Advice from Angie Hicks, the founder of Angie’s List offers advice for entrepreneurs and business owners:
What she did possess, she says, was focus and persistence. “Those core competencies were key to driving my career, and have driven what I’ve done since day one at the company,” she says. At the beginning, she measured her success building Angie’s List “one member at a time.”
“Balance your differences. Find people who are going to shore up your weaknesses. Think about building out your team and always be evaluating what the team is missing,” she advises. “When you’re thinking about how you’re spending your time, think about who you’re hiring. That’s going to make the difference in your success.”
“Let your people swim, but don’t leave the pool,” she says. She says employees need latitude to take on risks and fail. “Create a culture with your team that allows them to be open and come and talk to you. I tell them, ‘I know things are going to go wrong, just make sure I’m the first one who knows so I can help you fix it’,”
Angie Hicks, http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/advisor/blogs/profit-minded/angie-list-lessons-building-great-team-221247251.html
Gresham W. Harkless Jr.https://iamgresh.comGresham W. Harkless Jr.
Franchise Broker & Entrepreneur | Founder, Blue Star Franchise
Helping founders and aspiring owners find franchise opportunities that match their purpose, finances, and lifestyle. Host of the I AM CEO Podcast with more than 1,600 interviews.
Book a Franchise Consultation
Listen to the I AM CEO Podcast
About Gresham W. Harkless Jr.
Gresham W. Harkless Jr. is a seasoned entrepreneur and franchise broker based in the Washington, D.C. metro area. As founder of Blue Star Franchise, he helps aspiring and established business owners discover franchise opportunities aligned with their goals, skills, and long-term vision.
With over 15 years of experience in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and business development, Gresham brings a consultative, client-first approach to franchise matching. Through his media company, Blue 16 Media, and the I AM CEO Podcast, which has featured more than 1,600 interviews, he has worked with hundreds of CEOs, founders, and small business owners to accelerate growth and build scalable business models.
His mission is simple: to help people “run their race” by finding franchise opportunities that align with their purpose, skills, and lifestyle.
Credentials & Affiliations
Certified Franchise Broker - Franchise Broker Association (FBA)
Founder - Blue Star Franchise
Founder - Blue 16 Media
Host - I AM CEO Podcast (1,600+ episodes)
Featured in 50+ Black Marketers on the Rise & Influencer & Media Innovators (2022)
B.S., Business Administration - Howard University
How Gresham Helps
Franchise discovery & matching consultations
Franchise investment and financial fit analysis
Franchise development guidance & onboarding support
Speaking engagements & media interviews
Business growth advisory through Blue 16 Media
I AM CEO Podcast
With more than 1,600 episodes, the I AM CEO Podcast features conversations with founders, franchise owners, authors, and business leaders.
Gresham shares real, actionable insights to help entrepreneurs grow, scale, and lead.
Watch Episodes on YouTube
Contact & Bookings
Email: gresham@bluestarfranchise.com
For franchise inquiries, speaking engagements, or media interviews, send an email or use the consultation link.
Schedule a Consultation
Connect with Gresham
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluestarfranchise
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bluestarfran
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BlueStarFranchise
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bluestarfranchise
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@bluestarfranchise
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bluestarfranchise
