E337. 5 Reasons New Hires Fail in Small Business (Part 2)
Release Date: 11/13/2025
E337. 5 Reasons New Hires Fail in Small Business (Part 2)
April Garcia's PivotMe
You know what’s more expensive than a bad hire? A great hire you set up to fail. Welcome, Pivoter! In Part 2 of this series, April dives into the five most common reasons new hires fail in small businesses — and, more importantly, how to stop repeating those mistakes. Drawing from Who, Topgrading, and real small-business case studies, she unpacks what actually derails your new hires: lack of clarity, rushed processes, weak onboarding, and the avoidance of tough calls. This episode is your small-business hiring playbook — practical, tough-love, and designed to help you build a team that...
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E336. Bad Hires & Moving On Fast in Small Business (Part 1)
April Garcia's PivotMe
You know what’s worse than making a bad hire? Making a bad hire… and then wasting weeks of your life obsessing over it instead of moving on. That’s like tripping on a rock and then deciding to camp there forever. Welcome, Pivoter! Today, April tackles one of the most expensive, frustrating, and inevitable parts of running a business — bad hires. If you’ve been in business long enough, you’ve made one. We all have. The financial loss hurts, but what’s even more costly is how long we stay stuck — replaying the mistake instead of moving on to our next right decision. In this...
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E335. REP: Stop Judging Younger You: Lessons from Energy & Shadow Work
April Garcia's PivotMe
You’re not mad at your past self because she failed — you’re mad because she didn’t know what you know now. But guess what? She’s the reason you know it. In this episode of PivotMe, April takes listeners on a transformative journey through her recent experience with energy and shadow work—a deep dive into the hidden layers of self-judgment, compassion, and growth. Through personal reflection and powerful mindset shifts, April reveals how she uncovered her own inner critic — “The Judge” — and how it was quietly sabotaging her progress. If you’ve ever replayed your old...
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E334. REP: Where Have I Given Away My Power?
April Garcia's PivotMe
You’re not powerless — you’re powerful. But every time you blame someone or something else for where you are, you hand that power away like spare change. Welcome, Pivoter! In this episode, April tackles a hard truth: sometimes, the biggest thing standing between us and our goals isn’t circumstance — it’s our excuses. We dive deep into the concept of Radical Responsibility — the practice of owning every part of your life and business that you can control. Because until you do, you’ll stay stuck in patterns of blame and frustration, waiting for external forces to change what only...
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E332. Stop Settling: Hiring and Keeping A-Players in Your Small Business
April Garcia's PivotMe
Let me tell you the most expensive hire you’ll ever make—it’s not the one with the highest salary. It’s the wrong person you keep around too long. And if you think you can turn a C-player into an A-player with your already maxed-out schedule—you’re living in a Disney movie, not running a business. Welcome, Pivoter! Today we’re talking about A-players—why your small business can’t afford not to hire them, how to attract them without corporate budgets, and why tolerating C-players is the fastest way to tank your team and your sanity. April shares a story about a client...
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E331. Where Leaders Drop the Armor: Inside Collaborate 2025
April Garcia's PivotMe
You know what no one tells you about being a leader? It’s lonely as hell. Everyone looks to you for answers, for calm, for direction — but where do you go when you’re running on fumes? Welcome, Pivoter. Let’s get real. In this raw and emotional episode, April takes us behind the scenes of Collaborate 2025, where high performers and leaders came together to do something rare — drop their armor. No posturing, no highlight reels, no pretending to “have it all together.” Just truth, connection, and conversations that matter. This is a reflection on what happens when leaders stop...
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E330. REP: Your Boss Is an A-Hole, Entrepreneurism
April Garcia's PivotMe
You left your 9-to-5 to have freedom — but now your new boss (you) is harsher, more demanding, and pays you less than the old one ever did.” In this episode of PivotMe, April gets real about the dark side of entrepreneurship — when the very business you built for freedom becomes the reason you feel chained. Through raw conversations and personal stories, April exposes the dangers of blurred boundaries, overwork, and the toxic traits of our own “inner boss.” From Selena’s powerful reflection on losing control of her schedule to April’s candid self-checks, this episode will...
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E329. REP: Mindset is Your Superpower: Unlocking Determination & Growth
April Garcia's PivotMe
You’ve already done hard things. You’ve overcome challenges that should have stopped you — but they didn’t. So why would you doubt what you can do next? In this powerful episode, April dives into the game-changing role of mindset and determination in building a life you’re proud of. Through inspiring stories — including world champion Siri Lindley’s journey — April explores how adopting a growth mindset unlocks your potential, reframes failure as fuel, and drives personal and professional success. This isn’t just about thinking positive — it’s about training your mind to...
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E328. Mid-Year Reset Are You Happy with Your Trajectory?
April Garcia's PivotMe
Here’s the deal—if your last quarter looks exactly like your first three, will you actually be happy with where you land in December? Or will you be scrambling like a college kid trying to write a 20-page paper the night before it’s due? In this episode, April dives into one of the most overlooked success tools — the mid-year check-in. You don’t have to wait until December to panic-sprint toward your goals. Right now is the perfect time to pause, assess, and pivot if needed so you can end the year exactly where you want to be April shares why so many entrepreneurs and high performers...
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E327. You’ve Already Done the Impossible—What’s Your Next 4-Minute Mile?
April Garcia's PivotMe
You’ve already done impossible things. So why are you doubting your next mountain when you’ve outrun the odds more times than you can count? April challenges listeners to stop underestimating themselves by revisiting their own “4-minute miles.” Just as Roger Bannister shattered the barrier once thought impossible, you too have overcome odds that most people never thought you could. April dives deep into reframing past wins as fuel for future breakthroughs—and shows you how to apply this mindset shift to the mountain in front of you now. Key Takeaways: The Bannister Effect: Once...
info_outlineYou know what’s more expensive than a bad hire? A great hire you set up to fail.
Welcome, Pivoter! In Part 2 of this series, April dives into the five most common reasons new hires fail in small businesses — and, more importantly, how to stop repeating those mistakes.
Drawing from Who, Topgrading, and real small-business case studies, she unpacks what actually derails your new hires: lack of clarity, rushed processes, weak onboarding, and the avoidance of tough calls.
This episode is your small-business hiring playbook — practical, tough-love, and designed to help you build a team that performs, grows, and sticks around.
Key Takeaways
1️⃣ No Clear Role or Scorecard
Most small businesses hire for a vague “we need help” problem. Without a clear scorecard—outcomes and success metrics—your hire has no idea what winning looks like.
2️⃣ Culture Misfit
In lean teams, one bad attitude can tank culture faster than any skill gap. Hire for values first, skills second.
3️⃣ Rushed or Poor Hiring Process
Reactive hiring (“we need someone now”) leads to “warm body” hires. Structure your process. Use reference checks, repeatable interview questions, and patience.
4️⃣ Lack of Onboarding & Milestones
Even great hires fail without structure. 30/60/90-day milestones and regular check-ins are your early warning system.
5️⃣ Owner Avoidance of Tough Decisions
Hanging onto a bad fit because of time or money invested only drains morale and momentum. Move on fast — sunk costs are still costs.
The Pivot Playbook: How to Prevent Failures
✅ Build a Scorecard Before You Hire
Define outcomes and success metrics before posting the job.
✅ Hire for Culture First, Skills Second
A bad attitude sinks ships — values alignment keeps them sailing.
✅ Use a Structured Hiring Process
Consistency beats gut feeling every time.
✅ Onboard With Milestones
Weekly check-ins, clear feedback, and 90-day checkpoints create accountability.
✅ Fire Fast When It’s Not Working
Courage now prevents chaos later.
Quotes
“Good people want to know what it means to be good in your organization.”
“A-players crave clarity. If you don’t define success, you can’t expect them to deliver it.”
“The cost of keeping the wrong person is always higher than the cost of letting them go.”
Conclusion
Bad hires aren’t random — they’re predictable.
And if they’re predictable, they’re preventable.
Define success. Protect your culture. Stay disciplined.
That’s how small businesses attract A-players and keep them.
🎧 Listen now, and don’t forget to grab your free “Avoiding Bad Hires” Checklist at www.theaprilgarcia.com/podcast
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