The Heart of Hiring. Building a Business That Runs on Integrity, Not Resumes
Hiring can be one of the most exciting parts of growing a business and one of the most frustrating. You bring someone on who looks great on paper… only to find that they don’t follow through, don’t “get it,” or don’t seem to care the way you do.
It’s not just disappointing, it’s exhausting. And it leaves you thinking:
“Why can’t I find people who actually care?”
Here’s the truth, most business owners learn the hard way:
You can train for skills. You can’t train someone to care.
Which is why, in a purpose-driven business, hiring from the heart is just as important as hiring for experience.
Why Culture Fit Is More Important Than Skillset
Let’s be clear, competence matters. You need people who can do the job.
But if your business is built around purpose, connection, and mission, skill alone won’t cut it.
A highly skilled person who doesn’t align with your values will:
Drain your energy
Disrupt your team
Undermine your culture
And possibly alienate your customers
But someone who cares deeply, communicates clearly, and aligns with your mission can grow into nearly any role.
Heart creates buy-in. Skills create output. You need both.
How I Built a Values-Based Team
As a multi-million-dollar business owner of several businesses for 40+ years and a serial entrepreneur I doesn’t just hire for résumés I hire for heart.
Our team is very well trained from the heart. We hire people for their heart as much as their skills. This isn’t just a philosophy, it’s a system.
Again, it comes back to our mission.
“Grow the individual. Build the family. Inspire the community. Enrich the world.”
And every hiring decision gets filtered through it.
If someone’s only there for the paycheck, they won’t last. If they’re there because they believe in the work? They’ll thrive.
That’s the heart of sustainable hiring: finding people who see your business as more than a job, it’s a place they grow.
Finding the Right Fit Beyond the Résumé
One of my clients, a women’s wellness business owner named Tina, had hired an assistant with impressive credentials.
But within weeks, Tina noticed the red flags:
Passive-aggressive responses to feedback
Resistance to team culture events
A “clock in, clock out” mindset
Tina felt guilty about letting her go but deep down, she knew: this wasn’t a match.
She reset her approach.
This time, Tina didn’t just ask about experience she asked about values:
“What inspires you about this work?”
“How do you handle conflict on a team?”
“What does leadership mean to you?”
She ended up hiring someone with less experience but far more heart.
Six months later, that person had grown into a team lead role, brought in new ideas, and genuinely loved the business.
Because when you hire from the heart, you build a team that’s in it with you.
5 Things to Look for When Hiring with Heart
Whether you're hiring your first VA or your tenth team member, here’s what to pay attention to:
1. Shared Values
Do they believe in the mission? Do they resonate with your “why”?
2. Emotional Intelligence
How do they respond to feedback, stress, or conflict?
3. Curiosity + Initiative
Do they ask thoughtful questions? Are they proactive about learning?
4. Cultural Contribution
Will they strengthen your culture or challenge it? Do they elevate your team dynamic?
5. Care Factor
Do they want the job or do they want to be part of something bigger?
Questions to Ask in the Hiring Process
Try adding some of these to your next interview:
“What are you most proud of in your last role?”
“Tell me about a time you felt truly aligned with a company you worked for.”
“What makes you feel most supported in a work environment?”
“What would make this job meaningful for you?”
“How do you want to grow as a person while working here?”
You’ll learn more in these answers than any résumé ever could.
You’re Not Just Hiring for Today
You’re hiring for your culture, your mission, your legacy.
The right people aren’t just employees they’re partners in the impact you want to make.
So ask yourself:
Would I trust this person to carry out my mission when I’m not in the room?
When the answer is yes, you’ve found more than a hire, you’ve found a fit.