E337. 5 Reasons New Hires Fail in Small Business (Part 2)
Release Date: 11/13/2025
E343. The Holiday Pivot: 3 Moves to End the Year Strong
April Garcia's PivotMe
Everyone else is “winding down.” You’re deciding whether next year is accidental… or intentional. In this timely end-of-year episode of PivotMe, April breaks down three powerful holiday pivots that separate small-business owners who strategically recharge from those who collapse into January already behind. This isn’t about hustling through the holidays. It’s about protecting margin, deepening connection, and quietly positioning your next big year while everyone else naps. If you want to close the year like a leader and step into the next one with clarity instead of chaos,...
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E342. Ask These 10 Questions Before 2026
April Garcia's PivotMe
If you’re staring at the end of the year thinking, How is it December already? and Why does it feel unfinished?—this episode is for you. Before you sprint into next year, we’re hitting pause. Because clarity doesn’t happen by accident. It’s designed. In this reflective yet action-driven episode of PivotMe, April walks you through 10 powerful questions designed to help you close the year with intention and step into the next one with clarity and momentum. These aren’t fluffy prompts. They’re clarity grenades. Too many people drag old patterns into a new year and wonder why...
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E341. What Movie Are You Directing This Year?
April Garcia's PivotMe
If next year were a movie, what kind of film would it be? Action? Adventure? Redemption? A rom-com with questionable decisions and a killer soundtrack? Whatever it is — here’s the truth: no magical hand is writing it for you. You get to take the damn pen. You’re the writer, the director, and the lead. In this follow-up to The Hero’s Journey, April hands you the director’s chair for your own life. Too many leaders and entrepreneurs drift into another year by default — replaying the same story, following the same plot, repeating the same dialogue. But what if 2025 wasn’t a sequel?...
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E340. Your Hero's Journey: Which Of The Stages Are You In?
April Garcia's PivotMe
Every great movie has that moment — the hero face-down in the dirt, bleeding, doubting, wondering if they’ve got anything left. That’s not the end of the story. That’s the middle. So if you’re there right now — business messy, life loud, wondering if you’ve blown it — you’re not failing. You’re in your Hero’s Journey. In this powerful episode of PivotMe, April unpacks The Hero’s Journey — that timeless storytelling arc that shows up in every great movie, book, and… your own life. From Luke Skywalker to Moana to Rocky, this universal path of struggle, transformation,...
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E339. Thanksgiving Gratitude, Growth, and the People Who Helped You
April Garcia's PivotMe
Many of us are in seasons of change — different tables, new dynamics, empty chairs, or brand-new beginnings. But no matter what this year looks like, gratitude still belongs here. In this deeply personal Thanksgiving episode, April invites you to slow down, reflect, and find gratitude — even when life looks different. She opens up about vulnerability, growth, asking for help, and the power of gratitude — both for the people who carried you and for the resilient, evolving version of you. Through heartfelt storytelling, humor, and honesty, this episode reminds us that Thanksgiving isn’t...
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E338. Overwhelmed? Do these 5 things
April Garcia's PivotMe
Ever look at your to-do list and think, ‘Cool, I’ll just clone myself and maybe then I’ll get it all done’? Yeah. Same. But here’s the truth — overwhelm isn’t a sign you’re doing too little. It’s a sign you’re doing too much of the wrong stuff. Let’s fix that. Feeling buried under your to-do list? You’re not alone — but you don’t have to live there. In this high-impact episode, April breaks down five simple, tactical moves that shift you from chaos to clarity. Whether you’re running a business, leading a team, or juggling it all, this episode will help you reclaim...
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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...
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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