How to Build a Billion-Dollar Business

CHAPTER 17RUNNING FAST

From 2009 to 2011, we went on a hiring spree. We were running fast and needed people who could not just keep up, but take the lead. We had all our ducks in a row: we were advertising 52 weeks a year, had a rotating roster of five-star celebrities, a powerful flywheel, a thriving culture, exceptional product formulations, and a world-class team. All hands were on deck and aligned with the mission of reaching our $1 billion target and making billions of people around the world healthier and happier. But first, we needed new team members, and lots of them.

It's no secret we employed a raft of family and friends whose company we enjoyed. We became (in)famous for it. I've hired so many people from school, Village, family, friends of family and friends of a friend, that going to work often felt like I was going to a Sunday BBQ. People thought it was hugely unorthodox to hire people you liked or loved to work alongside you. I never understood that. You spent half your life at work. Why wouldn't you want to spend it with people you already knew you liked? Besides, our recruitment process almost always delivered a much more effective outcome than when we used the traditional method.

Our unique culture was not for everyone. Some thought we were a cult. They'd come to work and see people laughing, smiling, and genuinely enjoying each other's company. ‘How could everyone possibly be so happy?’ they'd ask. ‘How could everyone actually enjoy coming to work each day?’ ...