I Help Founders/CEOs Confidently Hire Executive Sales & CS Leaders Without Costly Pitfalls · 98% Interview-to-Hire Success Rate · Redefining Startup Hiring · Stage 2 LP · ✍️ 1st Book About Hiring · Windex Obsessed
I've been on LinkedIn since 2004. A lot has changed, including me. But one thing stayed the same: assuming who I am and what I do automatically translates. It doesn't. Allow me to reintroduce myself... Hi, I’m Amy Volas 👋🏻 Sales is my first love (I've sold $100M+ in revenue), and startups are my second (built enterprise teams, 2 exits). I've made every sales and hiring mistake in the book and watched thousands of others make the same ones, from Fortune brands to pre-seed startups. The biggest challenge across the board? Talking to people about the jobs we're hiring for is easy. And it's hard to find the RIGHT person to do the job that will stick around. Sales and hiring aren’t that different. And they both are screaming for an overhaul. Every bad hire is like a bad sales call, costing more than we can afford. That’s why I started Avenue Talent Partners in 2015. My partner in crime, Taryn Lanaghan, joined in 2018 to level us up. We remove the guesswork in the hiring process to help founders and CEOs confidently hire executive Sales and CS leaders. ... And when they don't need us for an executive search, we consult on closing hiring gaps. Here’s the truth: I’m not for everyone, and that’s okay. I do my best work with founders and CEOs who: 1. Prioritize the hiring process 2. Embrace open communication (even when it gets hard... people get tricky) 3. Prioritize people (candidates, team, prospects, customers, and partners) over transactions because they realize building a sustainable, successful business takes time 4. Consider the short, near, and long-term impact of their decisions 5. Understand why hiring is the most important thing they'll do and aren't afraid to ask for help when they don't have time or have gotten it wrong Remember, you can still be excellent and an expert in everything else and still suck at hiring. Hiring is hard, but it’s the key to everything. CEOs who get that? They’re the ones who win. That's my jam.
You were all on my mind Amy Volas when I said to someone this week: "Our goal is not to be everything for everyone. It's to be the right thing, for someone. And once we've proven we are right for that someone, let's go find more someone's" As always you inspire me so in light of that, "Hi my name is Stephen Wilkins and I'm someone who will no longer apologize for being exceptional. If my exceptionaliam makes you uncomfortable, even when I exude nothing but kindness and collaboration, I'm not going to dim my light to spare your emotions"
Here's what I know. We ALL go through these period where we get caught up in the work, the busyness, and the allure of sparkly projects and people...losing ourselves and what makes us SHINE in the process. For real...we ALL go through it. But I've now seen it 1000 times. When we catch ourselves, right the proverbial ship and get back to our North Star, damn near every time, we experience a HUGE burst in progress. More than if we'd be consistently chugging along the whole time. There's something about that period of distraction and exploration that serves us in the long run, reminding us of why that North Star captured our imagination and drive in the first place. Can't wait to see where you go from here.
Amy Volas Hiring is a specialized skill that to me is equal parts art and science. The difficult part is that even if you bring on a great hire, retention is another key issue. There is no possible way that anyone can be an expert at everything. Hire a professional who has experience with the type of hires you are looking for. No matter how much you think you know about hiring, you almost always learn something new and important from someone who is seasoned. The key thing I always remember is that hiring process is key because oftentimes it is the first and only interaction a potential hire has with a company. If this part is a bad experience, then your reputation suffers.
Well said Amy thanks and have a great day.
I followed your advice over 15 years ago when my company was acquired. It served me well. As I see it, you're evolving. You've spent the time to evaluate what's important, where you shine, and taking those talents to a higher level of betterment, not just for yourself, but for all those you serve. I applaud your decision to make change .... change is good and I look forward to seeing your greater achievements.
Amazing insights. Love the detail. Love the glasses, jacket too.
Get out the windex bottle! Yes to getting clear on who you serve and doing your best work. I’ve definitely taken on a client or two where knew it wasn’t as clear and to your point, it doesn’t make sense. Also (as always) love the direct eye contact (still working on it and need to get my setup…setup). Love the blazer and your authenticity!
ATP frickin rocks at what you all do, you only do it for whom you can rock at it, and you do it so incredibly well that the numbers in your track record made me do a double take!
Whether as a business owner or in an in-house role, getting clear is crucial. I've come across people in both who care more about getting sh*t done vs done well and with intentionality. It's up to us to decide what we're willing to do given our why and values. Kudos to you for being clear with your why and who, Amy.
I Help Founders/CEOs Confidently Hire Executive Sales & CS Leaders Without Costly Pitfalls · 98% Interview-to-Hire Success Rate · Redefining Startup Hiring · Stage 2 LP · ✍️ 1st Book About Hiring · Windex Obsessed
2moGreg, thank you for the kick in the pants to get clear about who I am really for, not just the people or kinds of companies I work with. You are a gift! Cheers to practical over transactional!