Bad Hiring Advice That Can Actually Work: 9 Tactics for Lifestyle Founders

Podcast 35:12 | Download | Spotify| Stitcher | iTunes

Dan and Ian share 9 pieces of hiring advice that are typically considered “bad,” but can actually work pretty well for smaller bootstrapped teams - and especially lifestyle businesses.

Links from the episode:

Bento will beat your current email bill — up to 70% off or $300 in credits

“Who” by Geoff Smart and Randy Street

Remote First Recruiting: Land your next hire in 21 days or less

Meet lifestyle founders inside Dynamite Circle

Hang out exclusively with 7+ figure founders in DC BLACK

CHAPTERS:

Video:

  • 03:42 Tip 1: Just Hire a Recruiter

  • 07:18 Tip 2: Work With Friends and Family

  • 10:42 Tip 3: Use AI For Onboarding

  • 12:12 Tip 4: Go Easy on the W2s

  • 15:03 Tip 5: You Don’t Need a Mission-Based Culture

  • 20:42 Tip 6: If You Hire the Wrong Person, Let Them Go

  • 23:30 Tip 7: It Doesn’t Have to Be More Than the Math

  • 26:36 Tip 8: Not Hiring Can Work Out Great

  • 31:48 Tip 9: Polarize Your Managing Style

Audio:

  • (00:03:42) Tip 1: Just Hire a Recruiter

  • (00:07:11) Tip 2: Work With Friends and Family

  • (00:10:34) Tip 3: Use AI For Onboarding

  • (00:12:02) Tip 4: Go Easy on the W2s

  • (00:14:52) Tip 5: You Don’t Need a Mission-Based Culture

  • (00:20:16) Tip 6: If You Hire the Wrong Person, Let Them Go

  • (00:22:54) Tip 7: It Doesn’t Have to Be More Than the Math

  • (00:25:45) Tip 8: Not Hiring Can Work Out Great

  • (00:30:30) Tip 9: Polarize Your Managing Style

Dan Andrews is the co-founder of Dynamite Circle, author of Before the Exit, host of the Tropical MBA podcast, and an entrepreneur who has successfully launched and scaled multiple 7-figure businesses.

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Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella.

PLAYLIST:

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Have comments about the show?

Do you have ideas for things you’d like Dan and Ian to discuss in future episodes?

You can email our producer Morgan at morgan@tropicalmba.com.

Thanks for listening to our show! We’ll be back next Thursday morning 8AM EST.

Cheers,

Dan & Ian

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What We Learned From Running a 7-Figure Remote Business in 2025