Jonathan Martin was born in California but raised in Auburn, Washington. He graduated from the University of Washington with a business degree and started coolblueweb from his basement in 2009. He loves getting to see the impact of his work in the community and enjoys the hard-working, fun-loving culture at the company office. When he isn't at the office, Jonathan can be found rock climbing or spending time with his wife, two daughters, and son. His favorite Seattle landmark is Alki Beach.

What you'll learn about in this episode:

• Why you need to build a team of exactly the right people
• Why you need to be painfully honest with anyone you communicate with
• The lessons Jonathan learned about taking care of your employees while an employee himself at Costco
• Why you need to let go of the people that aren't right for your business
• The sales skills Jonathan learned as a real estate agent
• Why you need to ask yourself "why" a lot
• Teaching your team to deliver the most value for your customers
• How to sustain a great company culture when your business grows past your ability to know every employee well
• coolblueweb's culture of character, passion, forward thinking, and quality
• Their morning daily meeting where every employee shares what they're working on and what they need help with that day
• What coolblueweb's "A Players" look like
• Why having an interview at a restaurant is a great idea and what Jonathan learns during these interviews
• Why listening to your "A Players" is a must if you want them to stick around
• Why you need to celebrate your wins with your team
• Why you need to surround yourself with a peer group
• Why you should use a stand-up desk

Ways to contact Jonathan:

• Website: coolblueweb.com
• Twitter: @coolblueweb
• Email: [email protected]