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FROM THE FOUNDER
Where are the sparkplugs?
W e all need them in our businesses – the people I call “sparkplugs.” Sparkplugs ignite fuel. They make combustion. They make things happen. They are essential if you want to grow beyond what you, and the business owner him- or herself (if not you), can ignite. Sparkplugs are the people in your business who make things happen – and they are essential if you want to grow beyond what you alone can ignite.
But where are they? When you get one, is it just luck? Or are there things you can do that will actually increase your probability of getting a sparkplug on your team? I know it’s hard but it’s not impossible. There are definite signs that someone is going to be a sparkplug versus just another warm body in a chair. But do we all pay attention to those signs when we are hiring? I think not. And do we set the stage for someone who is a sparkplug to want to work with us? Many times, unfortunately, the answer is “no” there as well. Here are some things I look for in people to find a sparkplug: 1. Self-employment history. Those who have had their own businesses and made a living from them better understand what it takes to make a business successful than those who have never
done it. It’s just that simple. In lieu of this self- employment experience, I would look for selling experience where the person had to kill (make sales) in order to eat. That is second best. 2. Crazy passion for the work itself. It’s hard to motivate someone when they don’t have to literally pull themselves away from the work because they love it so much. I want people who love the work and the product or service that the business provides. Anything less than that isn’t going to get me a sparkplug. 3. Other passions outside of work. When people are passionate about the work, they are often passionate about other things. They have passion! They throw themselves into whatever it is they do full-force. And yes, sometimes those
Mark Zweig
See MARK ZWEIG, page 6
THE ZWEIG LETTER SEPTEMBER 16, 2024, ISSUE 1553
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