Scaling with Interns: the Happiness Test

The successful startup secret more valuable than dollars.

In the last year, my cofounder and I have started 3 companies, one of which is a nonprofit. All are based in the principles of supporting both people and planet, but we’re not venture-backed, and we don’t have more than 24 hours in a day — so how do we scale without going absolutely insane?

Yes, we still struggle with turning “off.”
Yes, we have paid employees and contractors.
But, our ability to scale quickly with agility would not be possible if it were not for our interns — almost all of which, once their internships are over, become paid workers.

How many interns, you ask? Approximate ratio: 3 interns per 1 paid employee or contractor.

The mutual benefit: the happiness test.

An internship is a free test run that places absolutely zero weight on monetary value, and 100% of the weight on job satisfaction, work fit, and overall happiness.

We don’t mean free just for us as a company.

Internships are highly valuable opportunities to learn “real life” skills not taught in any classroom, as long as the company hiring them…