On: I hired 5 people to sit behind me and make me prod...

[darcys22]

I think the traditional way of doing this is just to make a team you work with.

Working solo with a fake “manager” is probably less productive then hiring a team member and sitting in the same room while they work for you

[greenrd → darcys22]

No, that doesn't work. It has to be a person whose job is specifically to watch you. A coworker or a subordinate - that's not their job. And frankly that would be inappropriate for them to do that, especially if they were a subordinate.