How I Built a High-Performance Team at Hawke Media

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a founder is that the people you hire will determine how far your company can go. It’s not just about skills or experience. It’s about mindset.

At Hawke Media, we’ve built a team of ambitious, career-focused individuals who take pride in their work and push themselves to grow. That culture didn’t happen by accident. It was built with intention, and it’s been a driving force behind our growth.

What I Look for When Hiring

When I’m hiring, I’m not just checking for experience. I’m looking for people who want to grow.

Skills can be taught. But ambition, ownership, and the drive to push past what’s comfortable are much harder to find. Those qualities are what build momentum in a company. They create a culture where people take pride in their contributions and challenge themselves daily.

I look for people who are proactive, take responsibility, and genuinely want to level up. Not just for a title, but because they care about doing meaningful work.

The Hiring Mistake I Learned the Hard Way

Like most entrepreneurs, I’ve made mistakes in hiring. The one that stands out most is rushing the process.

I’m an optimist. I tend to see potential in people. I’ve made the mistake of hiring someone based on hope, thinking they could grow into the role or that their issues weren’t deal-breakers. But if there’s a red flag early on, it rarely goes away. In most cases, it gets worse.

Hiring the wrong person costs far more than waiting for the right one. Take your time. It’s worth it.

Culture Starts with the People You Bring In

Hiring is not just about filling roles. Every person you add shapes the culture.

That’s why I surround myself with people who are ambitious, career-focused, and committed to growing. Mediocrity spreads fast. So does excellence. You have to choose which one you’re building around.

At Hawke, we’ve created an environment where people are hungry to learn, own their work, and push themselves. That energy becomes the standard. Once that standard is set, it drives the entire business forward.

 

Lead by Example

Culture doesn’t come from policies. It comes from leadership.

I’ve always lived by this mindset: work like most won’t, so you can live like most can’t. That mentality built Hawke Media. And I hire people who live by it too.

When you build a company on that kind of culture, one where growth is the expectation, not the exception, you attract the kind of talent that wants to contribute.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a founder or leader trying to build a strong team, here’s my advice:

• Hire people for their mindset, not just their résumé.
• Don’t rush the process, one wrong hire costs more than waiting.
• Surround yourself with people who want to grow.
• Set the tone for the culture you want to create.

You’re not just building a team—you’re building the foundation of your business. And that starts with hiring people who reflect the standards you want to live by.