Most business owners eventually face this decision: go find someone who has already done the job, or grow someone from the ground up. In this solo episode, Bradley Hamner breaks down buy vs. build as a practical mental model for any owner who is growing a team, filling a role, or navigating turnover. Bradley uses the college football transfer portal to frame the core trade-off: buying talent costs more money but requires less development time, while building talent costs less upfront but demands more of the owner's time and energy. He covers the difference between production and potential, explains when each approach makes sense, and shares how the best business owners he has worked with think about developing their people. This episode moves beyond hiring tactics and into how owners think about their team. Who should you be spending time developing? At what stage does being the Rainmaker stop serving the business? And when a role opens up, what kind of person are you actually looking for? If you are building a team and want a clearer framework for smarter hiring decisions, this episode is for you. Visit https://workshop.blueprintos.com to register for the upcoming Above The Business workshop. Thanks to our sponsorsCoach P ConsultingCoach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner, leading a large and stable team of top-performing professionals. Today, he shares the systems, delegation strategies, and specialization methods he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at: https://coachpconsulting.com Be sure to mention you heard about it on the Above The Business Podcast. Autopilot RecruitingAutopilot Recruiting helps small business owners solve staffing challenges by taking the stress out of hiring. Their dedicated recruiters work on your behalf every business day. They optimize your applicant tracking system, post job listings, and source candidates through social media and local communities. With their continuous recruiting approach, you can save time, reduce hiring costs, and receive pre-screened candidates without paying hiring fees or commissions. https://www.autopilotrecruiting.com Mention Above The Business Podcast when you reach out. Direct ClicksDirect Clicks specializes in digital marketing solutions designed for business owners who want measurable results. Their team supports companies through paid advertising, SEO, and strategic marketing systems that help generate consistent leads. Exclusive offer for listeners: https://directclicksinc.com/abovethebusiness Get a free marketing campaign audit where their team reviews your website, SEO, content, social media, and paid advertising, then provides actionable recommendations. If you partner with them, all setup fees will be waived. About Above The BusinessAbove The Business is hosted by Bradley Hamner, founder of BlueprintOS, and focuses on helping small business owners transition from Rainmaker to Architect by building systems, teams, and operations that scale without their constant involvement.
