Dr. Deepak Dugar

Mediocrity can put itself in a nice facade, say the right things. But what is success? What's the difference between an NBA player who's the worst in the NBA or the NBA player who's the best in the NBA? They both practice their butts off. They both work out hardcore. They all have six packs. They all eat healthy. They all train. They all work nonstop. So what's the difference?

It's not the facade of the NBA player and seeing how tall they are. It's that at 4 a.m., the mediocre player is sleeping, and at 4 a.m., Kobe Bryant's already on his way to the gym. So it's the stuff you don't see, and that's the problem, I think, with hiring is that mediocre can look superior really easily trick us.

It's not the facade of the NBA player and seeing how tall they are. It's that at 4 a.m., the mediocre player is sleeping, and at 4 a.m., Kobe Bryant's already on his way to the gym. So it's the stuff you don't see, and that's the problem, I think, with hiring is that mediocre can look superior really easily trick us.

It's not the facade of the NBA player and seeing how tall they are. It's that at 4 a.m., the mediocre player is sleeping, and at 4 a.m., Kobe Bryant's already on his way to the gym. So it's the stuff you don't see, and that's the problem, I think, with hiring is that mediocre can look superior really easily trick us.

And then you really gotta get, so one thing I've been doing lately with hiring is I do what is called skills assessments. First interview is always for like the vibe. I want kindness, I want empathy, I want politeness because I do think it's important in a workspace. for everyone to feel comfortable. I don't want people being diminutive to each other.

And then you really gotta get, so one thing I've been doing lately with hiring is I do what is called skills assessments. First interview is always for like the vibe. I want kindness, I want empathy, I want politeness because I do think it's important in a workspace. for everyone to feel comfortable. I don't want people being diminutive to each other.

And then you really gotta get, so one thing I've been doing lately with hiring is I do what is called skills assessments. First interview is always for like the vibe. I want kindness, I want empathy, I want politeness because I do think it's important in a workspace. for everyone to feel comfortable. I don't want people being diminutive to each other.

And then the second thing I do is a skills assessment where actually we put them to work. We put them to work. We let them see for a few minutes, give them some tasks, give them some skill sets live in the moment, and we see how quick or smart they are. Because what I found toxicity comes from is having really smart people around people who aren't as good at their job. And it's not their fault.

And then the second thing I do is a skills assessment where actually we put them to work. We put them to work. We let them see for a few minutes, give them some tasks, give them some skill sets live in the moment, and we see how quick or smart they are. Because what I found toxicity comes from is having really smart people around people who aren't as good at their job. And it's not their fault.

And then the second thing I do is a skills assessment where actually we put them to work. We put them to work. We let them see for a few minutes, give them some tasks, give them some skill sets live in the moment, and we see how quick or smart they are. Because what I found toxicity comes from is having really smart people around people who aren't as good at their job. And it's not their fault.

But the problem is that the doers, the killers, they get dragged down sometimes energy-wise. There's energy vampires that happen in the workplace. And I think you got to really separate those people and try to give the winners the best team around them. Otherwise their performance starts to draw away to that right there.

But the problem is that the doers, the killers, they get dragged down sometimes energy-wise. There's energy vampires that happen in the workplace. And I think you got to really separate those people and try to give the winners the best team around them. Otherwise their performance starts to draw away to that right there.

But the problem is that the doers, the killers, they get dragged down sometimes energy-wise. There's energy vampires that happen in the workplace. And I think you got to really separate those people and try to give the winners the best team around them. Otherwise their performance starts to draw away to that right there.

That's right, that's absolutely right. And then I think the other big thing that I've learned too over the years, I'm sure you know this for sure, Ryan, is you gotta say no. You can't say yes to everything. Being a yes man in life, it seems like it's the right thing to do when you're a young entrepreneur. You just say yes to everything, every meeting, every moment, every dinner, everything.

That's right, that's absolutely right. And then I think the other big thing that I've learned too over the years, I'm sure you know this for sure, Ryan, is you gotta say no. You can't say yes to everything. Being a yes man in life, it seems like it's the right thing to do when you're a young entrepreneur. You just say yes to everything, every meeting, every moment, every dinner, everything.

That's right, that's absolutely right. And then I think the other big thing that I've learned too over the years, I'm sure you know this for sure, Ryan, is you gotta say no. You can't say yes to everything. Being a yes man in life, it seems like it's the right thing to do when you're a young entrepreneur. You just say yes to everything, every meeting, every moment, every dinner, everything.

You just go to anything and you end up wasting so much time and energy. You've got to be really selective in who you work with, what you do. Saying no to the wrong clients will save you so much time and money. And saying yes to the wrong clients will literally suck the life and energy out of you. So it's really being selective, starting to get that confidence.

You just go to anything and you end up wasting so much time and energy. You've got to be really selective in who you work with, what you do. Saying no to the wrong clients will save you so much time and money. And saying yes to the wrong clients will literally suck the life and energy out of you. So it's really being selective, starting to get that confidence.

You just go to anything and you end up wasting so much time and energy. You've got to be really selective in who you work with, what you do. Saying no to the wrong clients will save you so much time and money. And saying yes to the wrong clients will literally suck the life and energy out of you. So it's really being selective, starting to get that confidence.

And I think young entrepreneurs, they get nervous of saying no because they're like, well, any revenue is good revenue. And it turns out it's not true. There is such a thing as good revenue and bad revenue.