--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Know your core competencies and focus on…" description: "\"Know your core competencies and focus on being great at them. Pay up for people in your core competencies. Get the best. Outside the core competencies,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c44/mark-cuban-889_competencies_know-your-core-competencies-and-focus-on_1428876.jpg" --- # Know your core competencies and focus on being great at… ![“Know your core competencies and focus on being great at them. Pay up for people in your core competencies. Get the best. Outside the core competencies, hire people that fit your culture but are cheap.” quote by Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c44/mark-cuban-889_competencies_know-your-core-competencies-and-focus-on_1428876.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c44/mark-cuban-889_competencies_know-your-core-competencies-and-focus-on_1428876.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c44/mark-cuban-889_competencies_know-your-core-competencies-and-focus-on_1428876.jpg) > “Know your core competencies and focus on being great at them. Pay up for people in your core competencies. Get the best. Outside the core competencies, hire people that fit your culture but are cheap.” [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus on strengths and allocate resources to excel where you have expertise, while staffing supporting roles cost‑effectively. **In simple terms:** Leverage strengths, hire cheap for non‑core tasks. Key Takeaway Invest in talent where it matters most. Themes strategy leadership human resources Mood pragmatic focused Type business leadership When to use this quote - building a startup - expanding a team - outsourcing - budget planning Key Concepts core competency resource allocation cost efficiency Questions to Reflect On - What tasks truly belong to your core? - How do you balance cost and quality? A Different Perspective Cheap hires may lack quality, affecting overall performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Know your core competencies and focus on being great at them. Pay up for people in your core competencies. Get the best. Outside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/know-your-core-competencies-and-focus-on-being-great-at-them-pay-up/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [It has been my experience that competency in mathematics, both in numerical manipulations and in understanding its conceptual foundations, enhances a person's ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/it-has-been-my-experience-that-competency-in-mathematics-both-in/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Trust is clearly a key competency. A competency or skill that can be learned, taught, and improved and one that talent can be screened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/trust-is-clearly-a-key-competency-a-competency-or-skill-that-can-be/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [It is up to each voter to evaluate honesty and competency in a factual, therefore fair way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/it-is-up-to-each-voter-to-evaluate-honesty-and-competency-in-a/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [“I started first by building a skills inventory of each team member (learning about competencies) and worked with them individually identifying their strengths and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-r-cohen/i-started-first-by-building-a-skills-inventory-of-each-team-member/) Allan R. Cohen > [Great leaders, the research shows, are made as they gradually acquire, in the course of their lives and careers, the competencies that make them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/great-leaders-the-research-shows-are-made-as-they-gradually-acquire/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Delegation requires the willingness to pay for short term failures in order to gain long term competency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/delegation-requires-the-willingness-to-pay-for-short-term-failures-in/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [Recruiting is a core competency for any company. It should never be outsourced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/recruiting-is-a-core-competency-for-any-company-it-should-never-be/) [Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/) > [The best medicine that a person can have is the knowledge and experience that he can swim through every tide and change of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh-yogi/the-best-medicine-that-a-person-can-have-is-the-knowledge-and/) [Harbhajan Singh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh-yogi/) > [We all have different competencies. Some of us are intellectually gifted, some of us athletically gifted, some of us are great listeners. Everyone has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/we-all-have-different-competencies-some-of-us-are-intellectually/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [When a man is to travel into a far country...one staff in his hand may comfortably support him, but a bundle of staves would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/when-a-man-is-to-travel-into-a-far-country-one-staff-in-his-hand-may/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [“LEADERSHIP ABILITIES Some competencies are relevant (though not sufficient) when evaluating senior manager candidates. While each job and organization is different, the best leaders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/leadership-abilities-some-competencies-are-relevant-though-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We should spend less time ranking children and more time helping them to identify their natural competencies and gifts, and cultivate those.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/we-should-spend-less-time-ranking-children-and-more-time-helping-them/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Knowing the edge of your competency is important. If you think you know more than you do, you will get in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/knowing-the-edge-of-your-competency-is-important-if-you-think-you/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [We have to have a special insight, or we'll put it in the 'too tough' basket. All of you have to look for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/we-have-to-have-a-special-insight-or-we-ll-put-it-in-the-too-tough/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) ## More by Mark Cuban > [At least before my hip replacement, I had a quick first step. I could get by you off the dribble. My business game is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/at-least-before-my-hip-replacement-i-had-a-quick-first-step-i-could/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [Culture is very important to the Mavs… It isn't about who talks the most or the loudest. It is about the demeanor and attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/culture-is-very-important-to-the-mavs-it-isn-t-about-who-talks-the/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [I have always been selling. I always had something going on. That was just my nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/i-have-always-been-selling-i-always-had-something-going-on-that-was/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [I can turn an idea into a business before you know it's going to be important. My first step will blow by you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/i-can-turn-an-idea-into-a-business-before-you-know-it-s-going-to-be/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [Sales Cure All. Know how your company will make money and how you will actually make sales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/sales-cure-all-know-how-your-company-will-make-money-and-how-you-will/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [The people I don't like to work with are people like me. I need people who can complement my skill set, people who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/the-people-i-don-t-like-to-work-with-are-people-like-me-i-need-people/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [TV is no longer the best alternative to boredom. To kids not old enough for Snapchat, music is the best alternative to boredom. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/tv-is-no-longer-the-best-alternative-to-boredom-to-kids-not-old/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [When you first start working for me, directly for me, I micromanage until I trust you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/when-you-first-start-working-for-me-directly-for-me-i-micromanage/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [What I’ve learned is that if you really want to be successful at something, you’ll find that you put the time in. You won’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/what-i-ve-learned-is-that-if-you-really-want-to-be-successful-at/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [You could be beaten down by anybody and by everybody and it doesn't matter what everybody else thinks it's how you see yourself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/you-could-be-beaten-down-by-anybody-and-by-everybody-and-it-doesn-t/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [If you don't follow the stock market, you are missing some amazing drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/if-you-don-t-follow-the-stock-market-you-are-missing-some-amazing/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [Leaders are not dogmatic. They are principled and know that change is never easy, but when it's necessary, they must lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/leaders-are-not-dogmatic-they-are-principled-and-know-that-change-is/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [If I see a black kid in a hoodie and it's late at night, I'm walking to the other side of the street. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/if-i-see-a-black-kid-in-a-hoodie-and-it-s-late-at-night-i-m-walking/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [Every job in a company is important. Unless you experience a wide range of those jobs, I don't think you are as well prepared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/every-job-in-a-company-is-important-unless-you-experience-a-wide/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [Go out there and get rich. Get so obnoxiously rich that when that tax bill comes, your first thought will be to choke on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/go-out-there-and-get-rich-get-so-obnoxiously-rich-that-when-that-tax/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) [Explore all 339 Mark Cuban quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) ## More Competencies quotes > [We have to have a special insight, or we'll put it in the 'too tough' basket. All of you have to look for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/we-have-to-have-a-special-insight-or-we-ll-put-it-in-the-too-tough/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [Knowing the edge of your competency is important. If you think you know more than you do, you will get in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/knowing-the-edge-of-your-competency-is-important-if-you-think-you/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [We should spend less time ranking children and more time helping them to identify their natural competencies and gifts, and cultivate those.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/we-should-spend-less-time-ranking-children-and-more-time-helping-them/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [“LEADERSHIP ABILITIES Some competencies are relevant (though not sufficient) when evaluating senior manager candidates. While each job and organization is different, the best leaders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/leadership-abilities-some-competencies-are-relevant-though-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When a man is to travel into a far country...one staff in his hand may comfortably support him, but a bundle of staves would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/when-a-man-is-to-travel-into-a-far-country-one-staff-in-his-hand-may/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [We all have different competencies. Some of us are intellectually gifted, some of us athletically gifted, some of us are great listeners. Everyone has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/we-all-have-different-competencies-some-of-us-are-intellectually/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [The best medicine that a person can have is the knowledge and experience that he can swim through every tide and change of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh-yogi/the-best-medicine-that-a-person-can-have-is-the-knowledge-and/) [Harbhajan Singh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh-yogi/) > [Recruiting is a core competency for any company. It should never be outsourced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/recruiting-is-a-core-competency-for-any-company-it-should-never-be/) [Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/) > [Delegation requires the willingness to pay for short term failures in order to gain long term competency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/delegation-requires-the-willingness-to-pay-for-short-term-failures-in/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [Great leaders, the research shows, are made as they gradually acquire, in the course of their lives and careers, the competencies that make them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/great-leaders-the-research-shows-are-made-as-they-gradually-acquire/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [“I started first by building a skills inventory of each team member (learning about competencies) and worked with them individually identifying their strengths and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-r-cohen/i-started-first-by-building-a-skills-inventory-of-each-team-member/) Allan R. Cohen > [It is up to each voter to evaluate honesty and competency in a factual, therefore fair way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/it-is-up-to-each-voter-to-evaluate-honesty-and-competency-in-a/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Trust is clearly a key competency. A competency or skill that can be learned, taught, and improved and one that talent can be screened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/trust-is-clearly-a-key-competency-a-competency-or-skill-that-can-be/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [It has been my experience that competency in mathematics, both in numerical manipulations and in understanding its conceptual foundations, enhances a person's ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/it-has-been-my-experience-that-competency-in-mathematics-both-in/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [There is a distorted perception of what goes on in Brussels. No one reports on the Commission taking a hundred initiatives from its predecessor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/there-is-a-distorted-perception-of-what-goes-on-in-brussels-no-one/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) Browse all 60 Competencies quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Know your core competencies and focus on being great at them. Pay up for people in your core competencies. Get the best. 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