If you want to build a great business and have a great life, get committed to finding and hiring A-players in your business.  Even in tough economic times, just one A-player can make a huge difference for your business.  Some of the biggest, most highly respected companies in the world were built on the shoulders of a few great people.  Just one great hire could make all the difference at your company.

In the coming weeks I am going to address specific strategies for building your business by finding and hiring A-player employees.  In this initial article, let's step back and discuss the impact that A-player employees can have on businesses in the construction industry.

Talent Wins
At Castle Contracting in St. Louis, Mo, co-owner Rich Ledbetter has worked hard to surround himself with A-players who can take the business to the next level.  One thing you can see at work at Castle is that the talent and experiences of the people you hire make a huge difference in the business.  Castle has been effective at finding and holding onto some great people who have that rare combination of skills:  they know how to bring in business, they can lead people, and they can oversee and deliver great work.  In many companies, adding just one person with this trifecta of skills has a huge impact on the business.

Question: Who are the A-players in your business? What impact would it have to add just one more person with those abilities to your team?

A-Players Can Help You Sell Your Business One Day
If you ever try to sell your business, one of the factors that will affect the price tag is the depth of your leadership team.  A savvy buyer will want to know if the entire company rests on your shoulders or if there is a team of people that can actually lead the business without you around. A buyer may even evaluate the payroll of your organization to see if there is a team of senior leaders which is being paid real money at your company.  If the answer is no, potential buyers may well decide that there is no company without you.  And you will be poorer as a result.