The third hire is where most founders go from running a project to running a company. Here's what to avoid and how to lead from this point on.
Mistake 1: Hiring for skills you should keep
Founders often hire to offload work they should still own. The early stage demands that founders stay close to product, customers, and culture.
Mistake 2: Lowering the bar
Hire #3 sets the tone for hires #4–10. A weak hire here is a culture problem within months.
Mistake 3: No clear ownership
Three people with overlapping responsibilities is how things slip. Define ownership zones before you make the offer.
Mistake 4: Skipping the trial
Always work with someone for two weeks on a real project before extending an offer.
Mistake 5: Hiring before you have process
If you can't onboard in a structured way, you're going to lose your new hire to confusion within the first month.
