3 ms·

You know what the problem is with your statement? It's not he fact that you refer to this potential employee as "non technical" but as a "friend". Yes you shoul

You know what the problem is with your statement? It's not he fact that you refer to this potential employee as "non technical" but as a "friend". Yes you should enjoy to work with whomever you hire, but you shouldn't be lazy about their skill set. If the person is a designer, try to get the BEST designer — not a friend. If the person does business, try to attract the best businessperson — not a friend. The curse of twentysomethings is to hire their best friends. They feel insecure and are afraid of failure. Hire someone great that you aren't afraid to fire. By the way this doesn't just apply to tech startups — it can apply to a band or staffing a restaurant.

bdrocco 15y ago
As I once heard serial entrepreneur Tim Bucher say... "Always hire people who are smarter than yourself." It's an extremely difficult task since every entrepreneur wants to do something bigger and better than anyone else. I'd like to think my friends are the smartest guys on the block. ;-) We founded a startup in 2008 that had a successful M&V, but our engineering team was already tried and tested prior to the company. However, don't assume this is a curse of "twentysomethings," this is a problem that I've seen span generations.
bo_Olean 15y ago
>> It's not the fact that you refer to this potential employee as "non technical" but as a "friend". Yes you should enjoy to work with whomever you hire, but you shouldn't be lazy about their skill set. >> Hire someone great that you aren't afraid to fire Got it, thanks.
crasshopper 15y ago
It's important to trust the people you work with, and to be able to rally them to your banner -- but my personal experience hiring close and not-close friends has always been bad (luckily so far only on the work side, it's never damaged the friendship). On the other hand, a friend who does a couple hours of favours doesn't cause a problem.

bdrocco 15y ago

As I once heard serial entrepreneur Tim Bucher say... "Always hire people who are smarter than yourself." It's an extremely difficult task since every entrepreneur wants to do something bigger and better than anyone else. I'd like to think my friends are the smartest guys on the block. ;-) We founded a startup in 2008 that had a successful M&V, but our engineering team was already tried and tested prior to the company. However, don't assume this is a curse of "twentysomethings," this is a problem that I've seen span generations.

bo_Olean 15y ago

>> It's not the fact that you refer to this potential employee as "non technical" but as a "friend". Yes you should enjoy to work with whomever you hire, but you shouldn't be lazy about their skill set. >> Hire someone great that you aren't afraid to fire Got it, thanks.

crasshopper 15y ago

It's important to trust the people you work with, and to be able to rally them to your banner -- but my personal experience hiring close and not-close friends has always been bad (luckily so far only on the work side, it's never damaged the friendship). On the other hand, a friend who does a couple hours of favours doesn't cause a problem.