Too many people in business look at potential employees’ skills rather than the person or the passion that person has for the business.

Instead of playing it safe and hiring someone based on if they can do this, went to this school, achieved this GPA… you need to hire people with passion to believe in your business!

They need to be excited about your company’s mission and vision. They may not have the necessary skills, but they can learn them. Passion drives the ability to learn!

Don’t assume everyone who applies for your company has a passion for your products. Develop an all-star DNA profile to find the right people. The profile may include: Love our mission; tireless promoter; passionate, determined and humble; and perpetually curious.

Also, make sure to create a culture that matches your company. You don’t want to hire someone who does not know what to expect. Many companies are now focused on a culture that encourages fun and no longer the stuffy environment of clocking in and sitting at a desk from 9-to-5.

You want employees who are passionate – they love their job, the products they sell, and the company they work for. Who wouldn’t want to go to a fun place to work?!

About Alan:

Alan followed his passion and succeeded. He is the founder of Ultimate Hoops, which believes all basketball players should be treated liked professionals!

Ultimate Hoops is the largest national basketball recreation league in the nation that connects teams and players in 25 U.S. markets.

Challenged Issue:

In this podcast, we challenge the issue of focusing on passion rather than skills when hiring employees.

Alan’s Actionable Tips:

* Establish the type of culture you want to have and be specific about the attributes you are looking for to drive your business. Make a list of values that you want in employees.
* Make your company culture completely 100 percent transparent. Then applicants can understand the type of company they are joining.
* Continue to check in on your culture. Take care of it – it is a living, breathing thing! Reinforce and reinvent the culture as needed.

Top Quotes:

* “I realized I wanted to make a change in my life…I decided to really sink the ship somewhat of what I was doing and go after what I was passionate about.”
* “…have the right people in your company and get people who are really passionate for your product and your organization.”
* “You can have the greatest product in the world…but if you don’t have the people behind it who actually believe in it and can sell it and engage in the product…you gotta have that, it’s a must-have. Otherwise, it’s not going to connect with the consumer.”
* “Now we never hire people on skill, it’s always on passion.”
* “If you have passion, you can learn anything.”
* “Social advocacy is so important these days.”
* “Treat everyone as you expect to be treated and let their own passions flow.”
* “It is just fun to work with people who are highly passionate and want to disrupt the marketplace.”
* “The vetting process is critically important.”
* “People turn up to work to be valued.”
* “What’s great for culture today, will not be the same two or three years from now.”

Guest Links:

* Ultimate Hoops (http://www.uhlife.com/)
* Twitter (https://twitter.com/AlanArlt)
* Alan Arlt (http://www.alanarlt.com/)
* Instagram (https://instagram.com/alanarlt/)

Resources:

* Turner Broadcasting System (http://www.turner.