My opening gambit to a new joiner on day one "30 days of learning the model and the people and with total objectivity where you'll see all the stupid stuff we do. Let's chat in 30 days about the stupid stuff and at least one thing where you'll totally transform the business" & off the trot primed to rip up the rule book 💙📈 empowernent
This reads like someone who’s actually been in the trenches. The bit about not hiring for the job, but for the constraint that’s slowing you down - that reframing is useful. And I like the reminder that early hires shouldn’t be handed systems; they should help build them.
Good timing too - we’re making some early-stage decisions right now, and this helped clarify what matters.
Sorry Chris, not that this is terrible advice, stand alone it has some merit, but…. I’ve been hiring for VC backed, A-C round cleantech start-ups and scaleups for over a decade. One of the big problems founders have is they make the assumption that they can just say-
Come here and build something that wouldn’t exist without you. Come here and your work will move the number every week. Come here and grow faster than anywhere else.
But EVERY founder says this, and most believe it, and that becomes a problem. 10x talent does exist, in unicorn numbers, and guess how many start up founders tell them the above, and how many are desperate to hire them!?
Nothing is easy in scaling, not fundraising, and not in hiring great talent.
How many VC’s hear-
Invest here and build something that wouldn’t exist without you. Invest here and your money will move the number every week. Invest here and grow faster than anywhere else.
If only investing, fundraising, or hiring were that simple!!
Generally speaking people buy people ie in your Founder to VC scenario the Founder is the pitch and we buy into the founder making us lots of money and the materials back that up or not (so the deck is simply supporting material). In hiring I don't need to tell you how terrible companies are at hiring and so it's not "all founders" but let's say it is word for word similar narrative whet does the candidate buy - people - they believe this founder over that founder, they buy into say the intellect, the gravitas, the reputation, the feeling they get but also the mission or the ride or the people or the technology or the autonomy they'll get. I love recruiting - it's one of the most intoxicating processes in business - a simple process poorly run but so much anticipation, emotion, jeopardy & hope - gives me goosebumps ✨ thanks for sharing your experience and wisdom 🌞
Exactly. I’ve been on an eleven year mission to help founders build great teams, not just through my company, I mentor on the subject for Rockstart, Techstars and others, and try to write about it, on LinkedIn In and now here. A great product and the right money are very important, but without great people it’s still just an idea. Thanks for your reply.
I love the frame "hire for leverage, not labour"
My opening gambit to a new joiner on day one "30 days of learning the model and the people and with total objectivity where you'll see all the stupid stuff we do. Let's chat in 30 days about the stupid stuff and at least one thing where you'll totally transform the business" & off the trot primed to rip up the rule book 💙📈 empowernent
Great read!
This reads like someone who’s actually been in the trenches. The bit about not hiring for the job, but for the constraint that’s slowing you down - that reframing is useful. And I like the reminder that early hires shouldn’t be handed systems; they should help build them.
Good timing too - we’re making some early-stage decisions right now, and this helped clarify what matters.
I love it when a piece of content lands at the right time ! Good luck with the new project decision 😃
Insightful take on how to scale a team's potential before you can scale the budget.
Prices Law 💙
Sorry Chris, not that this is terrible advice, stand alone it has some merit, but…. I’ve been hiring for VC backed, A-C round cleantech start-ups and scaleups for over a decade. One of the big problems founders have is they make the assumption that they can just say-
Come here and build something that wouldn’t exist without you. Come here and your work will move the number every week. Come here and grow faster than anywhere else.
But EVERY founder says this, and most believe it, and that becomes a problem. 10x talent does exist, in unicorn numbers, and guess how many start up founders tell them the above, and how many are desperate to hire them!?
Nothing is easy in scaling, not fundraising, and not in hiring great talent.
How many VC’s hear-
Invest here and build something that wouldn’t exist without you. Invest here and your money will move the number every week. Invest here and grow faster than anywhere else.
If only investing, fundraising, or hiring were that simple!!
Generally speaking people buy people ie in your Founder to VC scenario the Founder is the pitch and we buy into the founder making us lots of money and the materials back that up or not (so the deck is simply supporting material). In hiring I don't need to tell you how terrible companies are at hiring and so it's not "all founders" but let's say it is word for word similar narrative whet does the candidate buy - people - they believe this founder over that founder, they buy into say the intellect, the gravitas, the reputation, the feeling they get but also the mission or the ride or the people or the technology or the autonomy they'll get. I love recruiting - it's one of the most intoxicating processes in business - a simple process poorly run but so much anticipation, emotion, jeopardy & hope - gives me goosebumps ✨ thanks for sharing your experience and wisdom 🌞
Exactly. I’ve been on an eleven year mission to help founders build great teams, not just through my company, I mentor on the subject for Rockstart, Techstars and others, and try to write about it, on LinkedIn In and now here. A great product and the right money are very important, but without great people it’s still just an idea. Thanks for your reply.
It's a brilliant process - I'm hoping you're having loads of fun & success! ✨