The idea that almost bankrupted Fit Body Boot Camp looked like pure genius on paper.
I used to think my business would scale faster than ever if I spent an obscene amount of money hiring A-players.
In theory, that’s a move that guarantees you’ll reach the top of the mountain.
But here’s the thing about mountains…
…there are cliffs you can fall off of if you’re not careful.
A few years back, I thought I could throw money at A-players like an NBA owner, so they could run and lead the company.
In my head, it worked out perfectly…
…I’d bring high-level people into my business, and my business would operate at a high level.
Thinking I’d cracked the “code to success,” I put my feet up like I was chilling on the beach. I hit cruise control and expected the rest of the journey to be smooth sailing.
On paper, it sounded like paradise.
In reality, I’d created my own hell on earth.
In a matter of months, I was on the brink of bankruptcy and team members were leaving in droves.
Night after night I asked myself, “WTF happened? My business should be taking off, not crashing.”
Then it finally hit me…
My leadership sucked.
I wasn’t showing up to the office on time every day. I was a “do as I tell, not do as I do” type of leader… the worst kind there is.
My A-players saw that I didn’t care as much. That I didn’t pay attention to the details, keep my promises or get after it.
They saw me as the kid who didn’t do his share of the group project and expected everyone else to do it for him. (You know the kid I’m talking about.)
So what did my A-players do?
They became the kid who expected others to pick up the slack too.
Who could blame them? They were following my lead.
It took me years to figure this out, but once I began expecting more from myself, and not just my team…
…everything changed.
My team went from people collecting a paycheck to people who’d go the extra mile, because I’d go double for them.
Look, as far as I’m concerned, I’m the last to leave this building, and it’s my truck parked out there, not anyone else’s.
I share this with you because I thought I didn’t need to lead anymore because I hired A-players, and it almost cost me everything.
Leadership is a double-edged sword. It can be the reason why you reach the mountain top…
…or the reason why you fall off a cliff.
To your success,
Bedros Keuilian
P.S. Great hires will follow your lead either way, so you’d better be giving them one worth following. When you’re in Scale Syndicate, I hand you the marketing, sales, and leadership systems running inside my companies right now, so your A-players have something real to plug into and you’ve got a standard to lead from the front.
Apply for Scale Syndicate here >>>
P.P.S. At our last meet up…
– One member realized his team’s “bare minimum” was a mirror of his own schedule.
– Another one finally had the tough conversation he’d been dodging for six months.
– Another one stopped hiding behind his new hires and took back the weekly team meeting.
Every one of them went home and led from the front.
Our next in-person meet up is coming up soon and I’d love to have you in the room.