Most creators hire too quickly and fire too slowly. There are two common ways we observe this phenomenon. We'll use video editing as an example: Scenario 1: A creator is burnt out and working nonstop. What was once a highly creative outlet has turned into a chore. So they hop onto their favorite gig site and outsource to the first decently rated and inexpensive person they can find. Sometimes this works. More often, the creator finds themselves constantly adjusting or correcting sloppy work, or even re-editing half the video themselves after paying the editor. The creator becomes frustrated because the story isn't told as intended. They find themselves posting content they aren't proud of while dealing with the headache of managing someone else, spending more money, and being even more stressed than they began. Scenario 2: The creator found an editor early on. The edits weren't amazing, but the editor was affordable and did an OK job. The channel had early growth, yet over time the edits became stale even though the creator improved the quality of the footage and storytelling. The creator needs more nuance, more storytelling. Someone who truly understands the desired style and could produce it with minimal input. Fast forward a few years, and the creator becomes aware they have outgrown their editor. But they're friends now! They've watched the channel grow together! Perhaps they would even call each other friends. Instead of moving on to an editor who is more appropriate for the stage of the channel, the creator hangs onto the working relationship. Resentment builds, and eventually the relationship blows up or the channel suffers poor growth. Team issues most frequently arise from two issues: poor communication about expectations or the person is not the right fit. Most of the time when major issues arise, it’s both. We vastly underestimate how much we need to communicate, and in an attempt to offload the work we rush into team decisions that weren't right to begin with. The cost is emotional and mental, on top of the money spent. And simply because an editor is cheap and available does not mean that the money is well spent. What you may not pay in editing costs, you may pay for in frustration, management overhead, or lack of growth. Hiring is a tedious process, and when it doesn't work out, it feels like the effort was wasted. Most creators remain in poor team situations because it's a lot of work to start over. Not to mention firing people is wildly uncomfortable. As painful as it is, and as desperate as you feel the need to outsource the work, hire slowly. Fire quickly when it becomes clear they aren't the right fit. Communicate expectations far more than you feel is necessary. Make your standards abundantly clear, and if those standards aren't consistently met, move on. A hard conversation today may save a hundred frustrated thoughts and a far worse conversation later.