The Level #68
630 Words / 3 min
🏀 Your Starting Five Framework
At 19, I became the second employee at what would become the world's largest collegiate fan website. Thrown into the deep end of subscription-based business before most people even knew what that meant, I quickly learned that success wasn't just about individual effort—it was about having the right people around me who could guide, challenge, and support my growth.
Watching the Nuggets' journey over the past decade, they didn't just randomly assemble players—they methodically built a team where each person filled a specific role.
Your inner circle can follow a similar strategic design, built patiently over time:
1. The Starting Five
Jokić has been the centerpiece playmaker, Murray the scoring catalyst, Gordon the defensive specialist, Porter the shooting threat, and Brown as the veteran glue guy.
Your inner circle can follow the same strategic design, built patiently over time:
1. The Point Guard (Your Strategist)
This person helps you see the big picture and navigate complex decisions. They're often a few steps ahead of where you are. I regularly consult with the experts on my team to speak about this—I don't presume to do this alone.
2. The Shooting Guard (Your Accountability)
This person keeps you focused on executing your most important work. My husband Travis has been pivotal in this role throughout our relationship, helping me maintain perspective when I start to lose sight of what matters.
3. The Small Forward (Your Community Builder)
This person connects you with others who can help you grow. My college roommate became this person for me—a lifelong friend who's introduced me to some of my most important connections.
4. The Power Forward (Your Challenger)
Who asks you the hard questions, and won't let you settle? I catch up for dinner with one of my mentors regularly. We might be sharing cheese and wine and my side table's covered with sticky notes of strategy and vision—she challenges me to think in new ways.
5. The Center (Your Foundation)
This person provides unconditional support when things get tough. My best friend consistently offers unwavering support through health crises, personal and business challenges. I make time to cultivate our friendship.
2. Selecting Your Team
I was impressed (and surprised) how the Nuggest stuck with Jamal Murray through his ACL recovery, believing in his long-term value rather than seeking a quick replacement—and it paid off in their championship run.
When I coach entrepreneurs through building their inner circle, I have them evaluate potential "players" using these five criteria:
âť“Do they embody the values you aspire to live by?
âť“Do they bring knowledge in areas where you have gaps?
âť“Are they actively growing themselves?
âť“Do interactions leave you energized rather than drained?
âť“Will they tell you what you need to hear, not just what you want to hear?
Get intentional and clear about what [and who] you need.
No one grows a creator business by themselves.
How did Amanda Goetz, Xayli Barclay, and Casey Hill grow their biz? They'll tell you.
3. Your Inner Circle Audit
You've got to keep track of this on the regular. Take five minutes right now to list the five people you currently spend the most time with. Next to each name, note:
✔️What role they currently play in your life
✔️Whether they're actively helping you grow
✔️What would be missing if they weren't in your inner circle
✔️How long you've been cultivating this relationship
This simple exercise helps you see whether your current circle is propelling you forward or holding you back. It also helps you identify which relationships might need more time to develop versus those that have proven their value over years.
Remember, the Nuggets didn't win a championship in Nikola Jokić's rookie season. They spent years developing their core, faced major playoff disappointments, and endured a number of injuries.
But they stayed committed to the long game—and with the right starting five, you can, too.
Next Week
Ever watch the news and think...WTF is happening?! Me too. So how do you legislation-proof your creator business? 🏀 March Madness continues with a playbook to keep your business bulletproof no matter what chaos happens in Washington.
Best,
Amanda
