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.com👤 Author Name: Gresham W. Harkless Jr.
Title: Franchise Broker & Entrepreneur | Founder, Blue Star Franchise
Experience: 15+ years in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and business growth strategy
Location: Washington, D.C. Metro Area, USA
About the Author
Gresham W. Harkless Jr. is a seasoned entrepreneur, franchise broker, and the founder of Blue Star Franchise, where he helps aspiring and established business owners find the perfect franchise opportunity to match their goals, lifestyle, and financial vision.
With over 15 years of experience in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and business development, Gresh has worked with hundreds of CEOs, founders, and small business owners through his media company Blue 16 Media and the I AM CEO Podcast, which has featured over 1,600 interviews. His unique background gives him a deep understanding of what makes a business succeed — and how the right franchise can change lives.
A proud member of the Franchise Broker Association (FBA), Gresham brings a consultative and client-first approach to franchise matching. His mission is 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 & 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. in Business Administration – Howard University
