Best person Quote by Adam Lashinsky
““I always considered part of my job was to keep the quality level of people in the organizations I work with very high. That’s what I consider one of the few things I actually can contribute individually—to really try to instill in the organization the goal of only having “A” players. Because in this field, like in a lot of fields, the difference between the worst taxicab driver and the best taxicab driver to get you cross-town Manhattan might be two to one. The best one will get you there in fifteen minutes, the worst one will get you there in a half an hour. Or the best cook and the worst cook, maybe it’s three to one. Pick something like that. In the field that I’m in the difference between the best person and the worst person is about a hundred to one or more. The difference between a good software person and a great software person is fifty to one, twenty-five to fifty to one, huge dynamic range. Therefore, I have found, not just in software, but in everything I’ve done it really pays to go after the best people in the world.””
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Power of People” by Adam Lashinsky, 2015
Hiring top talent creates outsized impact; the best performers dramatically outperform average ones, making talent acquisition a strategic advantage.
In simple terms: Great people drive huge performance gaps.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize hiring the best talent.
Themes
talent acquisition
performance
strategy
Mood
determined
optimistic
Type
business
leadership
When to use this quote
- software development
- team building
- leadership hiring
- organizational growth
Key Concepts
human capital
competitive advantage
exponential impact
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you identify A‑players early?
- What trade‑offs are acceptable when hiring?
A Different Perspective
Finding and retaining elite talent is costly and competitive.
