- Lazy Leverage
- Posts
- 3 crucial traits I look for in every potential hire
3 crucial traits I look for in every potential hire
How to find your next diamond in the rough.
Jon Matzner
October 11, 2024
Most business owners are making a deadly mistake:
Placing too much emphasis on hiring someone “polished”.
The problem with that?
“Polish” is surface-level.
It tells you nothing about whether that person will actually thrive in your business…
And that’s why I don’t hire for polish at all.
Instead, I hire for the three traits that truly matter:
Energy
Coachability
Intelligence
Notice what's not on that list? Experience with certain tools or a specific industry background.
These three traits are non-negotiable.
If a candidate has them, I know I can transform them into a high-performing, polished team member in a matter of months.
Polish can be taught!
Energy, coachability, and intelligence can’t.
Why I Hire “Unpolished” Candidates
Think about it: when you insist on hiring someone who’s perfectly polished, you’re paying a premium.
They’re usually more expensive upfront…
And they’re bringing in habits, attitudes, and baggage from other companies that may not fit your team.
But when you hire someone based on my 3 non-negotiables?
You get someone who’s hungry, loyal, and eager to learn.
Sure, you invest some extra time upfront.
But the payoff is huge.
Plus…
These “diamonds in the rough” often become your most loyal, hardworking, and innovative team members.
Why? Because you gave them a chance when others wouldn't.
You invested in their growth.
And they'll pay you back tenfold with their dedication and fresh perspectives.
Why I do this…
I’ll be honest: I almost never look at a résumé.
I’ve built a team of incredible leaders by focusing on these three traits alone.
If it comes down to hiring a 55 year old career sales guy, who doesn't want to use our tech stack, and is stuck in his own way of doing things…
Or an “unpolished”, smart, coachable, and energetic bartender with buckets of potential…
I’m picking the bartender every time!
Why?
Because I know “polish” is easy to create.
You teach them how to show up on Zoom, present themselves well, and use the tools your team uses.
Give it a couple of months, and they’ll fit right in.
Meanwhile, you’re building real team loyalty and watching someone go from “rough around the edges” to someone you and your clients love working with.
The bottom line:
Stop hiring for polish…
And start hiring for potential.
Now, after a lot of trial and error in the realm of hiring global talent…
My team and I at Sagan Passport have developed a 6th sense for finding folks with my 3 essential traits:
Energy
Coachability
Intelligence
Who ALSO have a broad and deep range of skills and experience in positions including:
Graphic designers
Paid search managers
Customer service
Sales managers
Staff accountants
Project managers
And many more
At Sagan, we’re obsessed with finding the best global talent out there…
And connecting them with businesses to help them grow faster, while saving a ton on costs.
“The first hire we made with Sagan was a financial controller out of Colombia and he's been incredible... [Now] whether it's a controller, an account executive, an HR administrator, a payroll administrator, or anything else...every position at our company is going to be global first.” Jacob Mueller, CEO, Renjoy (Property Management & Real Estate)
We provide:
Top-notch global talent headhunting
Proven processes + SOPs for integrating your global talent
A vibrant online community and expert-led sessions for you & your team
To see how we can help you build an elite global team while saving 80% on costs compared to U.S. equivalents…
And let’s work to move your business closer to world domination in your niche.
Yallah Habibi,
Jon
Passage of the Week
"If you will call your troubles experiences, and remember that every experience develops some latent force within you, you will grow vigorous and happy, however adverse your circumstances may seem to be." - J.R. Miller