Never Lower the Bar

I made a mistake with our first hires at YoPrint.

I thought I was being a good leader. Give them time. Be understanding. Let them learn at their pace.

Wrong.

When you're a startup with just founders, every hour counts. Every day matters. I was spending my time coming down to their level, trying to pull them up slowly. Meanwhile, features sat unbuilt. Customers waited.

Here's what I should have done from day one:

Set the bar high. Make it clear.

Show them your best work. Tell them: "This is the standard. Match it."

New employees don't want a babysitter. They want a role model. Someone who inspires them to be better than they thought they could be.

Yes, they'll make mistakes at first. That's fine. But there's a difference between learning mistakes and lowering standards.

Be harsh but don't be mean. Be direct. Praise great work. Call out mediocre work. Not to be cruel—to be clear. People need to know where they stand.

Force them to meet you at your level.

A players want to work with A players. The moment you start accepting B work, you've lost them.

Never settle.