PROTECT THE CULTURE YOU'RE BUILDING

I’ve hired people who seemed like the perfect fit: clearly smart, experienced, and capable. When you’re in the middle of the hiring process, that kind of resume is reassuring. What I didn’t see right away was that their skepticism had hardened. 

Cynicism often shows up sounding practical and experienced, like someone who’s already learned the hard lessons. But underneath that exterior is usually someone who’s stopped believing that effort leads to progress. And when that mindset enters your company, it doesn’t stay isolated. It affects how people show up, how freely they speak, and whether they’re willing to take risks that actually move the company forward.

I’m not saying we need to avoid hiring people who’ve been burned. Founders know better than anyone that scars come with the work. It’s about recognizing the difference between someone who’s learned and someone who’s withdrawn. One helps you build. The other becomes a bottleneck.

Hear more in How to Spot Cynicism and Protect What You’re Building.

So who are you hiring, and are they strengthening belief in your vision, or slowly draining it?

PERSPECTIVES

“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision."
— Helen Keller, Author and Advocate

MARK MY WORDS

There was a time when I confused calm with stability. I’d hire someone who didn’t react much, and I’d tell myself they were steady and reliable. But some people aren’t steady. They’ve just checked out. They’ve already decided most things won’t work, and they’re waiting to be proven right.

That’s hard to admit as a founder. I’ve kept people like that around too long, thinking maybe they’d re-engage. They didn’t. And the longer they stayed, the more it cost us. Not just in results, but in energy and momentum.

If you want to build a culture of belief, you have to show that belief matters. You have to protect it, especially when it’s uncomfortable.

INSIDE NINETY

If building your Accountability Chart still feels harder than it should, you’re not alone. Defining clear ownership across and up and down your organization can get messy fast.

The new AC Seat Builder, powered by Maz inside Ninety, helps you clarify what each seat is truly accountable for and surfaces gaps or overlap as you build. The result is cleaner structure, stronger ownership, and execution that actually works.

[Try it Now]

ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD

In case you missed it, here’s more from Founder’s Framework:

How to Choose the Right Opportunity: Matching Your Strengths to the Work

Building is exciting. Maintenance is what makes companies last. In this blog, I explore why enduring companies require steady care, not just bold design.

[Read Now]

You can get cynical, or you can rise. I’ve learned the people who choose to rise are the ones who move a company forward.