Richard Branson put it best: Customers come second, employees first. It's a philosophy that brings unexpected benefits to both the company and its clients.
Smart leaders ditch the top-down, mentor-mentee mindset, creating a culture driven by ideas -- wherever on the organizational chart they happen to come from.
Watch for the warning signs that your early employees aren't developing as your business grows, or you could end up with lots of unanticipated problems.
Employment is like any other aspect of business. People are looking to trade their skills and resources to a company that can offer them meaningful compensation.