In every business, employees tend to fall into four categories. Your A-players drive the majority of revenue. At the other end, D-players contribute as little as 6% and create drag on the organization.

The real management challenge lies in the middle. B-players often embrace the culture but lack the skills to perform at a high level. C-players have the skills but resist the culture.

The key to leadership is recognizing who sits where—and then deliberately leveling up your middle, while refusing to carry the dead weight.- Morne Smit

For a while I didn’t understand how AI would help my business given the fact that our primary customer is still working off CRTs from 20 year ago. What I’ve come to understand is the tremendous amount of research and development which can be accomplished for pennies on the dollar. I can learn about things in a matter of moments that used to require years of first hand experience. Best practices about how to market my company, pay my sales reps and create digital content is all available with some skillful prompting. This technology has leveled the playing field and has the potential to turn those of us who embrace it into superstars. – Dad

If you are confident you have put everything into an employee and they still fail to perform then it’s time to do what’s best for them and set them free. A salad won’t taste like steak no matter how much dressing you apply. – Dad