When you can pay for them. You can have ME if you can provide a check.

I'd go a step further - when you can pay them AND stomach the "OMG someone is depending on me for their livelihood" worries

until then, recruit volunteers

Just get interns.

get a smart intern from a b-school. I have done that and give them solid "real" work.

sometimes interns can create as much work as they alleviate, though I've never had one in my solo biz.

How are schools about giving interns to independents? Did you ever see the Seinfeld where Kramer gets one for "Kramerica industries" - ha!

janechin and AmberCadabra I AM a virtual assistant!

Telemill I'll keep that in mind!

I'm not ready for people yet, really, but hope to be in the near future. And no employees. Plan is a virtual firm as much as I can.

so you plan on virtual contractors?

Tara, no, real contractors. Kidding. I'd like to subcontract out work that I need help with rather than hiring employees

At least until such point as my biz grows to where I can comfortably support FT employees and all the work/drama that entails.

janechin I'm a general VA with some marketing and writing experience.

I think contracting out work is an excellent way to manage growth

Well don't forget about me when you start getting over your head in work.

I sure won't.

hiring is scary. I'm thinking social media tools may smooth the way to meaningful collaboration to ease your load.

Trey, I'm thinking you're right!

I think Amber knows, but for others stumbling on this Plurk I've run my business this way for 12 years. It can be done!

I've purposely stayed small by choice, but I know someone who has 20-25 subcontractors and big time billings.

Just a little pep talk for anyone considering this.

we use a lot of contractors

some have been with us 15+ years

many float in and out depending our our clients and their needs

I'm biased, but I think the ease of being able to work as and hire "free agents" is the greatest thing about the advances in technology

I would be interested in hearing about any intern success stories, though. Sorry for hi-jacking your Plurk, Amber!

Kellye I worked with intern programs in a couple of previous jobs and so have a relationship set up with those programs. I only take folks

Well I can tell you this. It allow me to be a stay-at-home mom and a working mom at the same time. I wouldn't have been able

who already have real world experience, it has to be for credit and I have to work out a plan with their prof. They usually are great.

to feed my kids without these technological advances.

Deb I'm sure you're a great mentor! And that's awesome, Telemill. AmberCadabra as you know it's a great time for your biz!

Kellye, believe me when I tell you I'm going to be picking your braind about this!

brain*

Whatever's in there is yours for the taking.

like what kinds of success stories? I will say that when I worked at Sierra Club, our interns were terrible, but they were young and hadn't

had real work experience. They needed a LOT of direction...

I've had great interns (in corporate jobs) and bad ones. But my hiring/interviewing is a bit unorthodox, and I go a LOT on gut feel

I learned the hard way many times that a resume does not a stellar employee make

And I've fared far better with interns that had moxie, a great attitude, and less experience b/c they were hungry to learn

But that's just my experience, and many of you have probably had more than me!