630: (Solo) How to Find People Who Actually Care About Your Business - Total Greatness with Sam Barry | Interviewing World Class Guests in Health, Wealth & Spirituality Recap

Podcast: Total Greatness with Sam Barry | Interviewing World Class Guests in Health, Wealth & Spirituality

Published: 2026-02-09

Duration: 10 minutes

Summary

Nathan Chan discusses the importance of hiring individuals who genuinely care about your business, emphasizing that while caring can't be taught, it can be detected through careful observation during the hiring process.

What Happened

Nathan Chan opens up about the critical need for founders to find team members who are as invested in the business as they are. He shares his own experiences with Foundr, where he learned that while no one will care as much as the founder, it is possible to detect passion and ownership in potential hires during interviews and reference checks. Chan details how cultural standards within a company are set by the worst performers, making it crucial to hire slowly and remove mediocrity to maintain high performance.

He stresses the importance of mission and purpose in attracting dedicated employees, using Foundr's mission to change lives through entrepreneurship as an example of a powerful motivator that goes beyond salaries. Chan argues that giving employees ownership over projects rather than micromanaging tasks can unlock their potential and foster a sense of belonging and responsibility.

Chan also emphasizes the need for aligning personal goals with company goals to create a strong incentive structure. By offering equity or profit sharing, companies can ensure that employees see significant personal benefit in the success of the business, encouraging loyalty and effort.

Reflecting on his own journey, Chan recalls the mistakes he made, such as offering high salaries that didn't yield the expected results, and how he learned to focus on finding people who care deeply about their roles. He illustrates this with a conversation he had with Will, the founder of IQBAR, who runs a $100 million business with just 12 employees by prioritizing hiring people who care deeply about the company's mission.

Chan advises founders to set high standards and maintain a high-performance culture by continually assessing and improving company culture and standards. He highlights the importance of personal connection and relationships in the workplace, recounting his own experience visiting his team in the Philippines to strengthen bonds and show genuine care.

Finally, Chan invites listeners to reach out and share their thoughts on the episode, underscoring the importance of community and feedback in the entrepreneurial journey.

Key Insights