Hiring the right person can transform your business. It’s not about stacking more employees or assistants; it’s about making the one hire that frees up your time, boosts efficiency, and drives long-term growth. But here’s the catch: most entrepreneurs hire wrong. They prioritize resumes over values, experience over competence, and excitement over true commitment.
If you want your next hire to be a game changer, you need to focus on the 3 C’s: Character, Competence, and Commitment.
A polished résumé can look impressive, but it doesn’t reveal someone’s values. You can teach someone how to use tools, but you can’t teach integrity, reliability, or accountability.
Behavior-based interview questions are your secret weapon. Instead of “What’s your experience with scheduling?” ask questions like:
“Tell me about a time you had to admit you were wrong. How did you handle it?”
“How do you usually manage conflict in a remote team?”
These answers reveal if a candidate aligns with your culture and values—something that matters more than technical skills.
Years of experience doesn’t always equal the ability to perform in your unique business. Competence is about delivering results today.
To test this, give candidates realistic scenarios:
“A deadline is tomorrow, but two major tasks aren’t done. How do you prioritize and get things back on track?”
Competent candidates will provide clear, actionable steps instead of vague answers. This shows they can handle pressure and problem-solve in real time.
One of the biggest hiring mistakes is bringing on someone who seems enthusiastic at first, only to realize their focus is elsewhere.
Commitment isn’t about interview hype—it’s about whether they’re willing to stick with your business long term. Ask direct questions like:
“What are your top priorities right now?”
“What sacrifices are you willing to make for this role?”
For leadership roles, you can add performance-based incentives (bonuses, profit sharing). When your hire has skin in the game, they’re more likely to stay focused and invested in your company’s success.
When you combine these three, you stop making “okay” hires and start making transformational hires:
Character → Who they are and how they’ll fit your team.
Competence → What they can actually do under pressure.
Commitment → Whether they’ll stay focused on helping you grow.
Get this right, and your one hire won’t just support you—they’ll free up your time, triple your productivity, and accelerate your revenue growth.
You don’t need to figure this out alone. At To Elevate, we specialize in finding and training top 1% Digital Assistants—professionals who not only check the boxes but actually think, act, and execute like operators.
Written by Nick Warrior
If you’re serious about scaling while buying back your time then let’s talk about your specific needs and how we can help you find, train, and manage your top 1% Digital Assistant
