What Comes First in Business Growth: Team or Sales?

Hey Leader, Let’s have a real conversation. You’re building something meaningful. You’re wearing multiple hats, managing fires, chasing growth… And somewhere in between, this one question keeps popping up:

“Should I first focus on generating sales or build a team to support the business?”

Sounds familiar? It’s one of the most asked questions in my 1:1 calls with founders — especially those leading small teams under 50.

Let me share how I look at this…

🐣 Chicken or Egg? Let’s Reframe It.

You know how people say: “Chicken pehle ya anda?” Same confusion happens in business.

Do I sell first so I can afford to pay my team? Or do I build a team first so I can grow sales faster?

Here’s my honest view — both are interlinked. You can’t scale sales without delivery. You can’t deliver at scale without some form of support. So the question isn’t “this or that.” It’s:

How can I build a sales process AND a support system in parallel — without breaking myself in the middle?

🎯 You Don’t Just Need More Sales… You Need More Capacity.

Let’s say you push hard on sales. You manage to get 4-5 clients this month. Nice win.

Now ask yourself — can you actually serve them all… with quality, on time, without burning out?

If the answer is no — then you don’t have a sales problem. You have a capacity problem.

You need support. That support could be a person. A freelancer. A software. A system. Even tools like a CRM or LMS — they count as “team extensions” in today’s digital world.

The goal is simple: You need freedom from being the only engine.

🧱 Build Sales Process ➜ Then Build Support Around It.

Here’s a practical flow I recommend to most business owners:

First, define a clear sales process — one that’s repeatable.
Then ask: “Who or what do I need to keep this process running even if I’m not around?”
Start with 1-2 support people. You don’t need an army.
Build SOPs. Create templates. Set up automation where you can.
Now you’re not alone. Now your business can breathe.

And when your business can run without you — That’s where scale begins.

💡 A Quick Personal Share

When I started my firm, I was doing everything. Sales. Delivery. Training. Client servicing. You name it.

But there was a limit. Then I slowly started bringing in people — not a big team — just the right people. Today, I’m not the only one doing training. Not the only one handling clients. And guess what? Clients are happier. We’re growing faster. And I have space to think, innovate, and breathe.

Final Thought

If you’re stuck thinking: “Let me earn more, then I’ll hire someone.”

Flip the thinking. Ask: “How can I bring the right kind of help, so I can earn more and grow smarter?”

You don’t need a big team. You need a smart, simple, lean support system that frees you to lead.

This newsletter is especially for you if you’ve ever asked: “Sales पहले करूं या Team बनाऊं?”

If you ever want to explore the right strategy for your business — let’s jump on a consultation call. Sometimes, one real conversation can save you 6 months of confusion.

Book a one-on-one call with me today: Click here to step up your leadership game and build a culture of resilience, trust, and impact.