Hiring the right person is your most important task… it sounds simple, but it’s the one decision that defines your success as a manager for years to come.
Share Image Quote:Table of Contents
Meaning
The core message here is brutally simple: no other single managerial action has a higher return on investment or a greater potential for catastrophic failure than the hire you make. It’s the ultimate leverage point.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen it play out so many times. You can have the best strategy, the most innovative product, a killer marketing plan… but if you have the wrong people executing it, it all falls apart. A great hire? They don’t just do their job. They elevate everyone around them. They solve problems you didn’t even see coming. They bring energy. They become a force multiplier for your entire team.
A bad hire, on the other hand… oh man. The damage is immense. It’s not just their poor performance. It’s the drag. It’s the meetings about their performance, the constant corrections, the morale drain on your top performers who have to pick up the slack. You end up spending 80% of your time on your bottom 20%. It’s a tax on your time, your energy, and your company’s culture. That’s why it’s not a task. It’s the task.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Business (233) |
| Topics | decision making (18), hiring (17), management (20) |
| Literary Style | clear (348) |
| Emotion / Mood | serious (155) |
| Overall Quote Score | 77 (179) |
Origin & Factcheck
This quote comes straight from Brian Tracy’s 2001 book, Hire and Keep the Best People. It’s a cornerstone of his philosophy on business growth and leadership. You sometimes see similar sentiments attributed to other business gurus, but this specific, powerful phrasing is Tracy’s.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Brian Tracy (375) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Hire and Keep the Best People (56) |
| Origin Timeperiod | Contemporary (1615) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Brian Tracy, a prolific author gained global reputation because of his best seller book list such as Eat That Frog!, Goals!, and The Psychology of Selling, and created influential audio programs like The Psychology of Achievement. He is sought after guru for personal development and business performance. Brian Tracy International, coaches millions of professionals and corporates on sales, goal setting, leadership, and productivity.
Official Website |Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube |
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Hiring the right person is your most important task as a manager |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2001; ISBN: 978-1576751275; Last edition: 2001, Berrett-Koehler Publishers; Number of pages: 112. |
| Where is it? | Chapter: Hiring Decisions; Approximate page from 2001 edition |