Building a business is tough—especially finding the right people to build with. Here's one of the toughest lessons I've learned after participating in, leading, and building teams and organizations over the last 20 years. One of the toughest challenges is resisting the urge to onboard people simply because you like them, and try to shape them into the ideal team members your business needs.
However, a crucial lesson for entrepreneurs is that you need people with the right attributes—not just a pleasant personality or initial rapport. There is an axiom: “Wherever you go, there you are.” Essentially, if someone consistently struggles to grow and succeed across different environments, the issue often lies within. Unlike the stock market, in personal growth, past performance—or lack of it—often signals what the future holds.
We often want to believe that if you place or elevate people into the right position, the altitude will spur them to develop the attitude (attributes) required to achieve. When the reality of the matter is a person’s attributes (habits, mindsets, self-concept, and standards) are the bedrock for future success, not vice versa.
What’s the solution? First, paint a clear vision of the type of culture you desire to build, and clearly define the values you want exemplified by the people you’re building with. Without these foundations, there’s no objective standard for identifying the right people to bring on board.
What are some of the values = attributes I tend to vet for? I look for hard people. Let me explain.
Stubbornness Matters
Look for individuals who have tackled tough situations—those who’ve shown resilience and determination. Success often demands stubbornness, a willingness to stick with a project long after the initial excitement fades.
In the early stages, entrepreneurs often put in significant, unpaid effort upfront, so they can eventually be compensated for work they’re no longer actively doing.
Stubbornness can be a tremendous asset in the face of the inevitable challenges, setbacks, and skinny days that often characterize the journey initially. You need people who rest, only when it’s done.
Empathy Balanced With Indifference
Beyond grit, my ideal team members care about the welfare of others and genuinely desire to want to see people live their best lives. On the flip side, I seek people who are not easily swayed by the opinions of others. They know how to prioritize feedback that helps them grow and ignore distractions that don’t.
In other words, the mental space I hold is valuable real estate. I don’t allow anyone to occupy it unless they’re willing to pay the "rent"—whether that’s through support (materially, financially, psychologically, spiritually), positivity, a genuine desire to see me succeed, or even constructive criticism aimed at helping me grow.
People’s opinions be dam#$%. Especially, uninformed opinions.
Honor and Integrity Over Popularity
Ultimately, I seek people who operate with honor—those who prioritize integrity and long-term goals over short-term recognition or popularity. I've observed that people who chase popularity, followers, and universal approval are often not guided by an internal compass and may do whatever it takes to stay in the spotlight, prioritizing perceived influence over true effectiveness.
Instead of focusing on building something greater than others, they’re more inclined to tear others down just to seem important.
A self-driven sense of honor empowers individuals to make tough decisions and remain loyal to the mission, even when it’s not the simplest or most popular path.
These are just a few of the attributes I prioritize when building a team. What are yours? Skills can be taught, but core attributes are foundational. Identify the qualities essential to your mission and make them the focus of your hiring process. With this approach, you’ll be well-equipped to create a strong, aligned team invested in growth.
Take the first step towards elevated performance by scheduling your consultation with JSB Business Solutions. Answer a handful of questions by Clicking this link and schedule a day and time that works best for you.
The world around us wasn’t built by the exceptional. It was built by everyday people who were willing to do exceptional things. Go build something.
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