Operator first.
I co-founded Smoke Cartel in 2013, ran its operations for four years, then served as CEO and Chairman, took the company public, and led it through its acquisition. Here I write about what actually keeps an e-commerce business running: operations, fulfillment, technology, and the people who make it all work.
I still consult for businesses looking to improve their operations, grow, and strengthen their teams.
Latest from The Team You Build
Invest in the Team, or the Team Will Invest in Something Else →
Validation isn't something only insecure people need. How to recognize your team's wins out loud, and how to build a team that celebrates and promotes each other without being asked.
Should You Hire Your Friends? A Common Hiring Mistake →
The short answer: usually, no. Hiring your friends puts a brand new power dynamic on top of a relationship that was built without one, and most friendships don't survive the...
You Are a Teacher, Not a Babysitter →
Managing isn't instructions going down and results coming up. It's building a team that pushes itself to get better. A debate exercise borrowed from Tibetan monks, the one-year coffee, and...
The Team You Build
I'm writing a book: a blunt, field-tested guide to building a team that will outlast you. Hiring the scrappers, paying people fairly, building the boring systems so the big stuff doesn't happen, and what to do when it all breaks anyway.
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