Chapter 9 Breakdown: Hire People Who Are “Different” – Don’t Scale with Clones
Series: Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat. Reflections | Section A2: People | Author: Brent Parker, Resilience Repurposed LLC
Welcome to Chapter 9 of the Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat. Reflections Series
In this chapter, Colin Campbell gets real about something most startup founders overlook—hiring for diversity in mindset, personality, and perspective. Scaling with people who are different from you isn’t a liability. It’s leverage. This post breaks down Campbell’s key insights about culture, team synergy, and why trying to be a one-person show is a fast track to burnout.
🔄 Look for Complements, Not Clones
Campbell warns against hiring people who are just like you. Real innovation comes from complementary strengths. “A truly strong company culture thrives not when there is just one type of personality present but when there is diversity” (Campbell, 2023).
🚫 Don’t Be a One-Person Show
Many entrepreneurs default to doing everything themselves, especially early on. But Campbell reminds us that trying to be the visionary, executor, and every support role is unsustainable. Great companies are built by teams with diverse abilities—not solo heroes.
👥 Hire People Who Are “Different”
This isn’t about token diversity—it’s about strategic advantage. The goal is to build a team with balanced strengths. You need creatives, organizers, communicators, builders, and dreamers. If everyone thinks the same way, you’re vulnerable to blind spots and echo chambers.
🏰 Culture Should Be Strength-Based
Culture is more than fun perks. It’s how people work together, how decisions are made, and how feedback is handled. Campbell emphasizes building culture around complementary skills and shared values—not conformity.
🎯 Final Takeaway
Hiring people who are “different” isn’t a risk—it’s the way forward. Chapter 9 teaches that true scaling starts with self-awareness, humility, and the courage to build a team that challenges you and completes you.
📚 References (APA Style)
Campbell, C. C. (2023). Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat. Wiley.
🔁 Coming Next: Chapter 10 – Why You Need a Clear North Star
Scaling gets chaotic — fast. That’s why the next chapter focuses on alignment, clarity, and the one thing that keeps your people pulling in the same direction: your North Star. We’ll break down how to find it, refine it, and make sure everyone on your team sees it too.
