How One Leader Tests New Hires with Pressure - And Why It Works

Most service business owners make the same hiring mistake: they either clone themselves or swing too far in the opposite direction. Dave MacDonald, founder of The MacDonald Group, has cracked the code on bringing in leadership that elevates your business without losing what makes it profitable. In this episode, Dave shares his battle-tested approach to hiring leaders who bring proven systems from larger operations—without the disconnect that kills profitability. If you've ever wondered how to scale past $10M, $20M, or beyond without chaos, this conversation is your roadmap. The "Descending Ladder" Hiring Strategy That Changes Everything Dave's counterintuitive approach: hire leaders from companies roughly double your size. Not too small (they won't bring new systems), not too large (they'll lose touch with the hands-on work that drives profit). The sweet spot: If you're running a $20M service business, target leaders from $40M firms. They've seen the systems that work at scale, but they're still close enough to remember the grind. The danger zone: Hiring someone from a $100M operation for your $20M business. They'll design systems for problems you don't have yet—and profitability vanishes while they build their empire. "Throw Them in the Pool" - The Onboarding System That Reveals Everything Forget the standard two-week onboarding playbook. Dave's approach tests what really matters: can they swim when unexpected challenges hit? Phase 1 - The Pool Phase 2 - The Brick Phase 3 - Juggling The Three I's: Building a Culture That Repels the Wrong People Dave's non-negotiable cultural framework filters out mismatches before they become expensive problems: Integrity - Takes a full year to truly assess. You can't shortcut this one. Intensity - Either they match your pace or they don't. Create an environment where low intensity feels awkward. Intentionality - Can be taught, but natural focus is gold. Look for people who think three steps ahead. Systems That Actually Improve (Instead of Just Existing) The Annual Rewrite: Every Standard Operating Procedure gets completely rewritten yearly. Yes, completely. This forces evolution and prevents "we've always done it this way" from killing your growth. The Weekly Rhythm Feedback loops that matter The People-First AI Strategy for Service Businesses Dave's refreshingly practical take on AI: "Old-world values with today's most robust technology." What they're actually using AI for: Writing and presentation creation Back-office automation (invoicing, payroll) Initial candidate screening What they're NOT doing: Chasing bleeding-edge tools that aren't proven Replacing the human connection in recruiting Top-down AI mandates Why This Matters for Your Service Business If you're stuck between $5M and $20M, you're probably missing one thing: leaders who've already solved the problems you're facing. The systems you need exist—you just need someone who's lived them. Dave's approach removes the guesswork. Hire people who've already built what you're trying to build. Test them hard and fast. Build a culture so strong that mediocrity feels uncomfortable. Most importantly: don't let your systems gather dust. Annual rewrites might sound exhausting, but it's the difference between a business that scales and one that plateaus. Want to transform your hiring and onboarding systems? These aren't just recruitment tactics—they're the foundation for scalable growth. The question isn't whether you can afford to implement these systems. It's whether you can afford not to.