Episode 4

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Published on:

11th Sep 2025

A Straightforward Guide to Thinking About Your First or Next Hire for Your Small Business

Growing fast and feeling that itch to hire — but also hearing the tiny voice asking, “Um… are we sure?” You’re not alone. In this candid, super practical deep-dive (basically a masterclass tbh), we walk through the exact thought process of when to hire, who to hire, and how to do it responsibly — especially if you’re a small business owner who wears 47 hats and prefers a sleep-filled life over waking up at 2am in payroll panic.

But this episode isn’t just about checklists and cost formulas — at its core, it’s about trust. Trusting yourself to make a call (sometimes before you feel “ready”), trusting the numbers enough to quiet the what-ifs, and trusting that a thoughtful hire can create space for more growth and more possibility. If you’ve ever wondered whether bringing someone on would free you up or just weigh you down, the goal of this conversation is to give you the clarity to move forward with more confidence about building a team that truly works for you.


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What’s inside this episode


  • The simple litmus test that tells you what your first (or next) hire should be able to do — and how to spot that thing before you post a job
  • The “90-day runway” rule that keeps you from white-knuckling payroll — plus when to bump that to six months
  • When SOPs are non-negotiable (even for tiny teams) and how to have your hire draft them while you train—without lowering standards
  • How to sneakily get some extra bang-for-your-buck out of your next hire
  • A tiny distinction between two types of hires that explains 90% of onboarding headaches
  • A lesson I had to learn the hard way about choosing between “potential” and “ready right now"
  • The permission slip you need to stop waiting for “every duck in a row” and start making smart, data-backed calls with your gut


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About the Podcast

Scale Your Vision
Scale Your Vision is dedicated to women founders, entrepreneurs, and business owners who have a big vision and want to scale it in a way that is operationally sound with human-first leadership, first class customer experience, and robust profit margins.

About your host

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Adriane Galea

Adriane Galea is a nonprofit founder turned business and scaling strategist, creative entrepreneur, speaker, and multi podcast host. She launched her first business at age 12, transforming it from a spare bedroom in her grandparents' house into an internationally recognized performing arts school and professional theatre company with multiple locations and hundreds of students. During the pandemic, Adriane began helping other business owners scale their operations, specializing in messaging, funnels, and operational strategy for 6- to 8-figure service businesses. In 2024, she founded Visionaries, an education, events, and media company on a mission to help passionate, purpose-driven founders and entrepreneurs scale their vision while working smarter, playing always, resting often, dreaming bigger, and making bank.