Hire Like Andrew Carnegie

He was the greatest steel magnate in American history. Before he died in 1919, he had made hundreds of millions of dollars. This would be in the billions now. Thankfully, he believed the rich had an obligation to use their wealth to serve society, so he built universities, public libraries, museums, charitable foundations, science institutes, organizations to promote world peace, and what was at the time the most famous performance hall in the world so the common man could enjoy the arts. He gave away more than $350 million before he passed from this life—nearly six billion in today’s dollars.

His name was Andrew Carnegie. Do you know what he suggested for his epitaph, the words to be written upon his grave? Here they are: “Here lies a man who knew how to enlist in his service better men than himself.”

Let these words sink into your mind. You see, we are living in the wake of the Great Resignation. Many of you are doing more hiring than you ever thought you would be. Yet I have learned in my work with leaders that there is often a barrier to brilliant hiring that keeps organizations from rising to their best.

This occurs when we are competitive and small. We hire competent people but we—however unconsciously—would never hire people who could do our jobs, who might be better than we are. It’s a mistake. It’s also not what Andrew Carnegie would do.

You aren’t engaged in a competition when you lead. You are engaged in a process of launching others to their best, even if it means that those you hire can soon do your job better than you can. Why not? It only means that you get to rise. You get to step up to the next level of your giftedness and calling. It also means that your firm thrives.

I want to hire the capable. I want to hire the ambitious. I want to make myself unnecessary at my level so I can rise to new levels. Only smallness of soul and mean-spirited competition would keep me from it.

I’ve recently started an organization to turn the downward trajectory of manhood in our time. It is called GreatMan Global. We are rocking. I believe we are going to make a difference in the cause of noble manhood worldwide. Already, I envision making myself redundant. Already, I envision the day somebody mentions GreatMan to me because it is doing such great things and they don’t know that I had anything to do with starting it. That’s success. That’s the wisdom of Andrew Carnegie.

So, here’s the challenge for you. Dare to hire people who are eager to rise, who long to serve others, and who might take your job before too long. In the meantime, get yourself ready for new levels of service and leadership. This is how great organizations are built: hiring stars, not functionaries because someone is too insecure to handle it.