Entrepreneurial Excellence Podcast

What happens when you raise $4.2 million for a startup, only to sell it for $150,000? For serial entrepreneur, CEO coach, and angel investor Naeem Zafar, that failure became one of his most valuable lessons. His next company went public, and over the course of seven startups, he learned what separates businesses that succeed from those that struggle.

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Excellence, Naeem joins host Adam Spector to discuss startup leadership, hiring, business growth, and the difficult decisions every founder eventually faces. He explains why a CEO's most important job is learning to say no, how to build high-performing teams through real ownership, and why every entrepreneur needs a clear plan for knowing when to walk away.

Naeem also shares how timing shapes startup success, why AI cannot fully replace a great co-founder, and what years of building and advising companies have taught him about entrepreneurship. Whether you're launching your first startup, scaling a business, or navigating the challenges of being a CEO, this conversation offers practical lessons on leading people, making better decisions, and building a business that lasts.

Key Topics:

How Naeem went from a $4.2 million startup failure to taking his next company public

Why successful CEOs must learn to say no and stop making every decision

How to hire A-players, build stronger teams, and give employees real ownership

When founders should quit, pivot, or keep going—and why every startup needs a "kill switch"

Why startup timing matters and how promising technology can still fail commercially

Why co-founders, executive coaching, and long-term thinking matter for business success

Episode Chapters:

00:24 How AI Is Changing Entrepreneurship and Startup Teams

02:16 How to Hire A-Players and Build a Strong Startup Team

03:51 Why a CEO's Most Important Job Is Saying No

06:17 Why CEOs Should Stop Making Every Decision

07:19 How to Delegate and Give Employees Real Ownership

09:28 When Should a Startup Hire More Employees?

10:43 Why Startup Timing Matters: The Fingerprint Technology That Reached Apple

13:39 When Should a Founder Quit or Keep Going?

15:43 Why Every Startup Needs a Kill Switch

16:37 From a $4.2M Startup Failure to Taking His Next Company Public

18:00 How Naeem Defines Startup Success Beyond Money

18:50 What Is Entrepreneurial Excellence?

24:31 Three Traits That Help Entrepreneurs Recognize Opportunities

26:04 Two Questions Every Startup Founder Must Answer

26:48 Why AI Cannot Replace a Great Co-Founder

28:59 Why Every CEO Needs an Executive Coach

30:48 Work-Life Integration for Entrepreneurs

32:58 Naeem's Biggest Advice for Young Entrepreneurs

Connect with Naeem Zafar:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naeemzafar

Personal Website: https://naeemzafar.com

Startup Advisor: https://startup-advisor.com

TeleSense: https://telesense.com

Connect with Entrepreneurial Excellence:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website: https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast

Enjoyed this conversation? Follow Entrepreneurial Excellence on Spotify or Apple Podcasts for more insights from founders, CEOs, and business leaders on entrepreneurship, leadership, and building successful companies. Share this episode with a founder who could benefit from Naeem's experience.

Ofer Hermoni, Ph.D. has spent more than a decade working in artificial intelligence, long before AI became part of everyday business conversations. From helping establish the Linux Foundation AI to founding multiple technology companies, he has seen firsthand what AI can do and why so many businesses still struggle to make it work.

But Ofer believes the biggest challenge in AI transformation isn't technology. It's the people. He shares why employees have legitimate reasons to fear AI, how one failed project taught him the importance of getting teams on board, and why companies need to start with the right problems instead of rushing to automate everything. He also explains how AI is already changing the job market, including a researcher who no longer needs the 15 interns he used to hire every year.

In this episode, Ofer discusses what it takes to build a business in an AI-driven world, from choosing the right AI projects to growing a bootstrapped company and finding the right co-founder. He also shares his concerns about how quickly AI is advancing, whether it's too late to slow it down, and why he advised his own son against studying computer science in college.

Key Topics:

-Why AI is already replacing entry-level work, including jobs once handled by 15 interns

-Why the biggest obstacle to AI transformation isn't technology, but getting employees on board

-How companies can choose the right AI projects and turn small wins into meaningful business results

-Why employees have legitimate reasons to fear AI and how leaders can address those concerns

-Why Ofer believes AI is advancing too quickly and may already be impossible to stop

-Why he believes college may no longer be worth the cost and discouraged his own son from studying computer science

Timestamps:

01:06 Why AI Hasn't Transformed Most Businesses Yet

02:50 AI Is Already Replacing 15 Interns

04:18 The Real Reason AI Transformation Fails

05:53 Why Employees Are Right to Fear AI

08:26 How to Choose Your First AI Project

11:25 From Zero AI Knowledge to a Potential $10M ROI

16:10 What Defines Entrepreneurial Excellence?

17:17 Will AI Create More Jobs or Eliminate Them?

20:24 Is It Already Too Late to Stop AI?

22:25 How Ofer Helped Co-Found the Linux Foundation AI

26:58 Bootstrapped vs. Venture-Backed: Which Is Better?

30:43 When a Founder Has to Risk Personal Savings

32:18 Why He Tested His Co-Founder for a Year

38:06 Why He Thinks College Is a Waste of Money

38:34 Why He Told His Son Not to Study Computer Science

Connect with - Ofer Hermoni, Ph.D.

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/ofer-hermoni

Website: ifor.ai

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast

Taylor Offer has always been obsessed with finding opportunities other people overlook. That instinct took him from reselling candy bars as a kid to controlling more than 1,000 college Facebook groups, moving into the same building as some of the internet’s earliest influencers, and eventually building FEAT into a $50M business.

But building that company came with a cost. Taylor opens up about the co-founder breakup that changed how he thinks about leadership, why the distribution channels that fueled FEAT eventually stopped working, and how a decade of entrepreneurship left him exhausted and forced him to rethink the way he was living and working.

In this episode, Taylor shares what he’s doing differently as the founder of Atrios, from hiring for energy instead of prestige to taking extreme ownership when things go wrong. He also explains why he believes traditional sales and marketing are becoming less effective, and why trusted recommendations and word of mouth could become an even bigger part of how companies grow. 

Key Topics:

- Why entrepreneurs sometimes need “irrational confidence” to see opportunities others miss

- How Taylor turned overlooked distribution channels into massive growth opportunities

- How finding where top influencers lived led to $500,000 in sock sales from one partnership

- Why the growth channels that build a business eventually stop working

- How building a $50M business took a serious personal toll

- Why hiring for prestige instead of what the business actually needs can backfire

- Why founders need to take extreme ownership when things go wrong

Timestamps:

01:26 Entrepreneurial Excellence Requires Irrational Optimism

14:24 You Can Say No Without Being a Jerk

18:01 Why a Bad Co-Founder Breakup Changed How He Builds Companies

21:55 How He Took Over 1,000 College Facebook Groups

25:21 He Found Where the Biggest Influencers Lived—and Moved In

25:50 One Influencer Sold $500,000 Worth of Socks

32:42 The Distribution Channel That Built His Business Eventually Died

36:00 Building a $50M Business Nearly Broke Him

48:29 The $1 In, $5 Out Growth Era Is Over

58:49 Why Hiring for Prestige Was One of His Biggest Mistakes

1:00:11 Your First 10 Hires Need to Actually Care

1:08:29 Founders Need Extreme Ownership

1:14:23 “I Want to Build a Multi-Billion-Dollar Company” 

Connect with - Taylor Offer:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/tayloroffer

Website: atrios.com

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast

Alicia Williams knows that running a business sometimes means making decisions people may not like. After years in HR and mental health, and now running three businesses at once, she has learned how to balance caring about people with doing what the business needs to survive and grow.

She shares what she looks for when hiring, why warning signs often show up before someone even starts, and how becoming a business owner changed the way she thinks about employees, performance, and money. She also explains why founders often waste their most valuable resource: their own time.

In this episode, Alicia breaks down her “Shortcut to CEO”: get help and delegate. She explains why founders need to stop doing everything themselves, how she decides what to hand off, and why a business that cannot run without you may just be another full-time job. 

Key Topics:

-Why doing the right thing in business sometimes means making tough decisions

-How to spot red flags before you make a bad hire

-Why your time may be more valuable than the money you are trying to save

-The “Shortcut to CEO” and why founders need to delegate

-Why a business that depends entirely on you is really another full-time job

-How to build a business that supports your life instead of controlling it

Timestamps:

01:15 Doing the Right Thing Can Hurt the Bottom Line

03:34 Business Is Not Friendship. It’s Business.

16:20 You Can Spot a Bad Hire Before They Even Start

19:33 The Best Hiring Test Is Surprisingly Simple

33:12 Most Founders Forget Their Time Is Not Free

37:17 Anyone Can Become a CEO. The Hard Part Comes After.

39:48 Delegate Everything You Hate Doing

41:03 The Real Cost of Running Three Businesses

47:11 The Shortcut to CEO Is Simpler Than You Think

47:34 If Everything Depends on You, You Don’t Have a Business

50:14 The “Beach or Bank” Rule for Saying No

54:06 If You’re Making Excuses, You’re Not Making Money

Connect with - Alicia Williams:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/humanityinhr

Website:humanityinhr.com (Company)

youturnbhs.com (Company)

humanityinhr.as.me (Company)

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast

Rob Catalano shares why entrepreneurial excellence begins when the excitement of a new idea wears off. After more than 20 years building companies, including Achievers and WorkTango, he learned that success is less about having the perfect idea and more about staying committed through difficult years, adapting when the market changes, and surrounding yourself with people who can help execute the vision.

After helping scale Achievers to hundreds of employees and later bootstrapping WorkTango before its acquisition, Rob experienced two very different paths to building a company. He breaks down why he preferred the bootstrap journey, how finding the right co-founder shaped his career, and why hiring the right people has been one of his biggest advantages. He also shares the recruiting process he has trusted for nearly two decades and why a bad hire can cost far more than taking extra time to find the right person.

In this episode, Rob also explores how AI is changing hiring, marketing, and go-to-market in 2026. He explains why founders should understand the problem before building the product, why smart generalists may have an advantage in the AI era, and why there are no simple growth shortcuts anymore. At the core, this conversation is about building for the long term, becoming an expert in your space, knowing when to delegate, and staying willing to evolve as both the company and the market change.

Key Topics:

-Why most founders fail even when they start with a strong vision

-Why the right people can matter more than having the best product

-How talking to 100 customers can completely change what you build

-Why bootstrapping gave Rob a better experience than raising venture capital

-The 18-year hiring method that helped Rob avoid costly hiring mistakes

-Why AI will not make everyone an expert in sales, marketing, and business

Timestamps:

01:08 Entrepreneurial Excellence Starts After the Idea Stops Being Fun

04:49 Why Most Founders Eventually Give Up

07:12 The Most Important Pattern Behind Successful Companies

11:32 The Secret to a Co-Founder Relationship That Lasts

15:16 How to Find Real Product-Market Fit

20:32 How to Delegate Without Losing Control of Your Company

23:25 Why Bootstrapping Was Better Than Raising Capital

26:55 The Recruiting Process Rob Has Trusted for 18 Years

31:09 A Bad Hire Costs Far More Than a Long Interview

32:32 How AI Is Changing Who Companies Need to Hire

34:58 Why Smart Generalists May Win in the AI Era

36:38 Why Go-to-Market Is So Difficult in 2026

39:57 Why AI Agents Need a Shared Operating Layer

42:24 Can AI Giants Eventually Replace Smaller AI Companies?

47:36 There Are No More Magic Bullets in Marketing

49:47 The Advice Rob Would Give Himself 20 Years Ago

52:04 Give to Your Community Before You Try to Sell to It

Connect with - Rob Catalano:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/robcatalano

Website: https://www.wysdym.ai/

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast

Colin Hodge shows why massive organic growth is rarely about finding one viral hit. After growing DOWN to 6 million users without spending money on ads, he learned that real growth comes from constantly testing ideas, spotting small sparks of traction, and figuring out which ones are worth turning into bigger growth engines.

As the founder behind Bang With Friends, which later became DOWN, Colin experienced nearly every side of entrepreneurship: explosive growth, getting sued by Zynga, being removed from Apple’s App Store, founder burnout, selling his company, and eventually buying it back. He shares how those experiences shaped his views on resilience, ethical growth, and why founders need people around them who can challenge their thinking.

In this episode, Colin breaks down the psychology behind organic growth, why smaller companies have an unfair advantage over established competitors, and how standing out can create opportunities that traditional marketing cannot. At the core, this conversation is about building differently, knowing when to push against conventional wisdom, and creating sustainable growth without losing yourself along the way.

Key Topics:

-Organic growth is about finding small sparks, not chasing one viral hit

-How Bang With Friends reached 1 million users in just three months

-Growing DOWN to 6 million users without spending money on ads

-Why smaller companies have an unfair growth advantage over bigger competitors

-How founder burnout can lead to major decisions like selling too early

-Why the best growth strategies use human psychology to stand out and drive action

Timestamps:

01:20 The Best Entrepreneurs Are Defined by Resilience

06:39 The Honest Conversation That Created Bang With Friends

09:50 Great Entrepreneurs Know When to Challenge Conventional Wisdom

12:52 What If Tech Companies Optimized for Users Instead of Attention?

24:06 The Sketchy Growth Tactics Dating Apps Still Use

27:09 Bang With Friends Hit 1 Million Users in Three Months

30:48 Why Apple Kicked Bang With Friends Out of the App Store

32:06 The Brand That Made Them Viral Became Their Biggest Problem

36:31 Getting Sued and Kicked Off the App Store Nearly Broke Him

38:51 How DOWN Grew to 6 Million Users With Zero Ad Spend

39:06 Organic Growth Is Not About Finding One Viral Hit

40:33 Building a Company Without a True Co-Founder Led to Burnout

42:42 Selling Too Early Cost Him a Much Higher Valuation

45:00 The Growth Playbook Built From 100 Million Users

48:06 How a $100 Cup of Gelato Became a Viral Growth Strategy

52:00 Small Companies Have an Unfair Advantage Over Giants

55:00 Founders Should Delegate What They Do Not Want to Master

1:05:39 Have More Faith in Your Vision and Stop Treating It Like a Sprint

Connect with - Colin Hodge:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/ckbhodge

Website: colinhodge.com

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast

In this episode, Adam sits down with Kevin Henrikson and Jason Shafton to explore what it really takes to build and stay competitive in a world being reshaped by AI. They break down how AI is changing entrepreneurship, why raising more money isn't always an advantage, and why companies that fail to adapt may find themselves falling behind faster than they expect.

The conversation dives into what it means to build an AI-first team, why simply giving employees access to AI tools isn't enough, and how leaders can rethink hiring, productivity, and even entire roles. Kevin shares how one AI engineer job posting attracted more than 2,000 applicants, while Jason explains why high agency, curiosity, and the ability to adapt may become some of the most valuable traits in the workforce. 

More than a conversation about AI tools, this episode is about how entrepreneurs need to think differently as the rules of business continue to change. From building defensible companies and creating more productive teams to staying relevant without burning out, Kevin and Jason share what founders can do today to prepare for an economy where AI isn't simply an advantage—it is quickly becoming part of the way business gets done.

Key Topics:

-AI is changing what it takes to build a successful company

-Companies that refuse to adapt to AI risk being left behind

-High agency and curiosity are becoming essential skills in the AI economy

-The best teams use AI to automate work and increase their output

-Businesses should rethink the work before automatically hiring more people

-Brand and distribution are becoming powerful moats when products are easier to build

Timestamps:

04:19 Has AI Changed What Business Success Looks Like

06:17 Why Your AI Startup May Have No Real Moat

09:37 Why Services Businesses Could Be the Next Big Opportunity

11:46 How Do You Build an AI First Team

12:59 What Happens to Companies That Refuse to Use AI

14:50 Will People Who Ignore AI Still Be Employable

17:39 How One AI Job Posting Got 2,166 Applications

19:29 Why Young Professionals Are Struggling to Find Meaningful Work

20:33 Why Talented People Still Choose Jobs Over Starting Companies

23:36 The Trait That Will Matter Most in the AI Economy

23:57 Who Will Actually Stay Relevant in the Next Five Years

26:11 How to Get Your Team to Actually Use AI

27:39 If It Takes Time Automate It

28:32 Eliminate Automate Delegate

29:32 When Is It Time to Replace a Role With AI

33:03 What Is Still a Real Business Moat in the AI Era

35:28 Why the Best Products Are Not Always Winning Anymore

35:54 How Do You Keep Up With the Relentless Pace of AI

39:06 Building at the Speed of AI Is Not for Everyone

40:25 Will Businesses That Ignore AI Slowly Die

43:29 What Keeps Successful Entrepreneurs Hungry

48:51 How Should You Prepare for the AI Economy

49:24 Build Something People Actually Want to Buy

52:15 The One Trait Every Entrepreneur Needs

Connect with - Kevin Henrikson:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/kevinhenrikson:

Website: crunchbase.com (Other)

acompli.com (Other)

angel.co (Other)

Connect with - Jason Shafton:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/jasonshafton

Website: winstonfrancois.com

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast

In this episode, Adam sits down with Christine Song to talk about what happens when AI removes the need for layers of management. As teams get leaner, the advantage shifts to people who can think for themselves, communicate before being asked, and take ownership without needing someone to constantly manage them.

Christine breaks down why the traditional career ladder may be disappearing, why some leaders struggle to give up control, and what a future of “five people and 30 bots” could actually mean for companies. She also gets candid about founders who want high-performing teams but aren't prepared to hear uncomfortable truths from the people closest to them.

This is a conversation about a new standard for work: fewer layers, more ownership, and leaders who are secure enough to let great people do great work.

Key Topics:

-AI is raising the bar for employees who wait to be managed

-The best people take ownership before someone tells them what to do

-Proactive communication creates trust and earns more autonomy

-Traditional career ladders may disappear as teams become leaner

-Great culture requires leaders to stay aligned, not just the CEO

-Founders need people around them who are willing to tell them the truth

Timestamps:

01:26 What Entrepreneurial Excellence Really Means

04:01 How to Hire People Who Actually Take Ownership

07:31 How to Spot a True High Performer

10:55 Is Micromanagement Dead in the Age of AI

14:18 Why AI Will Push the Best Employees to the Top

15:41 You Are the Entrepreneur of Your Own Career

16:57 Will AI Replace HR Managers

19:01 Why Proactive Communication Gives You More Freedom

23:29 Why the Traditional Career Ladder Is Disappearing

24:28 The Future Could Be Five People and 30 Bots

27:08 Culture Cannot Come From the CEO Alone

29:39 Should You Fire Leaders Who Refuse to Get Aligned

31:01 What Great Startup Culture Actually Looks Like

35:51 Can You Build a High Performance Culture Without Making People Miserable

38:46 Why People Will Work Incredibly Hard for the Right Founder

40:51 Every Founder Needs Someone Who Will Tell Them the Truth

50:50 The Real Cost of Making a Bad Hire

1:13:55 Why Great Founders Still Have to Learn How to Be CEOs

Connect with - Christine Song:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/songchristine1

Website: 5to9society.com

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast

In this episode, Adam sits down with Dr. Yishai to challenge one of the biggest assumptions in entrepreneurship: that success automatically means you're on the right path. They explore why some founders build successful companies while quietly feeling stuck, exhausted, or pulled in different directions, and why real progress starts with being honest about what you actually want your business and your life to look like.

The conversation unpacks why so many founders carry unnecessary pressure, how guilt quietly drains focus, and why balance is less about dividing your time equally and more about knowing where your attention belongs in each season of life. Dr. Yishai also shares why great founders don't try to be great at everything, how the right coach helps uncover blind spots that AI still misses, and why your biggest limitation is often the story you're telling yourself without realizing it.

More than a conversation about business, this episode is about learning how to think with more clarity when the stakes are high, make decisions with greater confidence, and build a company without losing yourself along the way.

Key Topics:

-Success without alignment often comes at a hidden personal cost

-Great founders build businesses around what matters most to them

-Balance comes from shifting priorities not dividing time equally

-Your emotions can reveal what needs your attention

-The best leaders focus on their strengths instead of doing everything

-A great coach helps uncover blind spots that AI still cannot see

Timestamps:

06:13 Can You Be Successful Without Being Aligned

09:26 The Biggest Lie Founders Tell Themselves

12:18 Your Emotions Are Giving You Important Data

13:25 Why Work Life Balance Is a Myth

16:48 The Hidden Trait Shared by Great Founders

18:22 Your Zone of Genius Is Your Greatest Advantage

21:22 Why High Performers Get the Most Out of Coaching

27:35 Does Every Founder Need a Coach

29:58 How to Find the Right Coach Without Wasting Money

31:24 Why Asking for Help Makes You Stronger

32:18 Nobody Is Great at Everything

34:13 Stop Doing Work Someone Else Can Do

36:09 Is Executive Coaching Actually Worth It

37:42 The Hidden Reason Your Business Stops Growing

39:20 How to Measure the ROI of Coaching

42:19 AI Coach vs Human Coach Which One Wins

44:26 The Biggest Blind Spot AI Still Cannot See

46:10 The Blind Spot That Changes Everything

47:18 Why Founders Struggle Under Pressure

47:50 Pressure Is Not What You Think It Is

49:52 The First Time Will Always Be the Hardest

51:52 Your Brain Is Trying to Help You Not Hurt You

Connect with - Dr. Yishai Barkhordari:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/dryishai

Website: dryishai.com

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast

Adam Gellert explains why most companies are hiring the wrong way and why relying too much on resumes often causes them to miss great people. He shares how founders can build stronger teams by focusing on trust, attitude, grit, and the real business problem they need to solve instead of simply checking boxes on a CV.

In this episode, Adam talks about why speed is one of the biggest advantages in hiring, why "hire slow, fire fast" is a flawed mindset, and how the best founders treat recruiting as one of their highest priorities. He also shares practical lessons from building recruiting businesses that help startups and small businesses hire top talent faster.

At its core, this conversation is about making better hiring decisions, building systems that attract the right people, and creating businesses that grow because of great teams, not just great ideas.

Key Topics:

-Resumes are not the best way to identify great talent

-The fastest companies often hire the best people

-Trust attitude and grit matter more than a perfect background

-Great founders treat hiring as one of their most important jobs

-Delaying a hire can cost more than hiring the wrong person

-Building the right team starts with solving the right business problem

Timestamps:

02:29 Hiring Is About Getting the Best Person Fast

04:42 Stop Filtering People Out and Start Finding the Right Ones

06:13 The Three Traits Every Great Hire Needs Trust Attitude and Grit

07:25 Recruiting Is Much Simpler Than Most Founders Think

09:42 How to Hire Without Relying on Resumes

14:46 Why You Should Never Trust a Resume Too Much

17:00 We Completely Rebuilt Our Hiring Process

18:03 Entrepreneurship Is About Becoming an Athlete of Business

19:03 Grit Cannot Be Taught

20:14 If You Need Motivation Make It Cost You Something

21:19 Why I Paid for an Office During the Recession

25:29 The Moment I Realized Recruiting Was My Calling

26:04 Why Every Startup Should Hire Top Talent Within 48 Hours

30:13 The Biggest Hiring Mistake Founders Make

32:03 Great Founders Spend Up to Half Their Time Recruiting

33:34 Your Business Will Fall to the Level of Your People

34:47 The Fastest Founders Win the Best Talent

36:07 Speed Is the Greatest Hiring Advantage

38:15 Hire Slow Fire Fast Is One of the Biggest Lies Ever Told

38:44 Delaying a Hire Is More Expensive Than Hiring the Wrong Person

40:21 Why the First Sales Hire Is So Difficult

43:44 The Three Traits Every Great Salesperson Shares

45:58 The Most Overlooked Early Hire for Founders

47:04 Every Job Needs a Clear Outcome

49:33 Specialists Usually Beat Generalists

51:01 Remote vs Office Which One Actually Wins

53:26 How to Decide the Right Salary for a New Hire

01:13:06 The One Piece of Advice Every Entrepreneur Needs

01:14:13 The World's Best Entrepreneurs Stay Focused on the Big Picture

Connect with - Adam Gellert:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/adamgellert

Website: linkusgroup.com (Company)

hirehipo.com (Company)

recruiteradam.com (Personal)

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast