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Stop Chasing Rock Stars and Learn Why “Average” Hires Are the Real Secret Weapon for Building a Thriving Business

“A-players hire A-players; B-players hire C-players.” This quote is often attributed to Steve Jobs, and whether he coined the phrase or not misses its point. The sentiment is obviously about a fundamental strategy to succeed in business. So, many entrepreneurs subscribe to this belief, thinking it’s practically infallible. However, that’s simply not the case because plenty of business owners have discovered that chasing top talent is the proverbial carrot on a stick. Instead, they adopt an alternative approach and seek out “average” individuals instead. Here’s why.

The Toxic Obsession with A-Players and Why Reliability Beats Credentials Every Time

Business owners love to brag about landing “top talent.” They chase Ivy League degrees, flashy LinkedIn profiles, and candidates with “elite” pedigrees like they’re drafting the next Stephen Curry or Tom Brady. They post sky-high salary ranges, offer unlimited PTO, and bend over backward in interviews just to get a résumé with the right keywords.

Then the superstar shows up, demands a corner office and a six-figure signing bonus, works 60-hour weeks for three months…and ghosts you for a better offer from a competitor. Sound familiar?

It’s time to admit the truth. The truth being, the obsession with “A-players” is quietly destroying more businesses than it builds. The smartest move most owners can make right now is to stop hunting unicorns and start deliberately recruiting solid, average candidates who actually show up, grind hard, and stick around. Here’s why “average” is the new competitive advantage.

1. Top Talent Treats Your Company Like a Stepping Stone

High-credential candidates are often professional nomads. They’ve been told since kindergarten that they’re special, so they expect rapid promotions, constant praise, and a red-carpet career path. When the shine wears off—or when another recruiter dangles a 20% raise—they’re gone.

Average candidates? They’re usually thrilled to be a part of a stable, well-run company that values them. They aren’t constantly scanning LinkedIn for their next move because they know the grass isn’t always greener. They stay longer, learn your systems more deeply, and become institutional memory instead of expensive transients. Lower turnover isn’t just cheaper; it’s the difference between a cohesive team and a revolving door that kills momentum.

2. Work Ethic Beats Credentials Every Single Day

A 4.0 GPA and a prestigious internship don’t clock in at 7 a.m. or stay late to fix a broken process. They don’t volunteer to train the new kid or notice the small details that save your company thousands.

“Average” candidates often do—because they’ve had to hustle their whole lives without a safety net. They solve problems with grit and street smarts rather than quoting business school frameworks. They don’t wait for perfect data or the perfect title; they roll up their sleeves and figure it out. That practical resourcefulness consistently outperforms theoretical brilliance in the messy reality of running a business.

3. Loyalty Is the Ultimate Force Multiplier

Loyalty compounds. An average employee who feels respected will defend your brand in the community, refer their friends, and protect your culture from toxic attitudes. They become the quiet backbone that keeps everything running when the market gets tough.

The superstar? They’re loyal to their own personal brand first. When the economy tightens, or a shiny new opportunity appears, loyalty is the first thing they negotiate away.

4. You Can Actually Afford to Keep Them—and Scale With Them

Hiring “top talent” forces you into a compensation arms race. You’re paying premium prices for people who may deliver average results once the honeymoon ends. Meanwhile, solid, average candidates are available at market rates, often with far less ego and far more hunger to prove themselves.

That cost savings isn’t pocket change—it’s money you can reinvest in training, tools, or bonuses that actually motivate the team you already have. You build depth instead of flash. You create a culture where people grow with the company rather than use it as a launchpad.

5. Real Problem-Solving Comes From People Who’ve Had to Solve Problems

Elite credentials often produce people who are great at looking smart in meetings but freeze when the server crashes right before the work’s done or a key client throws a curveball. Average hires have spent their careers making things work with limited resources. They improvise. They test. They ship.

That scrappy, can-do mindset scales businesses far more reliably than another polished résumé.

How to Start Hiring “Average” on Purpose

Stop writing job posts that scream “only superhumans need apply.” Instead, emphasize reliability, attitude, and cultural fit. Ask interview questions like:

“Tell me about a time you had to fix something nobody else wanted to touch.”
“What does showing up look like to you when things get hard?”
“Describe a process you improved even though it wasn’t your job.”

Look for candidates who light up talking about teamwork, ownership, and long-term growth rather than their last big title or salary jump.

You don’t need to hire underperformers. You need to hire normal, capable people who are hungry to do good work for a company that treats them right. The quiet majority of the workforce is full of them—people who never made the highlight reel but will quietly carry your business to the next level.

The rock-star chase is exhausting, expensive, and mostly theater. The real winners in business aren’t the ones with the most impressive org chart. They’re the ones who built a team of loyal, hardworking, average people who actually stay, solve problems, and get the job done—day after day, year after year.

So, stop recruiting for flash. Start recruiting for substance. Your bottom line will thank you.

Want to Accomplish More?

Do you want your company to grow faster and earn more while spending more time with your family doing everything you started your business to do?

We can make that dream a reality. Give us 30 minutes, and we will show you how to get your life back. Skeptical? Good! Put us to the test.

You can call us for your free appointment at 480-636-1720, or, if you prefer, Waters Business Consulting Group to learn more about us and the services we offer.

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How to Keep Your Sanity and Family Happy While Working from Home

May 26, 2020 No Comments

Work-from-home roles have greatly increased over the past couple of months. And, for those continuing in their WFH capacity, there’s a number of challenges to overcome (or get used to in one way or another). In other words, a few weeks of working remotely might give you a taste of what it’s like. But, if it turns into a long-term scenario, you’ll need to know how to fight off the creeping insanity it brings in your life. So, let’s take a look at how to preserve your head and keep your family happy, too. Biggest Work-from-Home Challenges Okay, if you’ve worked at home over the past few or several weeks, you’ve probably encountered one or more challenges. For instance, distractions are among the top. This is probably the most ubiquitous problem. However, a bit of discipline will go a long way. Then, there’s noise. Others inside the house can create a lot of noise. The easiest fix, asking for quiet and working in a space away from the hustle and bustle. Working from home comes with its own set of challenges. It’s important to have a quiet space where you can work, minimize distractions, set a routine, and focus on your goals for the day. Working from home with kids can add a new dynamic to your job. When our kids are on extended breaks from school and are sharing the same space, distractions can come more easily which can impact our productiveness. —Focus On the Family Inadequate equipment. This will present itself at some point. Here’s the way to beat it — be proactive and list what you need, then obtain those items before their absence becomes problematic. No boundaries is yet another challenge. Family members will interrupt — it’s inevitable. Instead of letting it happen, set a system in place to prevent interruptions. Effective Work-from-Home Success Strategies Now, we’ll get into some ways to keep your sanity — and to keep your family happy at the same time. It’s not rocket science, but these strategies will prove worthwhile. Here’s what you can do: Establish a routine. Now more than ever, it is key to establish a routine to keep your sanity, your focus and your productivity. Working from home can and will be a temptation to draw you into a relaxed sense of productivity as if it is the weekend. Take regular breaks. Run an errand or step outside to walk the dog. Stroll around the block once or twice or trek up and down the stairs. The idea is not to stagnate behind a desk or elsewhere. Just take brief breaks during the day. Don’t neglect household chores. If you’re working from home, you’ll probably want to avoid household chores. However, there’s win-win situations being missed. Throw in a load of laundry, put the dishes away. Mop, vacuum, or sweep the floor. When you do, you’re doing your family a favor (and yourself). Be careful not to let the household chores distract you from your focus on business responsibilities. Entertain your children regularly. Kids need to be active. And, you can take advantage of this to get outside yourself. Go to a park, play a game of catch, take a stroll around the block. Do fun things with them and you’ll both get something out of it by taking a break and spending quality time with your children. Embrace the power of work mobility. Now that things are beginning to normalize, it’s possible to get some work done at the local coffee shop. Or, sit out on the porch and make a few phone calls when it’s quiet. Do small household projects now and again. Don’t ignore those little things around the house that need fixing. Instead, work on small projects incrementally and reap the reward of pride and the benefit of having a better place to live. What other suggestions do you have? Please take a moment to share your thoughts and experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Guest Post: How To Collect Receivables Faster

July 15, 2018 No Comments

Any business that sends out invoices knows the frustration of waiting to get paid. This is especially true when you’re dependent on those payments to make payroll or fund necessary business expenses. How can you keep running your business when your clients drag their feet about paying you? Is there anything more frustrating than the endless cycle of hassling customers about their bills? If you’re facing this challenge, what you need are ideas for motivating your clients to pay on time. With that in mind, here are seven tips for how to collect receivables faster. 1. Use customer-friendly accounts receivable practices. To be certain you’re not the reason payments get delayed, make sure you are following your clients’ accounts payable procedures. It’s well worth the extra effort to make sure your invoices are not missing information that will delay processing. Likewise, bill promptly — immediately upon delivery or completion of the service, not weeks later. Also, a few days before an invoice is due, contact the client to make sure it has everything needed to pay you. 2. Meticulously track your outstanding A/R balances. One key step in reducing Average Days to Pay is tracking. Create an accounts receivable (A/R) aging report to track and measure the payment status of all your customers. Typically, an aging report breaks down accounts into length of time since invoices were issued: 0-30 days, 31-60 days, 61-90 days and past 90 days. Each account will list the business name and how much is owed in each applicable timeframe. Creating and using a report like this will enable you to quickly, seamlessly check for potential problems so you immediately know when someone’s slow to pay — and then determine your best course of action. 3. Be proactive about getting payments. Believe it or not, your clients are less likely to pay you the longer their invoices are outstanding. In other words, the longer they go without paying, the less likely they are to ever pay. Don’t wait until payments are far past due to contact your clients. A week before the due date, send clients a friendly alert. Soon after the bill is due, start contacting them with gentle reminders that payment needs to be made. 4. Encourage advance payments. Whether you require a retainer on projects or request an advance, finding ways to get clients to pay something upfront can make a huge difference in your business cash flow. Advance payments greatly improve cash flow, as well as reduce your exposure to late or uncollectable receivables — giving you peace of mind as well as a more solid financial foundation. 5. Provide an early payment discount. While you may not want to discount your invoices, consider this: If a two percent discount gets you payment, that’s 98 percent more than you’d have gotten while you were waiting for a client to pay its bill. Try giving clients a small discount if they pay within 10 days, for example. In exchange for the small decrease, you might boost your overall cash flow. 6. Accept multiple payment options. Make it easier for your clients to pay you by accepting a variety of payment options, including checks, credit cards, PayPal and other online payment solutions. You may even want to suggest automatic payments for recurring clients to simplify and automate the billing process — something that may be very appealing to your clients. 7. Know when to enlist collection agencies. Most companies don’t want to resort to unleashing collection agencies on their clients, especially when they’re trying to maintain good relationships with them. In situations where accounts are severely delinquent, however, you may have no other choice. Research several options, look for a company that will deal professionally with you and your clients, and move forward confidently, knowing how important it is to get paid. Nobody enjoys the hassle of chasing down payments — yet knowing how to collect accounts receivable in a timely manner is essential to successful business. If you’re struggling with getting clients to pay on time, start implementing the tips above. It could make all the difference in your cash flow month to month. Author bio: Shanna Mallon is a copywriter for Straight North, a Chicago-based Internet marketing agency that specializes in B2B SEO, PPC, email marketing and web design. A freelance writer, Shanna has been creating online content professionally since 2007.

Is it Gutless or Genius to Hire Replacements Before Firing?

April 23, 2026 No Comments

Any entrepreneur struggling with this situation surely cringes at the thought of sacking a team member, even if that employee is messing up everything they touch. It’s a tough decision, but the business must come first, or it could suffer irreparable damage. So, the question becomes, is it smart to hire a replacement and then separate the underperformer, or would it be better to offload the problem and then bring in someone competent to fill the gap? Well, it’s not easy to answer and arguably even more difficult to execute.