For our first ten years in business together, my business partner, Steve, played the primary role in interviewing talent. But when it came to retaining talent, and especially with the launch of our EventPrep franchises, my background in recruiting and sales really came into play. Going back to my days working as a recruiter for the National Guard, I didn’t see recruiting as an event…but a process.
If you’ve seen the movie The Sixth Sense starring Bruce Willis, you’re familiar with the line by young Haley Joel Osment in reference to his unique psychic ability to spot ghosts: “I see dead people.” My version of that unique ability while serving as a recruiter can be summed up with an equally compelling, though less creepy line: “I see enlistments.”
Recognizing talent and opportunity in potential candidates was almost like a sixth sense to me. Why? Because I’m passionate about people, about helping them find their purpose, and I only sell what I believe in. As Mark Twain once said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”
My secret was to never directly try to recruit potential enlistments. Instead, I enabled them to learn more about themselves and their passions. Major General Ronald O. Harrison, a two star general and mentor in my life once said, “Paul, go find young people of promise and enable them to become.” Those words helped me be one of the most successful recruiters in the National Guard, and it also helped me retain the very same talent Steve and I hired for our business over a decade ago.
“Enabling them to become” means finding people who have dreams and helping them fulfill those dreams. It’s about connecting people with their passion, with their purpose. The funny thing is that sometimes we are aware of our purpose, but sometimes it takes a little outside help. When an employer can guide and mentor a talented employee toward their purpose, a whole new level of dedication and commitment arises, which in turn helps the company. Because remember, a business’ success is not just based on attracting and recruiting the right talent. It’s also about retaining the talent.
If recruiting is about empowering, retaining is about celebrating—showing gratitude and appreciation. Keeping people happy and encouraging them to want to stay isn’t magic. Business owners should celebrate the new people coming on, and include their families. You want people to want to come to work. You want people who want to work in the environment that you’re creating. But how do you create that kind of environment? You build a culture of appreciation, of respect, of working hard and playing hard. You give people a purpose and support that purpose consistently.
That’s what employing others is really about. To help people Prep for Success…so they can achieve their dreams.
So they can become.