Insights

Insights for Leaders Who Build

Practical thinking on hiring, leadership, succession, and the industries we serve.

Retained vs. contingent executive search: what's actually different

Retained and contingent recruiting work differently, cost differently, and produce different results. Here's what each model actually looks like so you can decide which fits your hire.

Executive Search5 min read

The real cost of a bad executive hire (and why most companies undercount it)

A failed executive hire costs $300K to $500K when you count severance, lost momentum, team turnover, and the search you have to run again. Here's how to count the real number.

Executive Search6 min read

What Kills an Executive Search Before It Finishes

Most executive searches don't fail because the talent isn't there. They fail because the process breaks down. Cord Sachs on the six momentum killers we see most often.

Construction8 min read

Why Construction Executives Fail in the First Year

Most construction executive failures aren't about competence. They're about fit, onboarding, and the first 90 days. Here's what actually goes wrong and how to prevent it.

Executive Search8 min read

Hiring for Character AND Capability: Why the Best Leaders Have Both (Part 1 of 3)

Most companies hire for capability and hope character comes with it. Cord Sachs on why the best executive hires require both, and how to stop compromising on either.

Executive Search5 min read

Hiring for Character AND Capability: How to Structure the Search (Part 2 of 3)

Cord Sachs walks through how FireSeeds structures a retained search to evaluate both character and capability, starting with the Bullseye Meeting.

Executive Search6 min read

Hiring for Character AND Capability: Why Faith-Driven Companies Can't Afford to Compromise on Either (Part 3 of 3)

For faith-driven organizations, character includes mission alignment and spiritual maturity. Cord Sachs on how to hire leaders who share your convictions and can perform at the highest level.

Executive Search6 min read

When should you hire an external recruiter vs. keep it in-house?

Not every hire needs a recruiter. But some hires are too important to handle internally. Here's an honest breakdown of when an external executive search firm earns the fee and when your internal team can handle it.

Succession Planning7 min read

The silver tsunami is here: succession planning for founder-led businesses

Thousands of construction, home services, and engineering firm founders are approaching retirement with no succession plan. Here's what the leadership transition actually requires and why most companies wait too long.

Succession Planning8 min read

Family Business Construction Succession: When the Founder Steps Back and the Company Steps Forward

Succession in a family construction business is personal. How to find the right next leader, protect what the founder built, and set the company up for its next chapter.

Faith & Leadership6 min read

Succession with Purpose: When Letting Go Is the Most Faithful Thing You Can Do

A friend of mine sold his company last year. He'd built it over twenty-seven years. Started it in his garage with one truck and a conviction that he could serve people better than