The Ripple Effect of One Yes: What People Can Get Right About Hiring with Heart
A Little Wisdom from the Office of a CEO
Sometimes the best hires don’t look like what you expect.
And sometimes, believing in yourself means betting on one small move—even when it feels like a stretch.
With a lump in my throat, I asked, “If you aren’t going to take my advice, why did you hire me? I didn’t come here to source resumes and be your cheerleader, I came here to help you discover why all your past executive assistants couldn’t make it to their 1-year anniversary serving under your leadership.”
He sat there in silence. We held eye contact for what felt like an eternity, and then he swiveled his chair and stared out the window, finally declaring, “Well, let’s go with your candidate then. Do you make any guarantees for your hires?”
I softly laughed and said, “Not even God could control mankind and I believe I have earned my fee here, do you not?”
That reply got a belly laugh. He stood up and said “Send the offer letter, give them $1,000 over their asking price, I want no excuses.”
I am proud to say she is still there, 3 years later, and the business has doubled its profits.
A Job Seeker’s Leap
I recently worked with a single mom. Burnt out. Exhausted. Uncertain.
She almost didn’t spend the $250 for a resume rewrite.
It felt selfish. Risky. Irresponsible, even.
But she did it anyway. And that one yes? It led to an $85K job offer in healthcare and then a $100k offer making $100K in business development for a construction company.
More importantly?
Her kids are in after school care, not home alone
She’s booking cheer camp, not canceling it
She’s planning memories, not just managing stress
That $15K jump? That’s generational impact. And it started with her choosing to invest in herself. Not because it was required. But because she believed she was worth it.
The Employer’s Legacy
Let’s not miss the other hero in this story: the person who hired her. They didn’t see a construction expert. They saw an excellent skillset that was transferable to their industry. She had the drive, the foundation, and most importantly, a backbone; she could learn the rest
But let me tell you what they really brought onto their team because I know it :
A woman who wakes up with gratitude because he has been generous with those profits, he acknowledges her impact on his success
A mom who shows up with purpose and drive because she knows she is important to this organization, their employees, their customers, and all those they support.
A professional who understands opportunity—and will never take it for granted
A self-invested employee who will keep growing, evolving, and showing up fully
That employer didn’t just fill a seat, with another “Yes - girl”. They shifted the trajectory of two lives—and built unshakable loyalty in the process.
What This Story and Real Life Have in Common
Many business owners are overworked, overwhelmed, and under-supported. They’re looking for solutions—thinking they would be successful if people only did what they told them to do, faster and better and simply replied with a “Yes, Sir!”
Instead, what is often needed is a little friction, a little yin to the yang, a fresh perspective, someone with the ability to see blind spots and have the guts to uncover in a gentle way.
If you are struggling to hire, stop looking for industry experience, keywords, and software knowledge and start identifying the characteristics that define what success looks like for you.
You can teach a skill, a software, a tool
But you cannot teach tenacity, urgency, loyalty, attention to detail, extraversion, and communication style, etc
That’s what happens when you hire with heart—not just credentials.
And that’s what we teach at Sipley the Best.
The Truth You Need to Hear:
Job seekers—at some point, you’ve got to do something different. Even the most qualified candidates are taking months to get hired right now. So no, I’m not just pushing resume rewrites or coaching. I’m pushing hope + action.
That might look like:
A new interview outfit
A leadership podcast
A GED or an Excel course
Or simply reaching out for help, even when it’s uncomfortable
Employers—start reading resumes like a story.
So many resumes hit hiring managers' desks and go straight to the "no" pile.
Not enough education.Too many gaps. Experience that doesn’t line up perfectly with the job description.
But what if we stopped reading resumes like records and started reading them like stories?
Here’s what I mean:
Gap in employment? Could be a caregiver, a survivor, or someone who took time to heal and is now bringing resilience to the table.
Nonlinear experience? Might mean they’re adaptable, a fast learner, or have a range of problem-solving skills your team could benefit from.
No degree, but high performance in past roles? That’s someone who’s shown up and proven themselves—without the privilege of a traditional path.
Your next all-star hire might be hiding behind what you've been trained to see as a red flag.
To the Job Seeker:
Investing in yourself isn’t selfish—it’s strategic. Whether it’s a resume rewrite, a course, or simply asking for help, one small yes can lead to a life-changing breakthrough. You’re not behind—you’re building.
To the employer: hiring well is step one. But if your leadership can’t support the people you bring in, you’ll lose them. Start reading resumes like stories. Look for growth, grit, and potential—not just pedigree.
Because whether you're job hunting or hiring, remember this:
One yes can change everything.
About Us
Sipley the Best offers recruitment services and fractional HR leadership for businesses that want to do more than just fill seats. Because hiring well isn’t just step one, it is a process and the beginning of a relationship, hopefully a long one!
Like any relationship, though, love bombing in the beginning doesn’t make it any less toxic once it matures. Ensure that the person who makes grand promises to candidates during the interview can keep those promises in the long run.
We’ll help you build teams that last by training leaders, investing in people, and creating workplaces where everyone can be a happy human!
To learn more and view our services, visit sipleythebest.com/employers.