scary it is. And take your time with hiring us. 247 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 1: Say this all the time. Take your time, ask questions, 248 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:59,079 Speaker 1: get to know them. Don't just jump into the first 249 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:01,320 Speaker 1: person that seems fun and like you'd be friends, because 250 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:02,719 Speaker 1: that's what I did back in the day. But I 251 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: feel like again, we all do that when we're first 252 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 1: time business owners. We just hire someone after speaking them 253 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 1: for five minutes because we think they're fun. And I've 254 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 1: been there and done that and I've never do it again. 255 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:15,760 Speaker 1: But you'll know when it's time for you to hire 256 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: that first employee, because you'll even be thinking about it, 257 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:22,680 Speaker 1: you'll be talking about it to people. If you're like, 258 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 1: I'm thinking of getting a staff member, that's the universe 259 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: telling you, yes, this is the time that you need 260 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:29,920 Speaker 1: a staff member. If it's on your mind, if you're 261 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 1: thinking about it, if you're thinking about what their role 262 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: would be, that's the universe telling you, Yep, you need 263 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 1: an employee now, and you'll thank yourself for it. Obviously, 264 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 1: do your numbers, make sure you do have enough to 265 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: pay them, you know, make sure the business is earning 266 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 1: enough that you're going to be able to afford to 267 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: pay them, and it will probably be one of the 268 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 1: best things that you ever did. And then in terms 269 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 1: of growing your team, like going from that one employee 270 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:55,440 Speaker 1: to then maybe the second one, and third and fourth. 271 00:12:56,080 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 1: The crazy thing is like businesses predictable, but then again 272 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 1: like so not predictable at all. I just can think 273 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:06,680 Speaker 1: back so vividly to when Fate first started and I 274 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 1: had that first employee, and then within six months we 275 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:12,479 Speaker 1: moved out of the garage into our first little warehouse 276 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:15,520 Speaker 1: and it was at that warehouse and I then hired 277 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 1: my second and third and fourth like casual employee, my 278 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:23,520 Speaker 1: first full timer, and business can just catch you off 279 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: guard because like I never planned any of that, Like 280 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: it just kept growing and I kept doing what felt 281 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:34,079 Speaker 1: right and just looking back now, like I can't believe 282 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 1: I did all that because it was not a plan. 283 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:40,320 Speaker 1: And I think there's so much pressure, especially now, like 284 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 1: being able to see all these businesses on social media. 285 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 1: People can feel pressured to need to be doing the 286 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 1: most and having all these team members. But my advice 287 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 1: to anyone out there is just do what feels like 288 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 1: the right decision for you and your business at the time. 289 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:56,080 Speaker 1: That's all I ever did with fate. And as for 290 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:58,640 Speaker 1: me when it came to getting that next employee and 291 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: the next one after that, again, like I could just 292 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 1: feel it in me waters Kidney, I could feel it 293 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:09,000 Speaker 1: in my waters. I know that's really weird Kathin King reference, 294 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 1: but you can just sense when you know you need 295 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 1: the next person, when you and that first all rounder 296 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:18,080 Speaker 1: are at your capacity again and maybe you're getting more orders, 297 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 1: or you're getting more clients, or you just you can 298 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 1: just tell when you need the help, and like that's 299 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 1: when you make that plunge. And my advice always is 300 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: especially if you're new, or you're hesitant, or you're worried 301 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: about funds, hire them as a casual to begin with, 302 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: say look, I can give you three days work definitely. 303 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:38,120 Speaker 1: Like remember that's what I would do. I'd write down 304 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 1: what I could get them to help with. Look, I 305 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: think I can definitely give you three days, and if 306 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 1: there's someone that's wanting more, you can say, look, I'm 307 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 1: gonna start you off on three days just to be safe, like, 308 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 1: but then you might pick up a fourth day, you know, 309 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: because with casual workers, you can be like, do you 310 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 1: want to pick up another day tomorrow? And they're like sure, 311 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 1: like if they're free. And then what I would do 312 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 1: is hire those casual staff. And then if we got busier, 313 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 1: busier and busier, and they just all of a sudden, 314 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 1: we're working five days as a casual anyway, then I 315 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 1: might look into putting them on full time. And that's 316 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 1: exactly how I did it with Fate. Now, some of 317 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 1: the scary things, I mean, I've said this a thousand 318 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 1: billion times. Hiring people is so scary. And you'll have 319 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 1: to listen to my episode with the interview Boss Girls 320 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 1: if you haven't already, because we spoke about it a lot. 321 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 1: That's a recent episode of Mind Just go find it. 322 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 1: We spoke about just like how scary hiring people is, 323 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 1: and you hear it all the time, and I say 324 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:34,480 Speaker 1: it all the time, like an employee, just one single 325 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 1: employee can completely make your business. They can come in 326 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 1: and just flip it on its head and turn it 327 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 1: into the most amazing business ever and they can do 328 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 1: wonders for you. But also someone can come in and 329 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 1: completely ruin the entire business and workplace. And if that 330 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 1: isn't petrifying, I don't know what is. It's a risk 331 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 1: every time we hire someone. My advice is, especially as 332 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 1: you're growing a team from two people to three to four, 333 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:04,240 Speaker 1: is you need it even start thinking beyond what the 334 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:07,000 Speaker 1: person is coming in to do. You know, we're always 335 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 1: looking for people that can do the job and have 336 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 1: the skills and whatever, But when you're adding more and 337 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 1: more personalities into the mix, you've got to start thinking 338 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 1: about personality hires. You've got to think of your current team, 339 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 1: how they all work together, and then if you're adding 340 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:22,160 Speaker 1: someone else in, how are they going to fit into 341 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 1: the team. Are they going to get along? Are they 342 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 1: going to clash? Heads. And this is one of the 343 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 1: really hard things actually about having a small business that 344 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 1: is growing. You know, it's one thing to be a 345 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:34,200 Speaker 1: big corporate company where you've got two hundred people in 346 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: an office and people don't even know each other kind 347 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:38,480 Speaker 1: of thing. But when you've got a small team working 348 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 1: together every day closely, you've got to be so mindful 349 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 1: with personalities when you're hiring. And it's just another part 350 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: of business that I just never expected, and then it's 351 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 1: turned out to be, like, such a big crucial part 352 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 1: of our business now is team dynamics and who's going 353 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 1: to get along with who? And is that person going 354 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 1: to get upset by that person because that person comes along, 355 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:01,400 Speaker 1: comes across a lot more strong, whereas that person is 356 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 1: more submissive. Like you've just got to think of all 357 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 1: these things, and it's it's a lot, but I would 358 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:09,720 Speaker 1: be careful when your team is growing beyond that two, three, 359 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 1: four and you're turning into a small team, you've got 360 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 1: to be so selective with who you're hiring, because you 361 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 1: could have an amazing team. Let's say, of there's four 362 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:20,680 Speaker 1: of you, you could bring in a new fifth person 363 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 1: because you're getting so busy and everyone needs help, and 364 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:26,119 Speaker 1: that fifth person could fuck up the four of yours, 365 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 1: like a new person can just walk in and ruin 366 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 1: the whole team dynamic. I've witnessed it myself. People come 367 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:36,239 Speaker 1: in and screw up the whole team. Then you've got 368 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 1: to figure out how you're gonna remove that person from 369 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:41,480 Speaker 1: the workplace and fix everything that they left behind. And 370 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:44,920 Speaker 1: it's not nice, and this is so real and it happens, 371 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 1: and it's an unspoken reality of business. And I even 372 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:50,879 Speaker 1: get scared talking about this kind of stuff on like 373 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 1: my Instagram and TikTok because I don't know, like you 374 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 1: don't want to upset anyone, but it's such a big 375 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 1: and real part of business. And I can tell you 376 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:00,359 Speaker 1: now there wouldn't be a business owner out there that 377 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:04,199 Speaker 1: has teams that hasn't dealt with stuff like that. The 378 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:06,639 Speaker 1: other thing that you've got to be super mindful of. 379 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:09,760 Speaker 1: And I think this is a phase that I'm in 380 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 1: now with fate when our company has grown and grown 381 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:15,480 Speaker 1: and grown and grown, and luckily, like I'm not in 382 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:17,920 Speaker 1: that position, but I have spoken with business owner friends 383 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:20,960 Speaker 1: who have been in the position where your business has 384 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:24,639 Speaker 1: grown so astronomically, like over a couple of years or 385 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 1: over twelve months where you over hire and where you've 386 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:33,400 Speaker 1: hired too many people. And then if you've just experienced 387 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:37,399 Speaker 1: this massive growth period and everything's going amazing, like nothing 388 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:41,160 Speaker 1: in business is guaranteed, like next week fate could plummet, 389 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 1: like that's another petrifying thing about business. But what's even 390 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:48,880 Speaker 1: scarier is if you have an amazing year and let's 391 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 1: say you go into twenty twenty five, and then all 392 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:55,239 Speaker 1: of a sudden, you know, you lose some relevancy or 393 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: you know, people aren't shopping as much anymore. It's scary 394 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:01,880 Speaker 1: enough that your business can and kind of go into 395 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 1: a flop era. But what's even scarier is if you've got, 396 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: you know, twenty full time employees and your business is 397 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 1: going quiet. And I've spoken to business owners, oh name names, 398 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:17,680 Speaker 1: but I've spoken to business owners who have reached out 399 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 1: to me where they've been doing amazingly and they've hired 400 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:24,159 Speaker 1: a heap of people, and then they go into a 401 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 1: quiet patch or a quiet year, a quiet period. We 402 00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:28,840 Speaker 1: all go up and down in business in terms of 403 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: our sales and finances. And I've had friends reach out 404 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 1: going I'm doing fucking redundancies. At my workplace because they've 405 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 1: you know, stopped making the revenue that they were making. 406 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:42,199 Speaker 1: They didn't need the roles that they had anymore. And 407 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 1: I can't imagine how terrible having to lay people off 408 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:49,000 Speaker 1: would be, to be like, hey, like our business is 409 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:51,639 Speaker 1: not doing as well as it did last year, Like, 410 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:54,359 Speaker 1: you know, do you want to take a pay card 411 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: or do you want to be made redundant? And that 412 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:01,080 Speaker 1: is a scary reality for so so many business owners 413 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 1: as well, and touchwood something that I never have to do. 414 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 1: But that's another thing where you don't want to grow 415 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 1: too quickly as a business and get all up in 416 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: your head. People always say to me, like, stop growing 417 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:13,800 Speaker 1: so quick, and I'm like, I'm doing everything and I'm 418 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 1: being mindful, but I think now, like being the size 419 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:19,120 Speaker 1: that we're at where we do have like seventy odd 420 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:21,359 Speaker 1: people in the company, I'm like, all right, let's just 421 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 1: coast here for a little bit. That's why I'm hesitant 422 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 1: to keep opening more stores, because you're just adding more 423 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 1: and more and then what if we do go into 424 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:30,680 Speaker 1: a quiet period, what do I do then if we've 425 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 1: got all these team members so at the same time, yes, 426 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:36,120 Speaker 1: you want to make those highs when you need them, 427 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:38,920 Speaker 1: especially if you're growing, but you want to be completely 428 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:41,399 Speaker 1: mindful with it as well and think of the bigger 429 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: picture and all the things that could go wrong and 430 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 1: the risks. There's just so much to think of, isn't there. 431 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:57,680 Speaker 2: No? Oh no, hello, producer such myself, producer X. That's 432 00:20:57,680 --> 00:20:59,880 Speaker 2: what they used to call me. Oh really yeah, produces 433 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 2: and yeah, producers Xander on this nova. But I used 434 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:05,760 Speaker 2: to be producer X. Maybe we should bring it back. 435 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:07,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, I like it. And also because when we call, 436 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:10,199 Speaker 1: like when we say Xander, everyone thinks that you're z 437 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:13,120 Speaker 1: Alexander would but you're ex. 438 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:15,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, grow up. Anyone that thinks it's zed, I don't 439 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 2: like it, okay, producer axes. Here in terms of you 440 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:23,159 Speaker 2: being a business owner, how do you approach like the 441 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:28,200 Speaker 2: training of new employees as someone who has been extremely 442 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 2: small to being much larger now in business, how have 443 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:36,639 Speaker 2: you developed those training strategies and how have you like 444 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:38,320 Speaker 2: kind of changed your approach from when you. 445 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 1: Were Yeah, more so, it's changed a lot. Obviously back 446 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 1: in the day, you know, when I was hiring my 447 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 1: casuals to come on as all round us, it was 448 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:49,360 Speaker 1: an extremely hands on process. I would get my new 449 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 1: all rounder employee in and I would just show them, 450 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:55,920 Speaker 1: like step by step, how we do absolutely everything. And 451 00:21:56,720 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 1: when fate was really small, I wasn't hiring anyone that 452 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:04,160 Speaker 1: had any kind of experience, but that's because that suited 453 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 1: me and my business model. Back then, I had the 454 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:10,360 Speaker 1: time to have someone come into our little warehouse where 455 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:12,160 Speaker 1: we did everything, and I would say, all right, well, 456 00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 1: this is how we packed the orders, and this is 457 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:16,159 Speaker 1: how we write back to emails, and they would almost 458 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:18,680 Speaker 1: just shadow me for the first couple of weeks until 459 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:21,640 Speaker 1: they felt confident in knowing how to do stuff. Same 460 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 1: when I hired like my first social media assistant, which 461 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:29,159 Speaker 1: is Kim, and she's still with us now, she's nearly 462 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:31,720 Speaker 1: been with us for four years. And so Kim came 463 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:34,679 Speaker 1: in four years ago as a social media assistant, and again, 464 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 1: like I'd never really had someone just work on the 465 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:39,840 Speaker 1: social media. I had the all rounders and we just 466 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 1: kind of all helped and shared. But I had the 467 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:45,440 Speaker 1: time back then to run through our entire social media 468 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:48,680 Speaker 1: with Kim, showing her how to shoot, showing her how 469 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 1: to do all the things, showing her how to write captions, 470 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:54,360 Speaker 1: and for those early days of Fate and even four 471 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:57,920 Speaker 1: years ago, like when everyone kind of started at Fatoway 472 00:22:57,960 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 1: say that the first three years of Fate it was 473 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 1: just a practice run. And when like Kim April Gray 474 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:05,280 Speaker 1: Sigarett all started four years ago, that's when Fate really began. 475 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:07,960 Speaker 1: But even back then, it was just I didn't have 476 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:11,040 Speaker 1: any processes in place because people just came in and 477 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 1: I was there. I was there eight hours a day 478 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:15,840 Speaker 1: with them right there, working by their side, so I 479 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:19,680 Speaker 1: would just quite literally show them here's how we do it. 480 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:22,040 Speaker 1: You give it a go until they got the confidence. 481 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:25,359 Speaker 1: But then as the company grew more and more, and 482 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:28,200 Speaker 1: I would say, when we opened our second Fate store 483 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:31,640 Speaker 1: and we kind of became bigger than Newcastle, that's when 484 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:36,840 Speaker 1: we started implementing like training processes. So everything went from 485 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:40,719 Speaker 1: a physical here's how we do things to here's a 486 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:43,800 Speaker 1: PDF presentation, we're going to walk you through it. 487 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 2: And was that something that you outsourced to get help 488 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:48,879 Speaker 2: with or that's something that you purely sat down together 489 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 2: and came up with your shade. 490 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:52,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, So we did it all internally, and we still 491 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:56,679 Speaker 1: do everything internally, but now we have especially more so 492 00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:59,280 Speaker 1: for the retail side of our business, Like obviously, if 493 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:01,720 Speaker 1: someone's coming into work in our warehouse, there's going to 494 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:04,200 Speaker 1: be someone that's going to walk them through the warehouse. 495 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 1: Because with a warehouse, you know, role, it's it's physical, 496 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:10,240 Speaker 1: Like we can't say this is how we pack our orders, 497 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:12,239 Speaker 1: You're going to be shown. So there's still a lot 498 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:15,879 Speaker 1: of our business where it is quite physical and people 499 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:18,560 Speaker 1: have physically demonstrated how to do the tasks and they 500 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 1: copy and shadow. But especially for like our retail stores, 501 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 1: now you know, we do a staff induction date. Like 502 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 1: let's say we're opening a new store. Before the store opens, 503 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 1: we'll do a whole day of induction with our team 504 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:32,960 Speaker 1: where we're sitting in a boardroom and we've got a 505 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:36,200 Speaker 1: massive screen up and we walk them through the company, 506 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:39,400 Speaker 1: We walk them through the product knowledge, we walk them 507 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:42,080 Speaker 1: through change room language, we walk them through how to 508 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:46,560 Speaker 1: use point of sale. It's like a visual experience without 509 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:50,119 Speaker 1: being hands on, and we have that for every area 510 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:54,600 Speaker 1: of our retail store. So we've definitely upped our training 511 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:56,920 Speaker 1: over the years to say the least, I. 512 00:24:56,840 --> 00:24:59,120 Speaker 2: Just heard you you say something change room language. That's 513 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 2: something I would never think of to be in like 514 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 2: a training Like yeah, tutorial. Was that something that you 515 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 2: guys came up with or was that something was that 516 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:10,840 Speaker 2: was learnt from other retail stores. 517 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 1: We come up with it ourselves. 518 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:16,359 Speaker 2: It's just really interesting to hear that side, yes, because 519 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 2: I'm like, God, is that something that every retail store. 520 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 1: Every retail store does it? But especially for us, like 521 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:26,280 Speaker 1: our change rooms is a huge part of our store experience. Yeah, 522 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 1: and I think especially given like the nature of our 523 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:34,160 Speaker 1: size range, we deal with a lot of women who 524 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 1: I guess have been damaged in the past from other 525 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:40,159 Speaker 1: retail stores. Yeah, where you know they've gone in and 526 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,199 Speaker 1: like haven't even been able to find their size in 527 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:45,320 Speaker 1: a store, or they've felt excluded. And we know that 528 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 1: a lot of people that are going into our change 529 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:50,720 Speaker 1: rooms might be feeling a little bit vulnerable, maybe they 530 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:52,440 Speaker 1: haven't shopped in store for a long time. 531 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:57,240 Speaker 2: I personally hate trying things on in stores because I 532 00:25:57,240 --> 00:25:59,520 Speaker 2: always feel the pressure that these people are trying to 533 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 2: get me to and I don't like it because I mean, 534 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:04,440 Speaker 2: they're trying on the clothes, trying to feel a certain 535 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:06,880 Speaker 2: way and trying to feel confident in them. And then 536 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 2: you've got people and your things saying how's it started, 537 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:11,920 Speaker 2: do you want this? Or you can get this on 538 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 2: for an extra twenty dollars as well, do you want 539 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 2: to take that on? And it's a lot sometimes. 540 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:19,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, I don't think many retailers give like guided training 541 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:21,640 Speaker 1: when it comes to change room language, but just given 542 00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 1: the nature of our brand and you know, we are 543 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:27,480 Speaker 1: dealing with vulnerable women who you know, maybe haven't shopped 544 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:29,440 Speaker 1: in store for a really long time because like most 545 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:31,720 Speaker 1: retail stores don't stock the size as we do, so 546 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:35,160 Speaker 1: they might be coming in like feeling self conscious or worried, 547 00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:38,520 Speaker 1: and so like, change room language is a big part 548 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:40,920 Speaker 1: of our training with our teams, like when we get 549 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:43,000 Speaker 1: a new team member or when we're starting a new store, 550 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:46,159 Speaker 1: everyone gets it. And actually funny that we're talking about it. 551 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:49,560 Speaker 1: We're looking at furthering it even more just because we 552 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:52,199 Speaker 1: feel like the change room experience is something we can 553 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:53,440 Speaker 1: always like improve. 554 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:59,239 Speaker 2: I would love to do an episode maybe on this, 555 00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 2: but like you the specific things that you do for training, 556 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:05,240 Speaker 2: because that as soon as you said that, I was like, 557 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:08,480 Speaker 2: that's so interesting, and I think that's something that a 558 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:12,800 Speaker 2: lot of other business owners in fashion and clothing, if 559 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:14,960 Speaker 2: they hear this, would want to implement. It they own 560 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:17,080 Speaker 2: stores or if they have at all batiques or whatever. 561 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:19,560 Speaker 2: I just think that is so valuable. 562 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:22,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, at the moment, what we're doing, like interesting 563 00:27:22,920 --> 00:27:24,240 Speaker 1: parts of it, I guess is like a lot of 564 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 1: people have been excluded from fashion. Like obviously we all 565 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:30,199 Speaker 1: know that, Like people have been excluded from fashion and 566 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 1: are still excluded from fashion. And one of the things 567 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:39,360 Speaker 1: that we're really mindful of is that some of our 568 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:44,600 Speaker 1: staff members have never experienced being excluded from fashion. And 569 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:47,480 Speaker 1: so if we've got a staff member, because like we 570 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:50,440 Speaker 1: don't hire people based on their body size or whatever, 571 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:52,840 Speaker 1: like that's not a part of what we fucking look at. Like, 572 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:55,399 Speaker 1: if someone's a size eight, they're a size eight, Like 573 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:58,680 Speaker 1: just because they're working at FATE doesn't mean that they 574 00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:00,720 Speaker 1: need to be a certain site, Like you can be 575 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:03,960 Speaker 1: any size to work at FATE. But let's say, for example, 576 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:07,040 Speaker 1: like a possible scenario that we think about all the 577 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:09,439 Speaker 1: time is if we do have someone working in our 578 00:28:09,480 --> 00:28:12,440 Speaker 1: store who is a size eight, who has never experienced 579 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:16,600 Speaker 1: being excluded from fashion, has never felt left out when 580 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:19,520 Speaker 1: shopping in a retail store, if they have a customer 581 00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:23,000 Speaker 1: coming in who maybe is a size twenty and there 582 00:28:23,119 --> 00:28:25,640 Speaker 1: isn't many stores out there that stock a size twenty, 583 00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 1: and they're coming in and they're feeling bulnerable, and they're 584 00:28:28,359 --> 00:28:31,320 Speaker 1: feeling like, oh there's anything? Am I going to find anything? 585 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:33,600 Speaker 1: Like you know, they're just feeling all the emotions. They're 586 00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:36,680 Speaker 1: scared about trying clothes on because they've been so rejected 587 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:40,880 Speaker 1: by other retailers and they are being served by someone 588 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:44,360 Speaker 1: who is a size eight. How are those two going 589 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 1: to connect when the size eight has never experienced being 590 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:52,640 Speaker 1: left out in fashion? And that's something that we're so 591 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:55,760 Speaker 1: mindful of, so we try to and what we're doing 592 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:59,000 Speaker 1: at the moment to like better our change room training 593 00:28:59,120 --> 00:29:02,240 Speaker 1: is like West speaking to all different kinds of people 594 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:05,040 Speaker 1: who are all different shapes of sizes to hear their 595 00:29:05,120 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 1: experiences because like some people can't speak from experience when 596 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:12,720 Speaker 1: it comes to being excluded from fashion, me included. Look, 597 00:29:12,880 --> 00:29:15,000 Speaker 1: I think I could do a whole episode about this, 598 00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 1: because this is something that we're working on bettering and 599 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:22,120 Speaker 1: improving literally at the moment, changing language. I love it, 600 00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:23,880 Speaker 1: so we need to do a whole other episode about it. 601 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:27,160 Speaker 2: Have really spooked my interests in my like, I just 602 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:27,880 Speaker 2: think it's great. 603 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 1: I'm glad that you find it interesting. 604 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:32,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I do, and this is someone I've never felt 605 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:36,120 Speaker 2: kind of left out exactly, But I think it's. 606 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 1: Something that everyone can learn from, and I think especially 607 00:29:39,040 --> 00:29:42,480 Speaker 1: for our straight sized team members, who you know, fit 608 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:45,800 Speaker 1: into your standard sizing. I'm doing like quotes here, like 609 00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:49,280 Speaker 1: they would never think twice about feeling excluded from fashion, 610 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:52,080 Speaker 1: and I think working at Fate opens their eyes to 611 00:29:52,160 --> 00:29:54,040 Speaker 1: how left out a lot of people can feel. And 612 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:56,680 Speaker 1: then it's on us and it's our responsibility to train 613 00:29:56,760 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 1: our team members to be able to connect with customers 614 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:02,320 Speaker 1: who have felt left out, even if they don't have 615 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:05,800 Speaker 1: firsthand experience themselves of being excluded in fashion. 616 00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:08,239 Speaker 2: Look, we went a bit off track, but I just 617 00:30:08,680 --> 00:30:10,720 Speaker 2: it really stood out to me and get. 618 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:12,520 Speaker 1: Onto this from talking about hiring stuff. 619 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:15,760 Speaker 2: I talked about what some training techniquity. 620 00:30:16,320 --> 00:30:17,280 Speaker 1: That's how we got onto that. 621 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:19,720 Speaker 2: I got there, But I think you covered it really 622 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:22,080 Speaker 2: well and I'm really glad that we touched on that. 623 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:24,479 Speaker 1: Do that for another episode for sure, and maybe get 624 00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:27,720 Speaker 1: a few other people on to hear their experiences. In opinion, 625 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:31,480 Speaker 1: love that because I can't speak for everyone else, so 626 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 1: we need to get some other input. Obsessed back to 627 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:36,800 Speaker 1: the whole hiring thing. Like I feel we need to 628 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:39,560 Speaker 1: at least wrap up the episode. As I said in 629 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:41,960 Speaker 1: the beginning of the episode, like hiring is always scary. 630 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:44,360 Speaker 1: You're never one hundred percent going to know if you're 631 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:47,320 Speaker 1: doing the right thing or not. But that's business. If 632 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:49,840 Speaker 1: you are feeling like you're at that stage where you 633 00:30:49,920 --> 00:30:54,280 Speaker 1: think you need help, you probably do. If you're thinking 634 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:56,800 Speaker 1: about what you could get someone to do to help 635 00:30:56,880 --> 00:30:59,160 Speaker 1: you free up more time in your day to focus 636 00:30:59,160 --> 00:31:02,520 Speaker 1: on other things you need. That new employee, my advice 637 00:31:02,520 --> 00:31:06,320 Speaker 1: would be to take your time with it. Higher slow. 638 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:10,280 Speaker 1: That's what they say, higher slow and fire fast. That's 639 00:31:10,280 --> 00:31:14,520 Speaker 1: the saying higher slow, take your time with it. You 640 00:31:14,640 --> 00:31:17,120 Speaker 1: know what you're doing, and if it's on your mind, 641 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:19,520 Speaker 1: that's the universe telling you. And when it comes to 642 00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:21,800 Speaker 1: making that second and third higher again, you're just going 643 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:23,800 Speaker 1: to know when you need to do it and if 644 00:31:23,840 --> 00:31:27,520 Speaker 1: you're scared about it, it's the right decision. Because everything 645 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:31,480 Speaker 1: that I've done in my business journey with fate, I've 646 00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:33,400 Speaker 1: anything that I've done where I'll be like, oh shit, 647 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:35,320 Speaker 1: should I do this or not? And when it feels 648 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:38,000 Speaker 1: like a risk, yes, do it, because that's what's going 649 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:40,760 Speaker 1: to keep your business moving and growing even if it 650 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:44,960 Speaker 1: is absolutely petrifying. As always, I'm going to end this 651 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:48,280 Speaker 1: episode with a tip of the week. 652 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:52,960 Speaker 2: I feel like I'm jumping in with the bloody tips. 653 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:57,360 Speaker 2: You just said higher, slow, fire, fast, But I would 654 00:31:57,360 --> 00:32:00,360 Speaker 2: also I'm not a business owner, but like, make sure 655 00:32:00,360 --> 00:32:07,200 Speaker 2: they're aligned with your energy and your vision rate on paper. Yeah, 656 00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:08,840 Speaker 2: if you're not jelling yep. 657 00:32:09,280 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 1: I always say, if there's like an inkling of doubt 658 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:13,440 Speaker 1: in your mind when you're interviewing someone, if they're like 659 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:16,800 Speaker 1: seeming great or maybe if they're seeming way too good 660 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:19,800 Speaker 1: to be true, maybe they are. And again, go listen 661 00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:24,520 Speaker 1: to my episode with Interview Boss, because we speak about 662 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:27,440 Speaker 1: all of this in detail. I love and how much 663 00:32:27,480 --> 00:32:30,520 Speaker 1: people can lie in interviews or just say what they 664 00:32:30,560 --> 00:32:32,560 Speaker 1: think you want to hear, and then they can come 665 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:34,360 Speaker 1: into the workplace and oh my god, you are nothing 666 00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:35,520 Speaker 1: like what you said in your interview. 667 00:32:35,640 --> 00:32:37,840 Speaker 2: And the bonus episode where we talked about some crazy 668 00:32:38,040 --> 00:32:41,560 Speaker 2: hr situations that we've been involved or heard of. 669 00:32:41,800 --> 00:32:46,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, but yeah, go and listen to those episodes if 670 00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:49,880 Speaker 1: you haven't already. And yeah, take your time when it 671 00:32:49,880 --> 00:32:52,600 Speaker 1: comes to hiring, and you know when you need the help, 672 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:54,880 Speaker 1: so stick with those gut feelings and stick with your 673 00:32:54,880 --> 00:32:58,840 Speaker 1: gut feelings in the hiring process too. Those are my tips. Anyway, 674 00:32:59,040 --> 00:33:01,760 Speaker 1: that's all for another main episode. I'll be back later 675 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:03,440 Speaker 1: this week with a bonus. In case you didn't know, 676 00:33:03,520 --> 00:33:06,040 Speaker 1: I do a main and a bonus episode every single week, 677 00:33:06,080 --> 00:33:08,640 Speaker 1: and you can catch up with me on socials everywhere. 678 00:33:08,760 --> 00:33:10,320 Speaker 1: Links are in the show notes. And be sure to 679 00:33:10,360 --> 00:33:13,080 Speaker 1: check out my New Slash Old Slash, New Again YouTube 680 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:15,920 Speaker 1: channel if you haven't already, because I'm back on YouTube 681 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:18,240 Speaker 1: and I'm sharing all things business and my journey and 682 00:33:18,280 --> 00:33:21,200 Speaker 1: behind the scenes of fate on YouTube. And remember to 683 00:33:21,280 --> 00:33:28,400 Speaker 1: chase after your dreams as if they owe you money.