“There’s nothing wrong with being small. You can do big things with a small team.” Jason Fried, founder of 37signals (who you might know better by their current company name, Basecamp) said this. I’m not sure when he said this or to whom, but I am sure of what he meant.
First, a little background:
When I started in the automotive aftermarket, our Marketing Team was small (two people, if you count Captain Reman – and he’d likely prefer I did). This small, internal team was responsible for content creation, social media, marketing strategy, reputation management, trade show planning, company events, and sales team support.
A little way down the line, we added a talented Graphic Designer. And then, the creative wheels really started to come off. A new trade show booth? Sure! Unconventional product update videos, shot in our conference room? Why not! A consistent brand voice and style standards? You bet. And a combined 120 REMAN U articles? Truly, a team of three can be quite productive.
Today, I’m fortunate that our once small team takes up a few more chairs in our conference room. 4, to be exact. And along the way, as this same team has grown, shrunk, and grown again, here is what I’ve learned about the number of people it takes to get $%!t done:

1. Small = scrappy. When you’re scrappy, you don’t have time for excuses. Scrappy teams find a way to make whatever it is work.
2. Bonding happens faster – and often deeper – with fewer backs to have. On a small team, there are only so many personalities, egos, and idiosyncrasies. When your immediate peers are so few, you don’t have the option to not get along and support one another’s work.
3. Move the needle over minutia. With a smaller team, especially when each individual wants their contributions to matter, it’s easier to rally around the big, all-hands-on-deck type of tasks – and let the less significant fall where it may.

Feeling stressed and like you’re fraying at the ends? Don’t attempt to solve it by adding a body to your team, at least not immediately. Take a breath, take a moment, and enjoy the hidden benefits of one (or a few people) together on that island.
This week’s article is the first of four in the Wisdom On Our Walls series. Based on some of the pretty cool Startup Vitamins posters that hang on our sales floor, near our builder benches, and in our cafeteria, our REMAN U writers will be sharing what these quotes mean to them – and how these words can impact your business.

If you ask the Woman Behind the Curtain, there’s nothing wrong with being small – in stature or in team size. What have you been able to accomplish on your small teams? Share below or with Jennifer directly.