In this episode, we’re diving deep into the art of setting clear expectations before you hire—a critical step to attracting and retaining top talent that truly fits your mission.

Our guest, Melissa Ortiz, CEO of Activate Human Capital, is a seasoned expert in talent optimization and employee engagement. Melissa helps businesses match the right people to the right seats by aligning talent strategies with business goals. 🌱

Together, Rick and Melissa explore how entrepreneurs often create hiring problems by skipping crucial steps in expectation setting. They offer actionable strategies to prevent costly mis-hires and ensure new hires thrive in your company culture.

👉 If you’re struggling with retention or making reactive hires, this episode is for you!

00:00 – Intro: Why Hiring Strong People is a Game-Changer

02:30 – Meet Melissa Ortiz: CEO of Activate Human Capital

05:45 – The Problem is... Us! Why Visionaries Fail at Setting Expectations

10:15 – The GWC Rule Isn’t Enough (Get it, Want it, Capacity)

14:50 – Why You Need to Re-Evaluate the Role Every Time You Hire

20:10 – Hiring Reactively? Stop!

25:00 – Melissa’s Story: Taking the Lowest Paying Job (On Purpose!)

30:45 – Action Steps: Setting Clear, Measurable Expectations Before Hiring

35:00 – Final Takeaways: Aligning Talent Strategy with Business Strategy

37:20 – Outro & Where to Find Melissa & Rick