Lever 1: Hire Smart

Your first hire should handle the tasks you are worst at or that eat the most time. Delegate admin before creative work — invoicing, scheduling, and inbox triage free up hours without the anxiety of handing a client-facing deliverable to someone still learning your taste.

Start with a part-time contractor, not a full employee. Test the relationship on small, low-risk projects before committing to ongoing work. A bad first hire costs more than the hours they saved — keep the trial short.